Snorkel gear for kids

[rjeash]

I am looking to purchase snorkel gear for my kids to practice with this summer. I have bought the cheap stuff in the past and it is nothing but frustration. Anyone have advise on what to get for an 11, 9 and 6 year old?

 

[tammymacb]

Check your local dive shop. I just bought my 10 YO daughter fins ( she's getting Scuba certified) and paid $27.00 for them. I gave her one of my old masks with snorkle ( I upgraded ) but a childs size would have been inexpensive. Not the cheapest way to go but if you want decent quality and will reuse them, it will be much less of a headache.

 

[tiggr33]

A properly fitted mask is a must to avoid frustration. This is a good basic article on selecting and fitting a mask. http://www.snorkeling.info/snorkeling-equipment/snorkeling-masks/index.html

 

[BCV02]

We bought our DS(8) a complete set at our local BJ's warehouse. I think it was about $35-$40. Came with fins, mask,snorkel and a backpack to carry it in. The snorkel has the check valve in it which made a big difference when he went snorkeling. The ones you rent at CC don't have them. They are just straight tubes. We also bought ourselves our own vests at the local Dive shop. They strap around your waist and front to back between the legs. That way when you inflate it it doesn't float up into your face. We all like that much better. The DW and I bought our gear at Dick's sporting goods. Don't know if you have those or not.

 

[rjeash]

The DW and I bought our gear at Dick's sporting goods. Don't know if you have those or not.

Yes, we do. I will check into it. Thanks!

 

[Quimby]

I actually go good silicone sets at Walmart in the sporting good dept. They were not cheap. The kids mask fit me (mom ) better then the adults mask.

Good luck!!

 

[Lesley Mahler]

I just tried to book my family (DH, DD(4) and myself for the snorkel equip at CC, but DD is not 5 so they won't allow us to book her. If we buy her, her own snorkel equip, will she be allowed in the snorkel area, or will we be wasting our money?
TIA,
Lesley

 

[dahuffy]

I found some really nice ones at Sams Club.

 

[American Scrapper]

I bought both my kids gear at Sam's Club. It was about $24.00 for a Speedo set.

 

[birkner]

I am looking to purchase snorkel gear for my kids to practice with this summer. I have bought the cheap stuff in the past and it is nothing but frustration. Anyone have advise on what to get for an 11, 9 and 6 year old?

Here are two websites that sell children's snorkel gear:

http://www.snorkel-mart.com/files/products/kids_gear.cfm

http://www.snorkel-mart.com/files/products/kids_gear.cfm

 

[scrapperjill]

We got our kids theirs at Costco. Either last year or the year before they had both kids and adult sets. They were about $25 for the set (mask, fins, snorkel and bag). We ended up getting new ones for us as well....our first set we purchased at a dive shop and honeslty the ones we got from Costco were MUCH MUCH better.

 

[mattmommy]

We bought our sets at costco. Everybody gets to carry their own bag. DS6 has been snorkeling since he was about 3YO. Last time at cc he was 5 and we brought our own and borrowed the cc vests. Nobody questioned his age as long as he had a vest on.

 

[lenshanem]

So if I buy DH and my DD their own mask and snorkel set they can borrow the vests at CC? What about the fins or do most sets come with those?

I had planned on booking the CC package with floats and bike rental, but after reading the germ thread I'm now a little freaked out!

 

[scrapperjill]

I think most better sets do come with fins. With that...I think you can by some cheep snorkel/mask combos at places like Wal Mart but over all when you buy sets look for better ones with fins also. I guess I should say that becasue I'm sure there are some nicer set with out fins at scuba/dive shops Fins are also something you really don't need to snorkel with. They cover your feet and help prepel you faster...but there not needed. On a side note...The ones they've been stocking at Costco the last few years are nice complete sets.

Everyone has to wear a vest at CC. And they provide those free.

Most places your able to rent fins for a charge...However I'm not sure if the rate is cheeper than renting the whole set. I'm guessing it would be but who knows.

As far as age. I've never noticed a age limit anywhere at CC.

 

[jonesing]

I just tried to book my family (DH, DD(4) and myself for the snorkel equip at CC, but DD is not 5 so they won't allow us to book her. If we buy her, her own snorkel equip, will she be allowed in the snorkel area, or will we be wasting our money?
TIA,
Lesley

Yes, you can always bring your own equipment and let me just add---you should do so anyway. A coworker was telling me how she went to Nassau and use the rental gear there. By the time she got back to her hotel, she was wheezy, couldn't breethe, her eyes had puffed up and were bloodshot! The took her to the hospital and they surmised it was some sort of reaction to either the bleach water they stored all the snorkel equipment in for the next customer OR they didn't actually clean it that well! You won't have any such issues if everyone brings his/her own gear.

 

[LITTLEKID58]

We bring our own gear all the time for whichever excursion we go on...I will recommend you get it on your own..

Liz

 

[lenshanem]

Thanks for the info. Does my daughter need swim socks or will she be OK barefoot snorkeling? I'm thinking she is not gonna like the fins anway...

 

[scrapperjill]

Maybe that's why I never noticed a age limit on the snorkeling at CC. We took our own stuff, and never even signed up for a snorkel excurison at CC. One thing to note....when you snorkel at CC you do have to go out quite a ways inroder to see much.

The first year we tryed taking the float mat out with our dd...so she could lay across it and gaze down into the water with her mask...BUT we were told right away that that was NOT allowed. This second time we took pool noodles with us. Yes we packed them from home on the cruise...but they worked so well...we plan on doing it again Not only were our girls able to keep them with them and stay afloat better....but we were able to see them in the water among the many other people. We mainly used them at other ports...but I'm trying to recall how much we actually used them at CC.

 

[scrapperjill]

If your not doing fins then swim sock would probably be nice....but not needed. Myself...I like having the fins or something covering my feet because I feel like the fish would nibble my toes if they weren't covered I know totally silly and unrealistic but I don't want to take the chance

Now...if you go out and stand on the rocks and stuff out there...they may be sorta sharp/pointy and even slimmy/slippery which is another reason for swim socks or fins.

 

[lenshanem]

Pool noodles, that is good to know. So the vest don't hold you up any? My DD is a pretty good swimmer, but exactly how far out is she gonna have to swim?!? Is the snorkel trail too deep to stand or are there spots where she could rest?