Snorkeling @ CC- only if you rent from Disney?

[JPKnapp]

Is the snorkeling area at Castaway limited to only those who rent equipment from Disney? I like to bring my own mask and snorkel.

And... can you take the clear inner tubes to the snorkeling area? It'd be a better experience for my 3 year old.

Thanks!

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

I'm not sure about the inner tubes, but you can snorkel with your own equipment no problem, you do need to use a vest, it's for visibility, not flotation, so you don't need to inflate it if you don't want to.

 

[wilkeliza]

You can snorkel with your own equipment but I do not think you can take inner tubes into the snorkel reef.

 

[Sir William]

I always use my own snorkel and mask at CC and on any of the snorkel excursions.

 

[tee11]

The only thing you must take from Disney is their yellow flotation device. I don't think you could take a clear tube.
I put my preschooler in a puddle jumper and then the yellow vest over it. They would not allow someone not wearing the yellow vest. I always bring our own gear.

 

[truck1]

The only thing you must take from Disney is their yellow flotation device. I don't think you could take a clear tube.
I put my preschooler in a puddle jumper and then the yellow vest over it. They would not allow someone not wearing the yellow vest. I always bring our own gear.

You can bring your own snorkel vest, as long as you wear one. we do it all the time out there. You can bring all of your own gear or rent DCLs.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Are the yellow vests free of charge? Meaning, is snorkeling free if you have your own mask and snorkel?

 

[truck1]

Are the yellow vests free of charge? Meaning, is snorkeling free if you have your own mask and snorkel?

Yes. They are free if you bring your own mask fins snorkel or any combination. You can find them at the lifeguard stands, hanging on a hook, near the entrances to the lagoon, and at the rental locations for the snorkeling gear.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Use your own stuff if you have it, I do believe that inner tubes are not allowed in the snorkel lagoon.

 

[valee]

As someone who needs prescription goggles, I can attest that there's no problem using your own gear. I normally will just bring my prescription goggles and a nose clip instead of a mask, since they fit better in my luggage. Then I attach my snorkel to the goggle strap.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

So how's the snorkeling at CC? I'm not expecting a living reef and i know the "clear " fish abound... but any other sea life?

 

[Capt_BJ]

it is a semi enclosed area

do the math .....



the occasional cuda comes in and there have been reports of small nurse shark on occasion but for the most part some typical reef fish but not in huge numbers and a good portion of what there is to see you recognized as having been 'placed' if you've snorkeled much. It is Disnified snorkeling

 

[Cackyschmackers]

it is a semi enclosed area

do the math .....



the occasional cuda comes in and there have been reports of small nurse shark on occasion but for the most part some typical reef fish but not in huge numbers and a good portion of what there is to see you recognized as having been 'placed' if you've snorkeled much. It is Disnified snorkeling

LOL. All of cc is "disneyfied" to me. I know I'm in the minority but I don't really get the appeal at all of why everyone loves CC. I guess we're just used to the "real" Islands? LOL Trying to make the most of it as we normally just sit on the family beach. But we LOVE Cookies2! ;-) Thank you!

 

[littledebbie335]

Yes. They are free if you bring your own mask fins snorkel or any combination. You can find them at the lifeguard stands, hanging on a hook, near the entrances to the lagoon, and at the rental locations for the snorkeling gear.

Thanks for sharing this information! Didn't want to spend the money to rent things we already own, but I wasn't sure about the vests.

 

[minorthr]

Make sure you have fins. We were going to rent gear and ended up getting a "free" snorkel and mask from atlantis so we canceled the rental. We did not have fins and if you really want to see anything you have to swim a long way out which can take a while and be tiring without fins.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

I am guessing you cannot rent only fins? Does anyone know how much the package costs to rent?

 

[Capt_BJ]

over the years there have been mixed answers on a partial rental. Some have said yes, others no. Last comment I recall was no.

dunno myself; snork'd with my gear once and having dove and snork'd a BUNCH of places in the last 45 years I was not compelled to repeat.

It IS a decent place for a beginner tho .... LIFEGUARDS!

 

[Cackyschmackers]

@Capt_BJ Exactly lol We are certified NAUI and PADI divers, so... My girls first snorkeling experience was in Grand Cayman; excellent reef (even saw a moray eel), so we're just looking for a diversion.

 

[jrabbit]

and a protected bay - "no" pesky waves

 

[Capt_BJ]

Adults can snorkel off the adult beach too ... this is not a protected area

but IME it is mostly sand flats with a few rocks ..... nothing like Eden Rock or Sunset House on Cayman, or even Pennekamp in the Keys