1st time snorkeling...

[disneyfan551]

...and I'm wondering if we can do it on our own, or if we should do an excursion? My sil doesn't feel very comfortable in water, and is unsure if she will be able to do this. We have never been, but I can't wait! Thanks for any advice...

 

[eek40]

If its her first time snorkling I recomend you do this with a group, they help you out, give you a little lesson and are there for emergencies of any sort. If you have access to a pool in your area, get a cheap set with a mask and the tube to breathe(cant remember what this is called) and have her/him practice in the pool. Have fun.
Aimee

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

Um.... it's called a "SNORKEL"! Sorry I couldn't resist. I get those brain freezes every now and again.

I agree, go with a group. I've been snorkeling for over25 years and it is wonderful! Make sure that she tries it. It will be one of the neatest things she will do......BUT if you don't go where there is a reef or a lot to see (sandy bottom beaches) it can be sort of boring. That's why, unless you know the area, let the tour take you to where there is a lot to see.

Another good piece of advice..... make sure that where you will be snorkeling is in water that is standing depth. The first time I took my husband snorkeling, we went off of a boat (Cozumel). Water was about 15-20 feet deep and we had to snorkel for over an hour before the boat came to pick us up again. For a beginner, this can be scary and tiring, not to mention chilly if the water isn't really warm. We were exhausted by the time we got back onto the boat. More advice is to make sure to get a good fitting mask. Nothing will turn a beginner off more than having salt water fill up inside the mask.

Snorkeling is very easy to do (even for children), but taking it slowly and with a good fitting mask and a good colorful boutiful reef.........Nothing's better!
Maureen

 

[musicgirl]

I see that you will be doing the land and sea. We did the catamaran sail and snorkel. We had a great time. It was the first time for my sister, her husband and kids (12,7). Even if you just float and put your face in the water, it is beautiful. They have all the equipment. They give instructions before you go out. You will be back around 1 or so.

The year before, we went to the Blue Lagoon. There is some snorkeling there. If you don't have equipment you can rent it. I don't remember how much because we had our own. You must have life vests-I believe these are $5. This was our 1st time. The nice thing here is that if you don't want to snorkel, there are other things to do. There is a very shallow inlet to play in. You will not be back until around 3:00.

Have fun!

 

[PenskeSth1]

Myself DS5 and DD14 can all snorkel, My DH cannot. He wants to do a snorkel with the stingrays excursion type deal. He tried to snorkel in our pool, LOL -- sorry. My kids and I about laughed ourselves to death. He really doesn't do well in the water either. I told him I felt maybe he should pass on this type excursion. Now knowing that there are folks there to help, maybe he could try it.

 

[joyowen]

What about snorkeling at Castaway Cay? Do they have a "group" you go with or is it all on your own? We all have our own snorkel gear except for life jackets. We have a 10, 7 and 5 year old that knows how to snorkel but don't have life jackets. Do they hand these out or should we take our own for the kids? Thanks!!

 

[JLSE50]

At Castaway Cay you just go to the equipment shack for snorkeling and since you are carrying your own snorkeling fins, etc, they just hand you a vest. No problem. Disney wants everyone in a life vest. If you are a very bouyant person like me, you can squeeze all the air out, but if you are not bouyant, you blow air in to help you stay up.
Have fun!
Jan

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

PenskeSth1,

Your DH should not miss the stingray City excursion. He doesn't have to snorkel. You should be in about 3-4 feet of water. That's it. I've been there 3 times and all 3 times we were in this depth of water. The "Stingray City" is actually on a sandbar. We usually don't wear our snorkel gear the entire time anyway. You can feed them, hold them, pet them and just stand there and let them swim into you. It's a riot! Even if he's not into going into the water, just to stay on the boat and take pictures and watch is worth it. the water is crystal clear and you can see them swarming around. It really is a great experience.

Maureen

 

[JLSE50]

We did not do Stingray City but several friends did and loved it. One friend is afraid of water and cannot swim. She stayed on the boat and took pictures of her daughter and grandson. Later she said she wished she had gone in as it was so shallow.

Jan

 

[eek40]

Um.... it's called a "SNORKEL"! Sorry I couldn't resist. I get those brain freezes every now and again.


I feel so silly LOL....I really did have a brain freeze!!!!!

 

[PenskeSth1]

Mrsfuzzmo: thanks for the info. He can swim but not real well unfortunately. I think if it is that shallow he will give it a try. Especially if he won't need to use the SNORKEL. He would be more of a show than the fish and stingrays if he used that.. LOL

 

[Masonpips]

FYI, you do float a lot more easily in salt water than you do in a pool. I learned to snorkel in a swimming pool about 12 years ago and then went to Acapulco - we headed to a small cove and it was the most amazing thing, I could literally just lie there floating, breathing and watching the most amazing sea life!

My kids (3 &5) both snorkeled for the first time at Cayman last year, they did GREAT until the waves got to be a bit too much for them and they got water in the snorkel, didn't like that at all. We barely used the snorkels at all at Stingray City as we were busy feeding and taking pics of the stingrays above water. It's a must-do and you do not have to be super comfy in the water to do it!

 

[PenskeSth1]

For some reason my Dear sweet hubby is a sinker not a floater. LOL -- although we go to the beach here at home on the weekends he does get in a try to have fun. So I believe he will enjoy the stingray excursion, just minus the snorkel.