Can I snorkel without knowing how to swim?

[Little Twin Stars]

Alex and other experienced Cruisers,

I was told I could snorkel even I don't know how to swim. I need some more assurance. Is that really true? What about my kids who are 7 and 5. They don't know how to swim either. My husband can and really want to take all of us to go for a try.

I am a bit scared.

 

[pal2pluto]

I think it's rather important that you know how to float and are relaxed in the water. My concern would be that when you get out to the deeper water, you may panic....not a good thing. It's not important that you know specific strokes, but the big thing you must do is float.........

 

[Little Twin Stars]

Thanks pal2pluto, I can float quite well.

Do you know approximately how deep is the snorkeling trail for beginners?

 

[MrsPete]

Well, you can technically snorkel without swimming, but you aren't going to see much. To see the fish, etc. you're going to have to go out into deeper water.

 

[kcashner]

You will wear a snorkel vest, which will keep you on the surface. You don't have to swim correctly, but you need to be able to kick your feet to propel yourself, possibly direct yourself with your arms, and not panic when you are in the deep water. There are not many fish in the area where you can touch.

However, you do not go deeply under the water...you basically float on the surface looking down.

 

[ChattyKathy]

I have snorkeled in the past and you basically do have to get "out" in the deeper waters a bit... I dont mean IN the deep water, just out there...lol...You stay afloat and look into the water... as mentioned to actually see well....I personally wouldn't take the 5 & 7 y/o especially if you dont even know how to swim. Maybe your hub can take them one at a time but I wouldnt chance it.
And...If I remember correctly, and someone correct me if I am wrong, but I do beleive you are not allowed to touch or lean into or stand/fall (lol) into/onto the corals and/or underwater life...
Isn't it some kind of a law or something...I cant think what it is exactly...got me thinking now.


Good luck~


Kathy

 

[Scott H]

Comfort in the water is essential. I would suggest going to a local rec center or dive shop and see if they have a snorkeling class. It would be good if you could try this activity out in a pool rather than being dissapointed while on your trip.

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

Sure your can. But of course you'll want to always wear a life vest or at the very least a flotation device of some sort. If you do a ship sponsored excursion or a "purchased " excursion, you'll be required to wear one anyway, and should always no matter how good of a swimmer you are.
I am a great swimmer, and have my own snorkel gear, but always wear a vest uninflated just in case.

You can snorkel in as little at two feet of water. Many reefs that you can go to (depending on where you snorkel) are in waist deep or less water. My suggestion is to stay in water that is at least 3 feet over the reef or you may get scratched by coral. Of course you can go out deeper, but there is much to see in the shallows. You can always, if you are still uncomfortable, get a floating raft and lay on that (of course with your vest on) and put your face in the water and snorkel that way. That may be a good idea for your kids to first get used to it. We all started snorkeling at the age of about 5. You'll love it as long as you are comfortable.

So, my suggestions are: use proper safety equipment, stay in water that you can stand in until you are comfortable, relax, breathe, enjoy!

Maureen

 

[Little Twin Stars]

Originally posted by mrsfuzzmo
You can always, if you are still uncomfortable, get a floating raft and lay on that (of course with your vest on) and put your face in the water and snorkel that way. That may be a good idea for your kids to first get used to it.

Maureen

Questions:
1. Are the floating rafts available for rental?
2. Are there different sizes of rafts, one for adults and one for kids?

Thanks!

 

[cruisnfamily]

Ummmmm....possibly you could snorkel without swimming but I wouldn't try it, especially with the children. Most snorkel excursions are in areas where you cannot touch the bottom. I'm thinking this is a recipe for disaster.

When are you cruising? Could you and the kids get in a couple of swim lessons beforehand? You wouldn't need to be an excellent swimmer with perfect strokes or anything but you do need to have a clue I think.

Good luck!

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

Sorry, I can't help you there. Are you talking about on Castaway Cay? I haven't been there yet (March 27, 04). Maybe someone else can help.

If you are looking at one of the other islands, I'm sure someone on this board can help out with a beach that rents rafts and gear.

Remember that the saltwater makes floating easier than freshwater. Just remember: Flotation device, Flotation Device Flotation Device!

 

[swandiverpatt]

I am not a swimmer, but how found that fins make it very easy to move about in the water and I know I can keep myself afloat forever with the use of fins.

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

You're right! Fins make it very easy to swim about. I say, give it a try or you'll be sorry. It is a whole other world underwater!

 

[yourtravelpro]

I would definitely NOT recommend snorkeling without knowing how to swim. It's too dangerous and not worth the risk.

 

[prymsu]

the water can get quite deep, and you can't predict where you will be able to stand on your feet, and where you won't be able to. I would also recommend getting some swimming lessons before you try this, especially if you kids don't know how to swim either.

 

[disneyholic family]

all i can say is, as i lifeguard all of these posts make me very nervous...
i assume you're talking about castaway cay...there is no way i would let anyone who doesn't know how to swim, snorkel in the snorkeling area....the water is very deep...

i would never depend on floatation devices to make up for lack of ability in the water........
by the way, if your children are 5 and 7, they should already know how to swim....
it is the responsibility of every parent to make sure their children learn to swim.....purely for safety's sake....

i am always shocked to meet adults who can't swim.....it's NEVER too late to learn...

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Most of the snorkelling opportunities I've seen with DCL (such as excursions) are in water that is too deep to stand in.

While it might be possible to snorkel even if you don't know how to swim, as others have suggested, it will be safer (and more fun) if you know how to swim.

But the biggest safety tip of all is the good-ole BUDDY SYSTEM. Regardless of weither you can swim or not and even if you are a part of an excursion, you need to snorkel with a partner and remain in sight of each other. That way, if you get in trouble, at least one person should quickly notice and hopefully be able to shout to others near by that help is needed.

Remember, people that were considered good swimmers still die while snorkelling.

 

[crisi]

Wasn't there just a thread on this board about someone who drown while snorkeling? And didn't someone who worked on a cruise ship talk about that "happening more often than you think" because people try things on vacation that they don't normally do in real life and think its safe, then panic?

 

[MrsPete]

Wait a minute . . . are you saying that you want to take your small kids out in water over their heads -- and none of you can swim? You're putting a tremendous amount of trust in the life jackets and the life guards. I hope I misunderstood the post.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I'll second and third the motion that I think it is at least important to get the basics of swimming down before snorkeling. CC for example......there's not too much to see unless you get out there in the deeper water. That was our experience at least. I'll also give you another example of CC. The day we were there (Nov 6, 2002) the water was fairly choppy. My 10 year old had some trouble floating without water splashing up over her face and gave up on treading water because she was really tiring easily. She resorted to playing on the beach while my 12 year old dd and I went out further. We saw lots of fish out there, but then on the return swim back to shore we realized how far we had floated out. We were one of the very few that spotted the hidden Mickey under the water that day. Anyway, it was a kind of a tough swim back because the currents kept pushing us back. My 12 year old dd was getting tired and frustrated trying to make it back to shore. She ended up holding on to me while I swam (towing her along) back to shore. It definitely was more work getting back to shore than going out and I was a little out of breath from the workout. I'll admit I'm a pretty strong swimmer and I found it a little challenging at times. Not sure I would recommend it to someone who can't swim. I would make sure you have a strong swimmer out there with you at the very least. Maybe we were just there on a day the water was kind of choppy----perhaps this isn't the norm for swimming conditions at the family beach ? Now snorkeling at Blue Lagoon (a Nassau excursion) was totally different. That water was as calm as bath water and nowhere near as deep as CC. I think a non-swimmer would do fine there.