Seahorse Snorkel or Regular Snorkeling on Castaway Cay???

[clh2]

Has anyone done either the Seahorse Snorkel adventure - and/or the regular snorkeling on Castaway?

Is the Seahorse Adventure worth thee extra $$$$ ???

In case it would impact your opinions - I have snorkeled before, however my DD, 9 has not - although she is a great swimmer!

Thanks!

 

[HooKooDooKu]

We bring our own snorkel gear (first year just mask and snorkel so that we knew we had a mask that would work without leaking and a snorkel that 100 other people had not had in their mouths). We've done both the snorkel trail in the protected cove area (next to the family beach) as well as off the adult beach.

Snorkeling along the trail, you're guarunteed to see some fish as Disney has installed many fish-freindly objects for them to hind in/around. But visibility is not very good. There are lots of people in this area and barrier keeps it from getting swept clean by ocean currents.

Snorkeling off the adult beach has been great fun, but with mixed results. The first time we ever did it, it was one of the most fun things we ever did. The water was very still and clear. You could see things off in the distance and swim over to see what you would find. The place was littered with sand dollars, lots of star fish, and live chonch shells. I even had the thrill of seeing a shark in the distance.

The second time was soon after a hurricane had gone through the area and there just wasn't much to see in the open water.

The last time was during a period of rough seas and we soon realized that it was just too dangerous, and the rough surface was a killer on the visabiltiy.

Last time we when on a cruise, snorkeling tours were not yet offered on Disney's Island, so I can't speak to those.

 

[WDWLVR]

I love snorkeling the snorkel lagoon at Castaway Cay. You may not see as many fish as an excustion further out, but you definately see the Disney touches like the Mickey statue and sunken 20,000 league sub. I love CC so much that I don't think I'd want to do an excursion. I'd rather do that on one of the islands!

 

[jwann]

We've been to CC twice. Both times we rented the snorkel gear and did the snorkel trail. The previous poster commented on lack of visibility. The secret is to go out EARLY before everyone else stirs up the water. We are always off the boat around 8:30 and are snorkeling by 9:00. We are usually the only ones on the trail and visibility is terrific!! So many colorful fish. Last time I even saw a huge stingray!

 

[Laurarn]

Same with us. We were out there by 9am last Weds. and the water was clear. It was my first time snorkeling and I went all the way out and saw lots of fish, Mickey, the sub, and a large stingray (alittle too close to me- about 3 ft away!) I agree that the later you go out the visibility decreases. We snorkeled for 3 hrs! (I had sunscreen on, but still got burnt- so reapply). CC is awesome!

 

[AnnMorin]

I love CC too much to spend time on an excursion. The snorkle trail is not the best as others have mentioned due to the silt that gets kicked up but it is fun. We snorkle at other ports so it is not so much of an issue. If it were me I would (and plan to ) just snorkle the trail and enjoy the island, you are there too short of a time!

 

[spotdog]

I did the morning Seahorse Snorkel in September. The reef itself is not that large but the coral was beautiful and I did see a fair number of types of fish, including a small barracuda and a stingray. There was bit of current and small swells. Several people were queasy, but most were having a great time.

I have done the beach snorkel area early in the AM on a previous cruise and enjoyed it. There were not nearly as many kinds of fish and no coral, but Disney has placed interesting objects underwater. Since your daughter hasn't snorkeled before Castaway Cay in the morning may be best and then you will have alot more time on the island to relax and explore.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I recommend the Seahorse Snorkel adventure! It is run by the folks who run the Snorkeling excursion out of the Atlantis at Nassau. Good operation!

We saw purple fan coral... all kinds of neat coral.... bright yellow schools of fish... some blue-ish fish... even some of the ones that have like the eye-shape design on the back... a couple small barracuda.... It was GREAT!

I too have to say that time on CC is PRECIOUS!!! If possible, snorkle elsewhere... (boy I wish I was back on that beach!!!!) I hear good reviews of the snorkeling at Nassau... If not, this is a great excursion!

Hope this helps!

 

[HooKooDooKu]

You may not see as many fish as an excustion further out

I seem to recall seeing lots of fish in the snorkal lagoon. The special habitat "objects" that Disney has placed in the lagoon seem to attract lots of fish. We too were lucky to see a small sting-ray, and would dare say we saw more fish in the lagoon than on other snorkle excursions.

 

[jenschaef1]

Just got back from Wonder. We did the Morning Seahorse Snorkel. This was a perfect 1st time snorkel for my 12 year old DD. They took us out to a small reef with a depth of 6 to about 15 feet, surrounded by sandy flats. There was numerous small fish but because the depth of the reef, and surrounding waters, was not great we did not see anything large. (athough some in our group did see a ray) Somehow my 6 year old also got a ticket to this excursion in error, and because I didn't check my excursion tickets until that morning, we decided to take him (lesson 1 - check your excursion tics when you board...if you have preordered them). The water was too rough for him (even though the weather was picture perfect) and he lasted about 5 minutes...all the other little kids were back on the board about the same time...oh well...he had fun...he bellied up to the bar and had about 4 sodas (yes there were "heads" on board) If you have done a lot of snorkeling this one will not thrill you, on the other hand if you are a first time snorkeler or taking children older than 8 on their first snorkel it might be perfect for you.

As I said before, we did the morning snorkel....would not go in the morning again because there was no time to get pictures taken at CC before the excursion and before we got wet.

jennifer