Rent or Buy Snorkels

[rolyjp]

This will be our 4th cruise and each time we have spent money to rent snorkeling equipments. We are planning to go on more cruises in the future and wonder if it will be better to buy a set of snorkeling equipments instead. Any recommendations for buying or renting? The only hesitation I have with buying one is that I will have to pack it with us, which is already hard enough to do without fins and such.

 

[WDWLVR]

We bring our own masks and snorkels and just rent fins. Much, much easier. We got the stay dry snorkels (not sure if that is their actual name) but they are the ones that won't let water in when you go under. Much better than the ones you can rent. Just using them twice on our last cruise we thought they were worth it and they are packed and ready to go for our 10 day!

 

[faireygod mother]

This is why we bought our own. Not to mention the whole spitting in the mask thing. Necessary, but not so nice. Anyway. We love to snorkel when we cruise and they have more than paid for themselves. In fact we bought a set for the gradchildren from Sam's. Cheap and well worth it. We had DGD (4) & (8) practice in the bathtub for a few weeks before we left. Bottom line, I am all about purchasing your own.

As for the packing, we put ours in a mesh laundry bag and pack them in the bottom of our suitcase. They really did not take up to much room. DH and I each had 1 large rolling suitcase and we shared a garmet bag. We had plenty of room. We put them in the dirty laundry suitcase for the ride back becasue as usual we packed to many clothes.

 

[Karel]

Last summer I had the same question and ended up buying masks and snorkles to take with us.It worked out great. I just rented flippers at CC and I could trade for different sizes. In fact, we had a unexpected stop in Costa Maya and I used my mask there too. Try the masks on at home to make sure you have the proper fit. I found some for less than $10. You might find a good sale at the sporting goods store.

 

[MarkLem]

You don't need fins to snorkel unless you are more or less a non-swimmer. Mask and snorkel yes. Snorkeling is primarily about floating and looking. Doing a breast stroke style arms and kick leisurely is more than enough. Fins are a pain to pack, but the mask & snorkel aren't.

 

[CheapMom]

How much $ to rent fins?

 

[tinksdad]

I would highly recommend having your own mask and snorkels. A leaking mask or snorkel makes the experience less enjoyable and is frustrating to boot.

Go to the local dive shop and get them to help you with the fit. Any mask is alright as long as it fits "your" face. There are one window, two window and high and low volume masks. Just get one that fits!! There is mask defog that is more sanitary than spitting into the lens. You can always make a weak solution of baby shampoo and water, which works good as well.

 

[Hercules10]

We bought ours for a couple reasons. It's really luck of the draw with the rental stuff. Some can be dried out and leak. Also the Wife got prescription lenses put in her mask ($25 a piece) perfect for her, but when I look through them everyone looks like this.