Cheap snorkling equiptment for first timers

[idontknow]

I keep reading about the snorkling equiptment running $25 for the day at CC. We do not cruise until Sept and have a while to decide if it is worth it or not since we've never tried it before. I thought I'd try to get the snorkling equiptment when the department stores have their end of summer clearance sales. Will this work? Or is the equiptment that you find at Target, Walmart, Kmart, etc. not suitable for the ocean? If we like snorkling, we would rent "the good stuff" on future cruises. I just can't see paying $25 if we only used it for an hour only to find out snorkling isn't for us.

 

[scduckman]

You can get good eqt for $25. We bought ours at Sports Authority for what we would have paid to rent at C Cay. We also went snorkeling on St Maarten and St Thomas and we have the eqt to use for future cruises.

 

[Anchor's Away]

We got ours at Target for <$20. The kids have been trying it out in the bathtub, getting ready for the trip.

 

[Señor Ferrari]

I don't know that I'd call what they rent at Castaway Cay "the good stuff." We also got ours at Sports Authority for less than $30, and I think it's better than the rental stuff. In addition, you can make sure the mask you buy fits you, which is not always easy to do with the rentals.

 

[Rhonda]

We paid $29 for ours (fins, snorkel & mask) at SportMart here in MN. They worked fine!

 

[idontknow]

Thanks for the info. I'll wait and checkout the sales this summer at our local sports equiptment stores and department stores. I wasn't sure if the salt water would eat away the plastic in the cheaper equiptment or not. Sounds like they would hold up just fine, especially since we will only be using it for a day. Since we have such a wait, I'll have plenty of time to shop around.

 

[Lisa F]

If you're a member of costco, as of last week they had really awesome snorkeling equipment for $24 for the set. It's the kind of snorkel that closes up when you go under water so you don't get tons of water into it. WE were dubious about it working but tried it out in a pool and it was great!

Lisa

 

[crackerjack]

I know that a lot of people don't want to haul this equipment with them as luggage, but keep in mind that the $25 rental fee at CC does NOT include fins - they are an extra $9! The $20 sets that we bought include the mask, snorkle, AND fins. If you think that you might EVER use this equipment again, it might make sense to purchase it and take it with you?

 

[kshabare]

We just came back from CC last month. Booking via AAA we were entitled to 10% off the rental at CC. We paid $22.50 pp and we got the mask & snorkel tube, vest AND fins. They didn't charge us extra.

idontknow, we're buying the equipment before we go again. Target has it on sale this week. I had no problems with the stuff we rented (for $22.50). I will say though, we didn't use it very long. The fish were definately nothing compared to what we saw in St. John/Trunk Bay. Bring along Cheese Whiz - the fish went nuts with the stuff.

Kim ºOº

 

[Lisa F]

When we went to CC, the $25 fee DID include fins. If you brought your own snorkel and mask, you could rent the fins by themselves for $9.

Lisa

 

[crackerjack]

Lisa F: Thanks for the clarification! I assumed that they were separate charges since they were listed separately, but it makes sense now. I'm a little disappointed, though, because I thought that I was saving more money than I actually am!

 

[idontknow]

I know that I saw Targets equiptment go on clearance last fall for around $10. (50% off) Looks like I'll be on the lookout the end of this summer.