Snorkeling in the rain?

[FSU Girl]

The day I'm going to be in Tortola it is showing as 50% chance of rain and I have a snorkeling excursion planned. Will they still let us snorkel if it's raining badly? If they do, does the rain ruin the experience? Today is the last day I can cancel this excursion without penalty. Do you think I should keep it?\

I looked up the forecast for all the islands I'm going to and apparently it's supposed to rain the entire trip. I'm a little bummed, I thought December wouldn't have much rain like Florida.

 

[FSU Girl]

Also the wind is supposed to be 15 to 25 MPH. That seems high? Will that make the ocean waves rough?

 

[Neptune's Fork]

The wind is more likely to be the issue than rain. Winds at that speed will make the water too rough to snorkel.

 

[FSU Girl]

If it's too rough to snorkel will they cancel the excursion so I won't be charged? Or should I preemptively cancel this excursion now?

 

[Neptune's Fork]

If it's too rough to snorkel will they cancel the excursion so I won't be charged? Or should I preemptively cancel this excursion now?

I would think that if it's not possible, they would cancel. But to be sure you could call DCL and ask.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I was on a Carnival cruise and the day of the excurswe were given the option to cancel without penalty, we cancelled and were glad. Our stop was in Grand Cayman and from the ride in on the tender we were hoping we would be able to cancel. The excursion went and most reports about the snorkeling were negative.

 

[jrabbit]

My thoughts on snorkeling in the rain in the caribbean... your're going to get anyway, so what the heck, get rained on and get in the ocean!!!

On the other hand, the wind and waves will make it difficult - and possibly further degrade water visibility (clouds and rain will do that too)

I have snorkeled in the rain. Was on a catamaran out to the first snorkeling area when the big black cloud showed up and started raining. "Everyone" ran to get under cover. That was great because 5 minutes later we were at the snorkeling location and we were the first off of the boat - since everyone was "inside" staying dry!!! They all eventually got into the ocean as well. I still think it's funny that they were worried about getting wet from the rain, but not the ocean. Continuing on, I will say that the visibility and colors under water were not as good as from other snorkeling trips because of the clouds. And I don't think that I saw as much ocean life has I had on other trips. Here are some pictures (grand cayman) from the Kittywakke. Did not have any that I liked so much from the reef (where the cloudiness impacted the snorkeling more)

 

[FigmentSpark]

Jrabbit, I love your pics. Can I ask a question, though? I see one of them is of a person well under the water. I thought snorkeling was about keeping the snorkel above the water line while you looked under the water? Yeah, I'm a total snorkel novice. Sorry if that's a dumb question.

 

[mmouse37]

If DCL feels the weather will impact the excursion to make it not safe they will automatically cancel it and automatically refund your account.

MJ

 

[FSU Girl]

Thanks for all of your input! I think I'm going to keep the excursion. I really wanted to snorkel and would be sad if the weather cleared up and I wasn't out there. And if it is bad out it seems I won't lose out on money since they'll cancel. That's a very good point about being wet already.

 

[Flossbolna]

When high winds made the visibility bad when we were in St Thomas, they offered us the possibility to cancel and get a refund, even though the excursion was still going to happen. I thought this was great and we ended up with an island tour of St John. So, even if the weather is not unsafe, but not good for snorkelling, you might still get the opportunity to cancel.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Jrabbit, I love your pics. Can I ask a question, though? I see one of them is of a person well under the water. I thought snorkeling was about keeping the snorkel above the water line while you looked under the water? Yeah, I'm a total snorkel novice. Sorry if that's a dumb question.

Generally, yes you keep the snorkel above the water line. But, you can dive short distances - just don't breath in.

 

[truck1]

Jrabbit, I love your pics. Can I ask a question, though? I see one of them is of a person well under the water. I thought snorkeling was about keeping the snorkel above the water line while you looked under the water? Yeah, I'm a total snorkel novice. Sorry if that's a dumb question.

Yes and no. When you go below the waters surface, you basically change from snorkeling to freediving. Same basic principal. You basically take a really deep breath, hold it, and then swim for the bottom. Its done all the time in spear fishing among other things. If your truly good, when you come up and don't have a snorkel with a purge valve, you can let a little air out into your snorkel, and it will expel the water out so you don't have to blow it out on the surface.

 

[truck1]

Also the wind is supposed to be 15 to 25 MPH. That seems high? Will that make the ocean waves rough?

It really depends on which way the winds blow. If they blow with the current, prob not much to worry about. If it blows against the current, all bets are off. And if the weather guessers get the forecast right.

 

[jcrosby02]

It really depends on which way the winds blow. If they blow with the current, prob not much to worry about. If it blows against the current, all bets are off. And if the weather guessers get the forecast right.

We are on the same cruise and we are very nervous about the weather. We are so hoping for sun and warm weather

 

[jcrosby02]

We are on the Nagic 12/23 and we were really hoping for sun and warm weather.

 

[ludari]

I would agree with some of the previous posters that the wind and oceans swells are more of a concern than the actual rain. I'm a master scuba diver and I have gone diving in some less than desirable conditions in more places than I can remember. I have had several scheduled dive trips canceled by DCL and their agents because of winds and ocean swells. Typically you will be notified the day before but I have actually walked off the ship with my dive gear and was told by the agent that the dive has been canceled due to ocean conditions.

 

[FSU Girl]

I'm hoping since it's still a few days out the weather isn't very accurate yet. It says cloudy with occasional showers so it might not rain at all. I would be sad if they cancelled it. The wind says ENE is there a certain way the current goes or it changes all the time? I love snorkeling and bought a really good underwater camera I want to use lol. If it's raining on the ship will that mean less people in the hot tubs?

 

[crossfitmama]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. 50% chance of rain means it could rain at some point during the day. I find in the Caribbean that usually they are just passing showers so a little rain won't ruin your day. High winds or rough seas is more worrisome. In Cabo is was rough when we were there but they took us to a protected cove and it was perfect. I think they cancel if its dangerous in anyways, too rough or lightening etc. A little rain won't hurt as you get wet anyways

 

[indyshea]

The day I'm going to be in Tortola it is showing as 50% chance of rain and I have a snorkeling excursion planned. Will they still let us snorkel if it's raining badly? If they do, does the rain ruin the experience? Today is the last day I can cancel this excursion without penalty. Do you think I should keep it?\

I looked up the forecast for all the islands I'm going to and apparently it's supposed to rain the entire trip. I'm a little bummed, I thought December wouldn't have much rain like Florida.

Are you going on the Fantasy on 12/31? We are. I think I might want to cancel too.

Edit: just saw original post date was 12/19 so she might be there now.