Snorkeling safety

[Jenscruise]

We are cruising Fantasy in 22 days!! I have booked a Snorkeling excursion and feel excited, but a healthy respect knowing we will in the big open ocean..and animals live there that I'm not too familiar with..
I've been reading safety tips.. but was wondering if any of you experts have tips.. to maybe ease my nervousness for a first timer??

 

[ldo]

you'll be with a group of people and will be fine. limit metal jewelry=barracuda are attracted to it. pull hair back--bangs let water into your mask. don't be afraid to pop your head out of the water and pull hard on your mask to empty a bit of water and wipe with fingers to defog. try to relax and float around vs. swimming/thrashing in the water. Enjoy the beautiful under the sea world. It's amazing. Pay attention to the little tiny fishes, vivid colors, etc.

 

[Marc D]

They give you an yellow inflatable vest. Even in choppy waters, you'll float with ease because of it. There are also guides with floatations devices that can assist you and bring you back to the boat if needed. You can bring your own mask if you prefer.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

On a snorkel excursion in Grand Cayman I was swimming along gazing down at schools of fish swirling around the mast of the Kittiwake. It was so neat to watch. I glanced back at my husband who was waving his arms & pointing past me. That's when I found myself not very far away from a barracuda that was easily as long as I am tall. I'm not a short girl. I knew what it was the instant I saw it. First thought in my brain: "Holy sh**, I didn't know they made them that big!" Followed closely by: "This is it. I can't out-swim that." I froze. I just gazed at it and it at me. I think it was there watching the swirling fishies same as me when I happened upon it. It felt like forever just stopped there looking at the barracuda even though I'm sure it wasn't even a minute. Then I decided I should back up. So I started swimming backwards. I looked down & behind me for my husband. When I glanced back towards the direction of the barracuda it was gone. Honestly, *not* knowing where it went was scarier than seeing it in the moment! Husband and I swam back closer to the group of snorkelers, surfaced, and totally geeked-out over what we'd seen. It was a very exhilarating, awesome moment! Was I scared? Yeah, at first. But I had seen something really amazing, too. The big fishes are out there. We've snorkeled a LOT in many, many places. That's the only time I ever saw any real predatory-type fish. People are not the primary food source for them. The schools of fishies I was watching are. Go enjoy your snorkel excursion. The guides are there to instruct you, keep you safe, and make it enjoyable. Be with the group if it makes you feel safer. (I usually try to get away from groups!) You'll be just fine & will be able to check another cool life experience off your list. Maybe you'll get lucky and spot something really exciting, too. Don't worry about the scary fish. You're the scariest thing out there. Not them.

 

[ludari]

I'm a master scuba diver and I have gone scuba diving at numerous locations and nearly all the ports I can when I cruise. I also dive locally year round in California and have worked as a diver at a local aquarium. Considering you are with a reputed company that DCL is contracted with and with a group of other snorkelers you should be just fine. Just listen to the guides who are familiar with the area because they are there to keep you safe, informed and to have a good time. In my experience most sea life you'll see will ignore you but in some rare cases might seem curious about who you are. Just respect the wildlife and maintain a safe distance as to not seem threatening you should be just fine.

 

[Jenscruise]

Thanks all for the responses.. we are pretty excited to try.. will be a first for myself, DH and DD 13

 

[jrabbit]

what not to do .... while floating along on the surface of the water and you glide over / past something interesting, dont look "down" towards your feet unless you want to suck in some of the ocean through your snorkel! you have to turn your whole body around.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Ludari is right. If you stay relaxed and listen to the guides, you will be fine. Don't be shy about speaking up if you are having a problem with your equipment or something.

 

[Sir William]

I like to just float along as I snorkel and let the sea life come to me. Most of the time the fish just accept my presence and swim all around me. A year or so back, I was floating along and came over a very large sting ray, much larger than anything Mickey has swimming at CC. The ray began swishing his tail back and forth as I tried to keep my distance (the current wasn't helping), but he must've figured I wasn't a threat so he swam away.

 

[truck1]

Couple of things to add.
First, relax and enjoy it.
2nd, work with the current and not against it. The current will win. Every time.
Drink plenty of water before during and after. You can get dehydrated really quick snorkeling, which can lead to sea sickness and sickness in general.
Pay attention to what the crew tells you before you get in the water. Don't be afraid to ask question or for help. A good mask will fit comfortably and not leak. If its not comfortable or leaks, ask a crew member for help in getting another one. Sometimes the mouth piece on the snorkel will be too big, and that can cause a leak also. Easy way to check is to put the mask on your face with out the strap on. Inhale thru your nose. The mask should stay on your face. Now do the same thing but put the snorkel in your mouth. You may have to support it for second. If the mask falls off your face, the snorkel mouth piece is probably too big. Ask for another one.

Try not to touch the water life. Most of it is harmless but there are somethings that can make your trip miserable. Lion fish for one. They look pretty but touch the wrong spine and it will hurt. A lot.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Can you/should you bring your own snorkel gear (minus the fins) on any of the snorkeling excursions? I know we've talked about this for Castaway Cay, but what about the independent ones on a stop?

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Your choice. The real question, which depending on who your tour is booked through might be hard to find out, is what kind of snorkeling equipment they have? "Classic" snorkels take some getting used to. Open the mask manually to drain water out if it has leaked into your eyes/nose. Blow out the snorkel tube manually if you go under water to see something. These are no big deal, and something you will quickly get used to. However, some "modern" snorkel equipment have conveniences to make this a lot easier. The mask my mother got for my son automatically drained (one way valve) if water leaked into it. Likewise, if you dive under water and the tube fills with water, it also had a one-way valve to drain that water as well. It just made it easier. Two less things to deal with when you are trying to tread water and look at stuff.

So if you know they are going to have the classic kind and you want to get some of the new kind, you may well be glad you did. If they already have the modern ones, I wouldn't bother bringing your own. Likewise, if you've done a lot of snorkeling and those things are second nature, you probably won't need the newer kind.

 

[truck1]

Can you/should you bring your own snorkel gear (minus the fins) on any of the snorkeling excursions? I know we've talked about this for Castaway Cay, but what about the independent ones on a stop?

I would and do. For the simple reason is my gear fits me and my family and there's no guess work as to whether it will fit comfort etc. Even going on a dive trip out of the country I take everything going except lead.

 

[OKW Lover]

Agree with @Tuck1 above, there is much to be said for taking gear you are familiar with. I'd especially do that if going on any extended snorkeling adventure. However, for just the casual snorkeling in a "protected" environment you may find lugging your equipment to be more trouble than its worth.

As @Anchors Away 2016 said above, your choice.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I was also thinking about the hygiene of putting something in my mouth or over my nose that had been used by someone else. I don't care about the fins, but the face gear seems like a hygiene issue.