Anchors Away 2016
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2016
- Messages
- 1,509
I think it has more to do with temperament than swimming ability. They will have a flotation vest, so sinking isn't really the concern. Comfort with the notion of snorkeling matters more. To that end, I have two suggestions, no matter where you choose to do their first snorkeling trip:
These full face masks are much easier to use than traditional masks, and as long as you don't have dreams of diving deep underwater, they will be fine for surface snorkeling or shallow underwater. As the PP said, rentals at CC are like $35, so buying ones might not cost much more. Though bringing them on the plane can be a pain. The ones my sons used had two additional advantages in addition to being full face masks. 1) When you dipped your head and the breathing tube underwater, there was a float that automatically closed, so that you couldn't get water in your mouth. 2) if you got water in your face mask, it automatically drained out at the bottom when you surfaced. I was using a regular mask and was forever having to clear my mouthpiece and mask manually. That was fine for me, as I had had a lot of practice. That brings me to suggestion #2:
Practice First! If you get your own masks, take them to a swimming pool sometime and throw some things to the bottom. Make sure the masks fit. Teach them how to adjust them. Get them used to just putting their face in the water. Then get them used to floating horizontally. (Having the flotation vest helps a lot with that.) If they are a little uncomfortable with these things, stop there. Give them time to get used to it. If they love it and handle it fine, have them put their head all the way under or maybe even dive to the bottom to get whatever you put down there. If they do that comfortably, then they will be much better prepared mentally for real snorkeling. And that is more than half of the battle.
These full face masks are much easier to use than traditional masks, and as long as you don't have dreams of diving deep underwater, they will be fine for surface snorkeling or shallow underwater. As the PP said, rentals at CC are like $35, so buying ones might not cost much more. Though bringing them on the plane can be a pain. The ones my sons used had two additional advantages in addition to being full face masks. 1) When you dipped your head and the breathing tube underwater, there was a float that automatically closed, so that you couldn't get water in your mouth. 2) if you got water in your face mask, it automatically drained out at the bottom when you surfaced. I was using a regular mask and was forever having to clear my mouthpiece and mask manually. That was fine for me, as I had had a lot of practice. That brings me to suggestion #2:
Practice First! If you get your own masks, take them to a swimming pool sometime and throw some things to the bottom. Make sure the masks fit. Teach them how to adjust them. Get them used to just putting their face in the water. Then get them used to floating horizontally. (Having the flotation vest helps a lot with that.) If they are a little uncomfortable with these things, stop there. Give them time to get used to it. If they love it and handle it fine, have them put their head all the way under or maybe even dive to the bottom to get whatever you put down there. If they do that comfortably, then they will be much better prepared mentally for real snorkeling. And that is more than half of the battle.
