If I Can't Swim...

[Yumi696]

Hello!

So I can't swim but I can float. Is it worth snorkeling at Castaway Cay? Does the stingray adventure on CC require that I know how to swim? Would it be worth renting snorkeling equipment if I can only wade/float? Or should I just stick to goggles and not bother with snorkeling?

Thanks!

 

[Saimaeve]

The stingray adventure is conducted in waist high water. (Or chest high if you're me) You don't need to know how to swim.

For snorkeling, you can do it in water shallow enough that you can still see stuff and be able to touch ground. (although you won't be able to see the sunken stuff really)

 

[bumbershoot]

On one hand, with the snorkeling all you're pretty much doing IS floating.

On the other hand, I wouldn't go in ANY water bigger than a hot tub unless I knew how to swim. From your sig, you have 5 months until your trip. Go to the YMCA and learn to swim!

 

[hoffman1]

I am not the best swimmer. Even though we had a pool when I was growing up, I never took any kind of formal lessons. I can paddle around but it isn't graceful.
But I am an excellent floater! I more or less floated around and my DH pulled me along. LOL
We did not go to the snorkeling area until late afternoon so the water was kind of murky and we did not see much.
We snorkeled around on the Serenity Bay side earlier in the day and saw some fish, a starfish, and a stingray.
I would say it would be worth it.
We had brought our own equipment but I don't think it is very expensive to rent.

 

[TeaBee]

Hello!

So I can't swim but I can float. Is it worth snorkeling at Castaway Cay? Does the stingray adventure on CC require that I know how to swim? Would it be worth renting snorkeling equipment if I can only wade/float? Or should I just stick to goggles and not bother with snorkeling?

Thanks!

My daughter can swim, but isn't a strong swimmer and didn't feel comfortable swimming way out to the statues in the snorkeling area. Instead, she and I had a lot of fun with our snorkels and one of the rafts in the swimming area. We both laid crossways over the same raft so we were mostly supported, but could paddle along and put our faces in the water. There were very few swimmers out toward the lifeguard tower so the water was pretty clear. We saw plenty of little fish and one giant barracuda! It's my daughter's favorite memory of the cruise (well, that and the free ice cream.) Anyhow, just an option if you want to give snorkeling at CC a try.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

If you can, take the advice of the other post and learn how to swim. You will never regret it. That being said, all the fun stuff to see is pretty far out. I personally would not go out there if I did know how to swim, even if snorkeling is mostly floating around.

 

[JMHDisney]

For the stingrays, you get to feed and pet them in waist high water but then you also get to snorkel with them. You might enjoy having the snorkel there since the sting ray come into fairly shallow water.

But for the snorkeling area, there isn't anything to see close to shore so probably not worth it.

 

[Sir William]

Swimming for me is little more than controlled drowning. I've never liked swimming, but I love snorkeling. Once I get to a nice spot, I just float and let the fish swim around me.

 

[TXDCLfan]

Hello!

So I can't swim but I can float. Is it worth snorkeling at Castaway Cay? Does the stingray adventure on CC require that I know how to swim? Would it be worth renting snorkeling equipment if I can only wade/float? Or should I just stick to goggles and not bother with snorkeling?

Thanks!

If you can not swim please stay out of the water. You can drown in just a few feet of water regardless whether or not being able to stand up and touch bottom. A panic stricken person who is drowning is not a lot of fun to handle and yes I have been on the saving side twice. With this said please take swimming lessons and go enjoy all that the ocean has to offer.

 

[dcassetta]

Hello!

So I can't swim but I can float. Is it worth snorkeling at Castaway Cay? Does the stingray adventure on CC require that I know how to swim? Would it be worth renting snorkeling equipment if I can only wade/float? Or should I just stick to goggles and not bother with snorkeling?

Thanks!

As others have posted, I would not recommend trying to snorkel if you cannot swim. I little water in your mask or snorkel might lead to panic and disaster.

That being said, you can enjoy the stingrays without swimming. The program starts with a short talk about rays. You will then go down to the beach where the rays are accustomed to swimming into a ramped area in shallow water where you can feed and touch them. Afterward, you can stay in the ray area for a period of time and a mask and snorkel is provided as part of program. But as this area does not have lifeguards, I would not recommend you swimming or snorkeling there.

 

[Yumi696]

The stingray adventure is conducted in waist high water. (Or chest high if you're me) You don't need to know how to swim.

For snorkeling, you can do it in water shallow enough that you can still see stuff and be able to touch ground. (although you won't be able to see the sunken stuff really)

For the stingrays, you get to feed and pet them in waist high water but then you also get to snorkel with them. You might enjoy having the snorkel there since the sting ray come into fairly shallow water.

But for the snorkeling area, there isn't anything to see close to shore so probably not worth it.

Ahh thanks! I'm glad I'll still be able to interact with the stingrays!

On one hand, with the snorkeling all you're pretty much doing IS floating.

On the other hand, I wouldn't go in ANY water bigger than a hot tub unless I knew how to swim. From your sig, you have 5 months until your trip. Go to the YMCA and learn to swim!

