Snorkle - mouthpiece germs

[TAKitty]

I am not usually concerned about germs but now I am stressing out. The kids have their own gear but I don't feel I "need" to buy my own snorkle equipment. Now I don't know what to do.

 

[DLW8]

While I didn't give this a second thought on my honeymoon on Maui 13 years ago, now with kids, I am stressing over it.

I bought the kids a set last summer so they could start practicing in the pool...and they love it. I will be picking up a set for me and DH as well this year...not sure if we'll pack the fins, but definitely the masks and snorkels...

I guess I'm becoming more of a gremaphobe myself in my old age and as a mom!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Another germaphobe here, I bought my own. Very easy to pack. I bought mine and DH for a scuba store and I bought my DD's from Sams Club that works really well for them.

 

[brehaul30]

Not sure if they use the same sanitizer at Disney's typhoon lagoon swim with sharks attraction but it is a purple chemical under the Ecolab brand name EBV. How do I know? My daughter (and son to a lesser extent) had their faces mildly burned by residual chemicals on masks this past March. My guess is they failed to rinse the masks fully following sanitizing. They could not provide MSDS at attraction, nursing, security or gates. I had to insist that the manager at Old Key West find the info and it didn't arrive until the next day. They didn't even comp us a day at the parks. The only good from it was it made for an interesting chemical safety lesson for my science class. First Disney cruise in March, we will be bringing our own masks and snorkels!

 

[aznaphrodite]

Well, thanks to this thread, I'm definitely bringing my own snorkel gear!! O_O

 

[disney1990]

Lots of germ freaks on the Dis Board. Do you take your own silverware with you when you go out to dinner too? They certainly don't clean that as well as the snorkel equipment is cleaned on Castaway.

 

[brehaul30]

Silverware? Were talking about a piece of rubber that is chewed, pressed and rubbed on ones teeth for several hours followed by a quick dip in a tank of sanitizer. I suppose you are OK with a few hairs left from the last guest in the shower.

 

[pixiedustaholic]

Lots of germ freaks on the Dis Board. Do you take your own silverware with you when you go out to dinner too? They certainly don't clean that as well as the snorkel equipment is cleaned on Castaway.

True! Glasses in restaurants harbor all sorts of germs too. When I went through training for a server job at a very popular chain of restaurants, we were drilled with this info. (Don't let the tea pitcher touch the glasses b/c you can spread diseases...this has pretty much ruined my dining out experiences b/c most of the time servers do this.....also told over and over not to pick up the glasses near the rims) Another common fomite are the serving utensils at buffets. Eeeew! I have to have my hand sanitizer when I eat at buffets and always use straws in my drinks. Oh, no! Are there straws onboard?

 

[mikehn]

oh please

 

[pixiedustaholic]

Not sure if they use the same sanitizer at Disney's typhoon lagoon swim with sharks attraction but it is a purple chemical under the Ecolab brand name EBV. How do I know? My daughter (and son to a lesser extent) had their faces mildly burned by residual chemicals on masks this past March. My guess is they failed to rinse the masks fully following sanitizing. QUOTE]

My DS7 also complained that the mask burned his face but was fine after he rinsed at the shower. My face also burned slightly but was fine after I rinsed. In the future we will rinse the gear well in the showers that are available before the lagoon.

 

[kmaclou]

People are worried about germs on the snorkel but then go into the ocean...

ok...