Castaway Cay - flotation vest for snorkeling if bring own equipment?

[Phoenix1]

It looks like you are required to have a flotation vest for snorkeling...if you bring your own fins and mask but don't have a flotation vest...must you rent one or will they let you use one for free?
If you rent snorkeling equipment from them...will they assist beginners? My 10 year old daughter would like to try snorkeling and has never done it before.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

It looks like you are required to have a flotation vest for snorkeling...if you bring your own fins and mask but don't have a flotation vest...must you rent one or will they let you use one for free?
If you rent snorkeling equipment from them...will they assist beginners? My 10 year old daughter would like to try snorkeling and has never done it before.

Snorkel vests are free for using. You are required to wear one. You can pick them up at the snorkel rental location.


I'm not exactly sure what sort of "assistance" you're looking for - for your daughter, but they pretty much just hand out the equipment at the shack. No instructors.

 

[Imahikergirl]

They are free. You can pick them up at the rental place.

Not sure about a lesson.

We did a quick Discover Snorkeling at our local dive shop a few weeks before the cruise. The taught us clearing and diving etc.

 

[dcassetta]

It looks like you are required to have a flotation vest for snorkeling...if you bring your own fins and mask but don't have a flotation vest...must you rent one or will they let you use one for free?
If you rent snorkeling equipment from them...will they assist beginners? My 10 year old daughter would like to try snorkeling and has never done it before.

There are no snorkeling lessons offered. Although it is netted, the snorkeling lagoon at Castaway Cay can have strong currents. Also, the areas where there are underwater things to see, and more fish, are in pretty deep water. I would certainly recommend practicing snorkeling in a local pool before the snorkeling in the ocean.

 

[Phoenix1]

Thanks!....we picked up snorkeling fin and mask so she could practice at pool before the trip...but did not have vest...glad to know they provide if have own equipment.

 

[AUTigerFan]

I've also seen the vests at the foot of the lifeguard stands so look there before trekking all the way to the rental place.

 

[sonocruiser]

I just wanted to share my recent experience. I cruised with my nieces 10.5 and 13 in january. None of us have ever been snorkeling. In fact the girls had never seen the ocean. We decided to try snorkeling at castaway. We had an amazing time! We made it out to the deeper water. Saw lots of fish and the special objects. The swim back seemed to require a little more effort but very doable. I say go for it! Fyi my younger niece did get stung by a jellyfish on her hand. She never saw it. It must have brushed up against her on the swim back.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

If any of you aren't strong swimmers, I would also put a life jacket on. In our experience, those vests don't hold you up that well, and often deflate.

 

[NC State]

Just returned last Wednesday. On the adult beach they are located at the Life Guard stand.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

If any of you aren't strong swimmers, I would also put a life jacket on. In our experience, those vests don't hold you up that well, and often deflate.

Snorkeling vests are not in any way a life jacket. They help you to float on the surface of the water to snorkel. I would not snorkel out to some of the attractions or let my children accompany me unless they were competent swimmers.

 

[kay1864]

Have to share story of DD10. Before our cruise, we practiced with her new snorkel in the neighborhood pool, and she quickly learned how to use the snorkel and mask. I told her we would be able to see tropical fish when we went snorkeling.

She said, "They have tropical fish in the pool?"

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

Snorkeling vests are not in any way a life jacket. They help you to float on the surface of the water to snorkel. I would not snorkel out to some of the attractions or let my children accompany me unless they were competent swimmers.

That's why I suggested a life jacket

 

[truck1]

Snorkel vests are free for using. You are required to wear one. You can pick them up at the snorkel rental location.
View attachment 166186

I'm not exactly sure what sort of "assistance" you're looking for - for your daughter, but they pretty much just hand out the equipment at the shack. No instructors.

You can bring and use one of your own also if you have one ( We bring our own). But either way yes they are mandatory.

 

[sharonabe]

If any of you aren't strong swimmers, I would also put a life jacket on. In our experience, those vests don't hold you up that well, and often deflate.

Where would one find a life jacket? Bring your own? Does CC have them to rent or use?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Where would one find a life jacket? Bring your own? Does CC have them to rent or use?

There a life jackets onboard at the pools:

And they have life jackets at Pelican Plunge on Castaway Cay. Not sure whether there are life jackets on the beach itself.

 

[The Sasquatch]

its definitely a pretty good swim out to the things under the water and all of the equipment can hinder some of the smaller kids and people who are not strong swimmers. I have seen many families not even make it 100 yards out and they turn around. If you can get them used to it before, that would be a big help I think.

 

[nikkistevej]

Can you use a life jacket in the snorkel area, instead of the snorkel vest? I wasn't sure, figured I would ask here. And are they free? We are traveling with other family, and they were asking, we haven't used the life jackets for a while, so wanted to let them know. Thanks!

 

[summerrluvv]

There are life jackets at Castaway Cay. They are free. My kids have used them to go down the slide at Pelican Plunge in the past. Pelican Plunge is right near the snorkel area.

 

[nikkistevej]

There are life jackets at Castaway Cay. They are free. My kids have used them to go down the slide at Pelican Plunge in the past. Pelican Plunge is right near the snorkel area.

Thanks so much!!! My little niece and nephew can wear them.

 

[nikkistevej]

So if they bring their own snorkel gear, can they snorkel for free? Or do you have to pay to go in the snorkel lagoon?