If you can, take the advice of the other post and learn how to swim. You will never regret it. That being said, all the fun stuff to see is pretty far out. I personally would not go out there if I did know how to swim, even if snorkeling is mostly floating around.

If you can not swim please stay out of the water. You can drown in just a few feet of water regardless whether or not being able to stand up and touch bottom. A panic stricken person who is drowning is not a lot of fun to handle and yes I have been on the saving side twice. With this said please take swimming lessons and go enjoy all that the ocean has to offer.

Haha yeah I should really learn how to swim. I took swimming lessons in elementary school but I couldn't really grasp it. I can float though so I won't die at least

I am not the best swimmer. Even though we had a pool when I was growing up, I never took any kind of formal lessons. I can paddle around but it isn't graceful.
But I am an excellent floater! I more or less floated around and my DH pulled me along. LOL
We did not go to the snorkeling area until late afternoon so the water was kind of murky and we did not see much.
We snorkeled around on the Serenity Bay side earlier in the day and saw some fish, a starfish, and a stingray.
I would say it would be worth it.
We had brought our own equipment but I don't think it is very expensive to rent.

My daughter can swim, but isn't a strong swimmer and didn't feel comfortable swimming way out to the statues in the snorkeling area. Instead, she and I had a lot of fun with our snorkels and one of the rafts in the swimming area. We both laid crossways over the same raft so we were mostly supported, but could paddle along and put our faces in the water. There were very few swimmers out toward the lifeguard tower so the water was pretty clear. We saw plenty of little fish and one giant barracuda! It's my daughter's favorite memory of the cruise (well, that and the free ice cream.) Anyhow, just an option if you want to give snorkeling at CC a try.

Those sound like good ideas! Thanks!

 

[Yumi696]

As others have posted, I would not recommend trying to snorkel if you cannot swim. I little water in your mask or snorkel might lead to panic and disaster.

That being said, you can enjoy the stingrays without swimming. The program starts with a short talk about rays. You will then go down to the beach where the rays are accustomed to swimming into a ramped area in shallow water where you can feed and touch them. Afterward, you can stay in the ray area for a period of time and a mask and snorkel is provided as part of program. But as this area does not have lifeguards, I would not recommend you swimming or snorkeling there.

I have snorkeled before in the Philippines, but I was basically hanging on to the side of the boat and floating. It was cool though.

But there aren't really anything I can hold on to at CC lol

But yeah thanks! I look forward to the stingrays!!

 

[bumbershoot]

As an adult, you can learn to swim.

If you're out there floating with your vest on, and the stingray goes by (there's one that lives in the lagoon there) and you panic, *anything* could happen. Just because you *can* float doesn't mean you *will* if you panic.

My son has been swimming since he was 5 and is a terrific swimmer, but the water in his mask nearly made him forget it all.

 

[TXDCLfan]

As an adult, you can learn to swim.

If you're out there floating with your vest on, and the stingray goes by (there's one that lives in the lagoon there) and you panic, *anything* could happen. Just because you *can* float doesn't mean you *will* if you panic.

My son has been swimming since he was 5 and is a terrific swimmer, but the water in his mask nearly made him forget it all.

This is where people get in trouble FAST....panic people can drown the person that is trying to save their life.

 

[C6PT7]

Haha yeah I should really learn how to swim. I took swimming lessons in elementary school but I couldn't really grasp it. I can float though so I won't die at least

CC family beach is a bay area but it IS THE OCEAN! Not a swimming pool. There are currents and undercurrents and nothing to hold on to. You should be a competent or strong swimmer to swim in the ocean regardless of wearing a life vest

 

[Yumi696]

I have fun in the ocean wading and hanging out anyways.

 

[Aby]

I consider myself a good swimmer, and I found it very exhausting snorkelling out far enough to see the sunken treasures in the lagoon. It took a long time to swim out to all of them, and I felt like i would never reach the shore again. I can't imagine someone who can't swim going out all the way - even though you are "floating" you still have to propel yourself to get out and back.

Aby

 

[C6PT7]

I have fun in the ocean wading and hanging out anyways.

You also have to understand that there are sea life, such as Barry the barracuda that live in the lagoon.
I think it is best you stick to wading and floating in shallow areas, along with activities that you are standing such as the stingray activity.

 

[TeaBee]

You also have to understand that there are sea life, such as Barry the barracuda that live in the lagoon.
I think it is best you stick to wading and floating in shallow areas, along with activities that you are standing such as the stingray activity.

Is that who we saw? Barry is pretty awesome. It was a really cool experience to see him face to face, but a little terrifying too!

 

[C6PT7]

Is that who we saw? Barry is pretty awesome. It was a really cool experience to see him face to face, but a little terrifying too!

Possibly, or Barry has had kids or his cousin! lol!
They have shark nets at the family lagoon, but small sea life enters and lives there in harmony with the pax as it should work in an ocean environment!
I hope he smiled at you and went on his way and didn't scare you too much!