Snorkel Equipment

[soccermom22]

When you rent snorkel equipment on Castaway Cay - what items do you get? Mask and mouthpiece? Do you get fins? If I bring my own, should I buy a set that includes fins? How hard is it to snorkel without fins?

Trying to decide what is the best way to go - $125.00 to rent equipment for my family of 5 seems like alot of money.

Thanks for any input you can give on this topic!

Tammy

 

[prymsu]

If you snorkel more than twice, you will find that you can pay for your equipment, and use it throughout the years. If you rent, you don't have anything to show for what you dished out.

I personally would recommend having your own equipment. The first time i snorkeled, I was really turned off by snorkels that had not been sanitized...my thoughts, any how.

Also fins are very helpful, especially if you plan on snorkeling for any length of time...

 

[Wonderwoman1982]

You get all the stuff, fins too. Snorkeling is next to impossible without fins, unless you are prepared to be exhausted. May I suggest you buy your own? May cost you a LITTLE more for 5 people, but it's YOURS and you can use it over and over. We got FANCY snorkeling equiptment from Costco. Came with a cool bag to hold it all, too for $49.95 for adults. My daughter got a youth snorkel set from Sams for like, $29.95 Came with a boogy board and watertight canister you'd wear around your neck and a mesh bag, too. OH, and this is just my own personal tip since we snorkel alot while on vacations, you can order these GREAT straps to put on your own mask, so it won't pull your hair out with the plastic strap? We got ours from diversdirect.com for like $4.95 a piece. They're BIG and wide, and cover the entire aweful strap that goes around your head so NO more tangles and knots or ripped out hair.

 

[MarkLem]

The rental prices are a joke.

My Local sporting goods store has kids masks for $8-15. Snorkel and fins also cheap. This way you can get the kids (and yourself) masks that fit your face, fins sized to the kids, and save $$ at the same time.

 

[abitjaded]

Just make sure the mask fits, it should cover all areas and seal well, the worst possible thing is to have a too large mask (the major problem with rentals). The old type masks had to be sucked on (breath in through the nose and check for a seal), but the newer, soft silicon type should seal without sucking in. Slap straps are another innovation that helps a mask fit, they are made from soft wet suit type material, no hair pulling and are an easy velcro adjustment. Wash off the chlorine or sea water from your gear and it should keep for many years. We take our own gear, usually means an extra suitcase, but well worth the investment. Good gear can make all the difference in the ease and enjoyment of snorkeling (and do not forget to wear a t shirt to keep your back from burning, and to protect a heavily swum area from sun-block contamination, some areas restrict sun-block use, such as Xelha sp? in Mexico.)

Carla

 

[BeanoC]

I definitely say buy your own stuff ahead of time. It takes up some room in the suitcases, but it's worth it.

Also - be very wary of the cheapo's you buy at Walmart, etc.
Like anything, you get what you pay for. My son had one of these cheap masks 2 years ago, and it leaked like crazy. He was miserable. I let him use my mask (which I paid $145.00 for) and he was happy as could be. You don't have to spend that kind of money, but get something GOOD. Nothing is worse than carting a cheap plastic mask all the way to Castaway Cay, and have it leak and fog up. It's not like being in a pool either - saltwater stings the eyes! You're obviously wanting to do this right and enjoy the experience - so check out a good sporting goods store and you should be able to get pretty good quality stuff without going broke. But please - don't buy the package deals at Walmart and Target that give you mask, snorkel, and fins for 20 bucks! They're junk.

My mask, fins and snorkel set me back over $250.00 - but I have been using them for 4 years now. Compare that to rental fees every time and it's not bad, especially since they're top quality.
You want your vacation to go smoothly, so don't overlook this aspect. Those masks hanging on the rack are $8.00 for a reason...

I will step down off my soap box now!!!


'Beano'

 

[dahess]

You also get a life vest of some kind, I did not snorkle, but just noticed other people. Can you snorkle at Castaway Cay without the vest? Anyone??

 

[ldb1030]

You MUST wear the lifevest if you snorkel at CC. You don't have to pay for just the vest!

 

[Diamond_Girls]

We bought equipment for our August cruise - mask, snorkel & fins. However, we did not buy life vests. I see in this thread that CC loans them out for free. Has anyone needed them at St. Thomas or St. Maarten? I want to make sure we can rent them whereever we go...

Thanks!

 

[prymsu]

when we went to Dawn's Beach, I was glad we had our own life vests. the water was pretty choppy that day, and I would have been really nervous if my nine year old had been out there without one on.

 

[MCazer]

Being a scuba diver since 1992, I have my own boots and fins, mask with prescription for Diving and one without for snorkeling. Lycra suit, wet suit w/hood and bcd, regulator etc... these cost alot of money but have lasted over ten years with good care.

I would suggest buying the silicone masks (they are clear) as opposed to the black rubber masks. They let in less light, and cut down on visibility.

When I snorkel, I hate to wear the vests, because you can't dive down to check things out closer. My husband and I found out, that if you deflate them and put a little water in them you can actually go under water. I would only suggest this for someone who is experienced and is a good swimmer. We have tried numerous times at difference private islands (RCCL & Princess) to ditch the vest they provided, but they seem to hunt you down if you don't wear it.

A good idea for rental equipment would be to bring a pair of socks with you. Sometimes, depending on the type of fin, you can get a nice blister on the back of your heal or ankle from the rubber strap. The socks should do the trick.

Have fun!