semi-submarine or glass bottom boat?

[slg]

My son really wants to see the ocean but as a family we don't snorkel. We have 3 boys: 4,7,10 and I wonder if the semi-sub would be too scary for the youngest boy? They're the same price and seem to go to the same places. Any suggestions for those experienced cruisers?

 

[one princess]

Definatly do the semi-sub. We did this in the Turks and Caicos and it was FABULOUS!! It is not scary at all. There are stairs that lead up to the top of the boat so if anyone gets freaked out they can just go up on deck but I really don't think that will happen. My dd5 was totally blown away. Now she wants to learn how to snorkel so she can swim with the fish!
I have this booked for GC in April.

Jackie

 

[slg]

Thanks! That settles it for me.

Any other thoughts out there?

 

[SueEllen]

Semi-Sub is great. We did this in Cozumel, and did the full sub experience in St. Thomas. These allow for children to get the underwater experience just like snorklers and divers, but staying dry. My son is 4 and he loved it.

Sue Ellen

 

[Canadiancruiser2]

We took the Nautilus semi-sub boat excursion in Grand Cayman in 2004, and it was pretty nice. The view of the water is fairly blue and a little on the murky side though, but kids really like it. It's like a boat with windows in the hull portion that is under water. There are benches that you sit on and view the harbour floor around you. It's very comfortable and air-conditioned.

Here are some photos. My camera sucks at low light conditions without a tripod and when there's motion so these photos aren't that great, but they give you an idea of what you might see.

If you get a chance, take an Atlantis submarine tour. It's worth every penny! We took a tour in Maui, and it's so amazing that these little subs can go so deep. You watch through the port hole as the ocean surface slowly disappears above you while you descend. It's certainly not for the claustrophobic, but it's definitely a memorable excursion cruising around the ocean bottom gazing at all the coral and fish.

 

[slg]

Thanks Canadian Cruiser. I'm also a canuck who hails from Victoria, B.C. We're going
on the may 6 western.

 

[Canadiancruiser2]

Hey hey, have fun, you'll have a blast. Yeah, it's not scary at all, but the interior is painted black so it does seem a little dark inside. I guess that's to help the viewing conditions or prevent light from bouncing around inside? I don't know.

It was an okay excursion on Grand Cayman. I don't know if I'd repeat it since I have to admit it was a littttle on the boring side. It sounds like Cozumel and T&C might be better! You basically see a lot of the harbour floor, more floor, some rocks, some greyish reef, oh a couple of fish, then some sunken metal pieces of ships, and then they stop the boat to allow one of the crew members to jump over to feed the fish. Then you see tons of fish swarming around the guy. After that, it's basically the above steps in reverse!

I hear the stingray city tour is more interesting - that's something we'd probably do if we go on the Western again.