Snorkeling at Castaway Cay -- Fish?

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

We saw LOTS of fish at the family lagoon at Castaway. BUT we had to swim a really long way out, so don't expect a ten minute swim and wala! (Unless you do a catamaran and then they take you RIGHT to the fish.) The swimming was exhausting, but you are rewarded with HUGE volumes of fish if you make it out basically to the breakwall.

HUGE column of fish. Never seen anything like it.

There really isn't much of a reef inside the lagoon but they keep the fish happy so they stay around and protected. If you want to see some brilliant colors, you need to go out to a reef. This time, we are taking the catamaran out to the reefs. But if you are a good swimmer and don't give up and get past the stirred up sandy water towards the beach and keep going, you can see LOTS of fish and have a great time. We did!



Fishyfishyfishy I need my FISHIES!!!!!

 

[wergoin2camouse]

Snorkeling was awesome!!! We went out first thing..... Swam all the way out and then ventured back towards shore! I was within 3ft of a. Nurse shark!! It was sooo big... The lifeguard acted like it was no big deal... But OMG. ... I was sooo close it scared me! Lots of fish... They followed us around * go first thing in morning before water and fish are disturbed by people!

 

[disneybass]

I saw a really nice school of parrot fish there a couple of years ago. 10 to 15lbs each and very colorful.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

DH found this live Helmet Shell while snorkeling off of Serenity Bay. After I took a picture he returned it back where he found it.

 

[TinkRose]

If we're bringing our own equipment and snorkling only in Serenity Bay (all-adult party), will they still require us to wear life vests?

Snorkel vests yes. They are bright yellow and not inflated like life vests. Mostly so they can keep track of you, and all the people snorkeling. They can be inflated and sometimes they have just a little bit of air in them. I didn't want to wear it but it was nothing really. We use our own equipment too.

 

[Vidia2]

If we're bringing our own equipment and snorkling only in Serenity Bay (all-adult party), will they still require us to wear life vests?

I think at Serenity Bay you can choose whether or not to wear them. There are no signs saying that you need to wear a vest and there are no lifeguards to keep track of you.

 

[jplee3]

I think at Serenity Bay you can choose whether or not to wear them. There are no signs saying that you need to wear a vest and there are no lifeguards to keep track of you.

Yep, no need for a vest at Serenity Bay - it's so shallow out there anyway! But just be careful where you step (whether or not you have water shoes). There are sea hares, slugs, some coral, conchs, starfish, etc that could either hurt you without shoes or be hurt if you do have shoes.

We got in trouble snorkeling without vests at the family beach/snorkel area. Had no idea they were needed. It was chaotic over there so I'm glad we went to Serenity Bay. Unfortunately, I didn't feel like we got the quality snorkeling in at the better snorkeling area but the limited snorkeling at Serenity was actually neat - we saw an assortment of fish and underwater creatures (mentioned above). I should have researched it more either way. I enjoyed my ribeye steaks at Serenity Bay though so I'm OK

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

If we're bringing our own equipment and snorkling only in Serenity Bay (all-adult party), will they still require us to wear life vests?

DH brought his own gear to SB and didn't use a vest. No one said anything to him, but he had his PADI just in case.

 

[amie416]

Yep, no need for a vest at Serenity Bay - it's so shallow out there anyway! But just be careful where you step (whether or not you have water shoes). There are sea hares, slugs, some coral, conchs, starfish, etc that could either hurt you without shoes or be hurt if you do have shoes.

Thanks for the heads up! Other than renting a Hobie Cat for an hour or two, we'll probably be spending most of our day at SB. I can't wait!

 

[truck1]

Has Disney ever improved there snorkel vests? Lat time I used them the air went out on mine I almost had to signal the lifeguard to come and get me. I was so far out and i had been swimming all around to see Mickey I was exhausted. Why have them if they don't really work?

If the vest deflated, on its own for whatever the reason,did you tell the cms at the rental for them to fix it or take it out of circulation? Its rare for 1 to have an issue like that.

No, there the same vests that are used all over the world. They might add a few new ones here and there, but they are the same ones.

 

[truck1]

DH brought his own gear to SB and didn't use a vest. No one said anything to him, but he had his PADI just in case.

A PADI card wont do you much good on CC. I used my dive bc several years ago and the lifeguard asked me to put on a reg snorkel vest in the snorkel lagoon. Typically though a vest isn't required on sb.

 

[trickiwoo]

I took a couple videos of the snorkeling at Castaway Cay. You can watch them here and here

I also took a couple pictures:

 

[cmurray234]

Sea turtles in the enclosed family beach area? That had to be a first.

So seeing turtles isn't common then? My whole party and others on CC last Friday all saw it. I'm feeling special now...

 

[pgowder]

Here's a couple of the photos from February 2 cruise.





This was under the life guard stand closet to the ship.
He was huge!

 

[KathleenlovesMickey]

If the vest deflated, on its own for whatever the reason,did you tell the cms at the rental for them to fix it or take it out of circulation? Its rare for 1 to have an issue like that.

No, there the same vests that are used all over the world. They might add a few new ones here and there, but they are the same ones.

Yes I did tell someone they didn't seem concerned. I have never heard of a problem but I know it was a bit scary to be counting on the vest. I am a good swimmer but I had been out a long time. Hopefully this time everything will be fine but I am also going the end of the week the water may not be warm enough for me to be out long anyway.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

This is one of the reasons I try to let everyone know that even for experienced swimmers, expect an exhausting snorkel. It IS fun and you can see a lot, just make sure you are prepared in advance for how far you have to go, you will still have to fight the current (for us we had to fight it to get out to the fish, others I suppose would have to fight it going back in to shore if it changes), then once you get there, you want to swim around a bit and see everything and then all the sudden, you are just pooped. I think the family snorkel lagoon is great and one of the safest I have seen, but it shouldn't be underestimated that it is very tiring. I was glad I ate at 11 and again at 1:30 before we went out at 2:30 and then once we got on the boat, we were ready for food again at Flo's!

Also a reason I'm glad we booked the catamaran this time since we are running the 5k and will be zonked before we even hit the water...

 

[tonjo]

I'm curious, what type of waterproof cameras has everyone had success with? Please tell me there are affordable options?

 

[tinkmom2]

I'm curious, what type of waterproof cameras has everyone had success with? Please tell me there are affordable options?

I have a fuji finepix. $100

 

[truck1]

Yes I did tell someone they didn't seem concerned. I have never heard of a problem but I know it was a bit scary to be counting on the vest. I am a good swimmer but I had been out a long time. Hopefully this time everything will be fine but I am also going the end of the week the water may not be warm enough for me to be out long anyway.

Ok. just checking.

Its pretty unusual for a snorkel vest to deflate on its own. Considering the age of some of the vests Im not surprised that they are starting to leak. Personally we have our own.

 

[Kkb0517]

If you bring your own snorkel equipment do you need a snorkel vest to use the family beach snorkel area?