Castaway Cay - Snorkeling and Rafts

[Gator29]

Can you take Disney rented raft into snorkeling area on Castaway Cay? Worried about my 12 year old having enough endurance to snorkel once we make our way out. Do the snorkel vests provide enough buoyancy?

 

[dcassetta]

No, they would not allow you to take a raft into the snorkeling area. However, the snorkeling vests are inflatable. I have also seen people wearing the regular life vests in the snorkeling lagoon, however, this would make it difficult to snorkel as they are very buoyant.

 

[JimJoonie]

I just want to add that I brought snorkeling vests on our trip to Hawaii and had them inflated. They definitely provided enough buoyancy to keep you afloat above water.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

As you stated, it is very far out to see all the "good" stuff in the snorkeling lagoon. There is also some waves, usually mild, wind, and a small current. You are not allowed to bring rafts or noodles into the snorkeling lagoon. If your son has a problem with endurance or has never snorkeled before, I would re-think the journey out to the statues etc. The vests do inflate and help with staying buoyant, but are not PFD. Just be mindful about not getting into a situation where he gets very tired and you have to tow him back etc.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

I have my daughter wear a life jacket in the snorkel lagoon. She's 10 and we've snorkeled when she was 7 and 9, so in order for her to have enough endurance to keep moving and find all the good stuff, she wears a life jacket. This helps to avoid her getting so tired out that I have to drag her back. I also wear one to model best practices for her, even though it's a bit annoying.

 

[Einstein509]

If you've never snorkeled before, you stay buoyant while in the snorkel position (flat on tummy) and just breathe through your snorkel tube. It takes no energy at all. With a vest, it keeps you even more buoyant. So just don't let your kid overdo it and it'll be fine if you go nice and slow.

Fins are a definite plus as well. Don't do it without them.

Also, IMHO it's not that far out there. The area is not huge.

 

[dcassetta]

Also, IMHO it's not that far out there. The area is not huge.

The snorkeling lagoon is 22 acres and from the beach to the furthest Disney placed underwater item is more than 300 yards - 3 football/soccer fields to give you a reference. There is a reason why there are so many stories of people having to tow their kids to shore.

 

[OpieDoodle]

So a few things as I have snorkeled many times over the years and recently started taking kids out with me of various ages.

First thing, when snorkeling in the ocean (especially castaway where the water is pretty calm) laying on your stomach and floating requires very little effort. Your natural buoyancy in the ocean is much higher than a pool for example. Add the lifevest and he really shouldn't have an issue floating.

It is a pretty far swim but if you go slow, take breaks to look at stuff and enjoy you'll likely be fine. The great thing is its at your own pace! Don't try to rush it.

I went out with my oldest last time we were there in 2020 right before COVID. My son was 6, we only went out a little bit, basically to where we could see some fish then I took him back. Then I went out further. I "towed" him back but he was floating so its not like I had dead weight like if I was trying to swim with a child in the pool.

That same child just went to Cozumel with me when he turned 8. He snorkeled there no problem going out pretty far on his own and made it back just fine without me having to "tow" him in. It just depends on your child. My son is a pretty strong swimmer for his age and did great, I have also been out with older kids who did not do very well and I had to tow them back in.