Castaway Cay Snorkeling with 5 year old

[AAAG]

Hi,
DS is 5 and is still learning to swim. He can swim short distances (maybe 5-6 ft) but needs a life jacket for anything longer.
i'm wondering about the water depth on the beginner snorkeling trail. Will he be able to stand at all? (He is roughly 3 ft 8). Or will he need to be able to swim the entire time? Is there anything to see in the shallowest area?
I'm just wondering if snorkeling will be a good idea. Being a beginner swimmer, I imagine he may struggle with the concept of breathing through the snorkel while swimming. However he really wants to go.
I'd appreciate reviews from others with young children who have snorkeled there.
Thanks!

 

[cashe]

Do you have a swimming pool or one you can use? We took our daughter swimming with her mask and snorkel at our gym a few months before we went to hawaii when she was 5. She still won't learn how to swim but she does GREAT with a life jacket float and her mask. She even swam in open waters in hawaii with dolphins. I was shocked. I would suggest getting him fitted with a good mask as that was my daughters biggest fear was the water in her face and the cheap snorkel gear they sell for kids just didn't fit her face that well and would leak. We plan on taking our own snorkel masks.

Edited to add: you can always have him practice in the bathtub too.

 

[truck1]

Believe it or not most people float easier in salt water. With that said the water depth is somewhere between 6 and 10 feet deep.
In regards to a 5 yoa that has not fully learned to swim, DCL requires that you wear one of their inflatable vests, whether you can swim or not. So if they need to rest simply put some air in the vest and they'll float on their own. Like mentioned above, it would help if they could practice before you leave. However it's not that big of a deal.

Keep in mind too that snorkeling for the most part, you use your legs more then your arms. Basically you put your face in the water, and kick to where you want to go. Your arms are eother infront of you like Superman or at your sides etc. I've seen people snorkel without snorkels before and it can be done. A snorkel makes life easier.

 

[2005michelle83]

Hello there

Just wanted to chip in... I don't know much about where you're planning to snorkel but I just wanted to let you know that we went to discovery cove while on our WDW trip and we prepared out DS4 by buying him a snorkel and letting him get used to it in the bath. Gradually he used it more and more and learnt how to actually breathe through it and wasn't worried about having the mask over his face.

I think this really helped and without it he wouldn't have been able to snorkel as brilliantly as he did, I was so proud of him!

 

[suzan101]

We went with our daughter last year who just turned 6 at the time of the cruise. She's had some swim lessons so she is comfortable in the water but not a proficient swimmer. The life jacket helped her float and she was able to grasp the concept of the snorkel really quickly. She just flipped out when she saw the fish so close and decided she had enough.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would really recommend getting him a mask and snorkel at home. That way you know the mask fits; we spent something like half an hour dealing with DS's mask leaking.

 

[Weedy]

We went when my daughter was 5. She is a great swimmer. We live in Florida so we did the Infant Swimming lessons from the time she was 18 months old. She could swim to the bottom of the deep end of our pool at 3.

She did not like the mask, snorkel and especially the fins!! She likes this mask because it did not cover her nose: http://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Sphere-S...5&sr=1-6&pebp=1421536416429&peasin=B00147KSNM

With this mask she would just lift her head out of the water to breath.She wore just the mask and swam beside me. In my opinion all the stuff mask, fins, snorkel is just to much to handle for the first time trying to do this.

Everyone who snorkels has to wear the yellow dive vest. If you are not renting snorkel gear there is no charge for the vest. The problem with the vest is that once you inflate it it tends to ride up around your neck. You are not required to inflate the vest.

Just a thought and I don't know if Disney allows it. Children's life vest are available for free on Castaway. See if she can wear the children vest and just put the dive vest over. This is what the children's vest look like. Once again everyone!!! has to have the yellow dive vest on at all times.






Here is a link to Google to show you what the yellow dive vest look like: https://www.google.com/search?q=sno...make-the-most-of-your-disney-dream%2F;300;225

 

[Drusilla99]

Our 1st trip to CC my girls were 4 & 7. They both loved the snorkeling & they went out pretty far in the lagoon with us in their life jackets. My 4 y.o. Held on to my hubby's shoulders & could still see in the water, but didn't care too much for the snorkel, so she didn't use it. The 7 y.o used the mask & snorkel and I swam with one arm & my legs while my other arm was out to my side so she could just hold on to me & have my arm under her belly as an extra pre caution. We were probably out for close to a hour & they had a great time!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Everyone who snorkels has to wear the yellow dive vest. If you are not renting snorkel gear there is no charge for the vest. The problem with the vest is that once you inflate it it tends to ride up around your neck. You are not required to inflate the vest.


Here is a link to Google to show you what the yellow dive vest look like: https://www.google.com/search?q=sno...make-the-most-of-your-disney-dream%2F;300;225

 

[susiee]

There are some cement caverns and several sunk items (Mickey statue, Minnie statue, boat) that are all pretty far out. You may see some fish as you start to go, but there is mostly just sea grass til you get out a little ways. We did see a sea turtle in September that was kind of close to the beginning so that was really cool.
I think if you have the space and can bring the gear, I would take it. He can always use the mask and snorkel in the swimming area just to practice. We did see little colorful fish by the ropes platform. My DD took her mask and snorkel and just swam around a bit on her own while I was nearby on a mat. You could lay on a mat and just put your head in to get a peek.
Have fun!!