Snorkling & the non-swimmer

[goldn]

Hello all!! I am a first time cruiser & have gained a lot of useful information from all the postings. Now I am in need of some information please. We are sailing to celebrate my son's graduation from high school & are looking forward to this grand adventure. He is a very experienced swimmer but I, on the other hand, can not swim & deafly scared of water. I would like to do some snorkling & want to know which of the excursion would be best. Can someone described the Discover Trail on Castaway Cay & the snorkling at the adult beach? Also, if we are spending the day at Castaway Cay the second day would doing the Blue Lagoon on the first day be doing the exact same thing 2 days in a row? Any information will be appreciated. Thanks so much.

 

[RebeccaLovesDisney]

Congratulations on your son's graduation and upcoming cruise! I admire your willingness to learn a new skill! Snorkling on CC does not have to be an all out or scary adventure. The complete trail is pretty long and a good swim, but you definitely can see some fish, etc. without going out too far. You could start by walking out to where you are comfortable and putting your face in (of course with snorkel and mask) to get used to the feel and you will probably see some fish. Also remember that there are flotation vests available free of charge on the beach which would probably increase your comfort in the water. If there is time before your cruise, you could always look into a basic swim class in your area to help you feel more comfortable in the water.

I don't know about the excursions on the Wonder but I'm sure someone else will. Most of all, just relax, enjoy your vacation, and do what you are comfortable doing!

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

goldn, welcome to the DIS! Have to ask about this:

can not swim & deafly scared of water

Does that mean you, right now, won't even get in a pool? If so, then follow Julie's suggestion and atleast take a beginning swim class. It will help you get comfortable in the water.
If you're okay with the pool, then purchase an inexpensive mask and life-jacket and practice in the pool. The hardest part is getting used to breathing through the snorkel itself. We had DD practice in the pool before we went and she had a ball.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

If you are going to snorkle, you must realize that anywhere to go snorkling, you will likely be in water that is over your head. Even the snorkle trail in the family lagoon on CC averages perhaps 8 feet deep.

If you really want to be able to enjoy the snorkling, I'd suggest that you purchase your own mask and snorkle from a local dive shop. They can help you make sure you get a mask that will fit your face without leaking. You can even get what is known as a dry-snorkle (it's a special snorkle with a valve that closes if the tip of the snorkle should fall below the water line. Then take your new equipment to a swimming pool near you where you can practice snorkling in something like 4 feet of water.

Do realize that when you do get in the water for real (at CC snorkle lagoon or any of the snorkling excursions) a snorkle vest will be provided. This vest is like an inflatable life vest. It has a valve on a stem positioned for easy access to inflate the vest. You can partially inflate it go give yourself a little extra bouancy, and its quick to inflate it enough to totally support you if you get any trouble (suddenly get tired or begin to choke on some water you accidently inhaled).

 

[disneyholic family]

as a former lifeguard i can only say that if you can't swim you shouldn't snorkel......(and i can't imagine how you would ever be able to snorkel without knowing how to swim)....
if you want to snorkel, learn how to swim first...you don't have to be an expert, but a few classes to get yourself drown-proofed and able to do a basic dog paddle are a must...

 

[goldn]

Wow, such great information so fast. I appreciate all the replies. I did take 2 sets of swim lessons back-to-back about 2 years ago (we were going to WDW for a week). I did learn to use a paddle board. But, the last 2 years I lost my mom then, not even a year later, I lost my dad. So, not much time for swim practice, so the fear returned. I do feel the former lifeguard was correct...no swim, no snorkle. I just needed some feedback so I would know what I needed to do. I'm glad I'm not the only Disney fan-atic out there. We've done WDW 3 times, Disneyland once & now the cruise. I can't wait. We've also done Universal Studios Orlando & Hollywood. Everybody have a great, happy, funfilled summer!!!!!

 

[WDWLVR]

I would recommend a refresher course on swimming, then getting your own mask. Once you have done that I would go over to Serenity Bay instead of the snorkeling lagoon. We have been able to see some amazing things over there (starfish, sand dollars, stingray, even a live conch). Both times we have been there the water was no more than waist deep. In fact the last time we were there the tide was out and people were walking out as far as the marker in knee deep water. You should be able to see a few things without being in water over your head.

The snorkeling lagoon on the other hand is pretty deep.

 

[crisi]

I'm an ok swimmer (I do laps in the pool - and can do about fifteen of them) and I found snorkeling to be challenging. Yes, you wear an inflatable vest, but it is still possible to drown while snorkeling, even with the vest and as a decent swimmer. I'm used to a pool - no waves, and navigating the waves was quite difficult. I also found the inflatable vest to be problematic, it kept flipping me over - it wanted to be on top with me under it (and therefore under water!).

You might want to try a glass bottom boat tour, which will let you take a peek at the fish without needing to swim. Another option is to try the tamer snorkle pool at Typhoon Lagoon on your next Disney trip before you try the real ocean.

 

[DoomBuggieDriver]

Not too much to add to all of the above; just wanted to say I purchased masks and dry snorkles rather than renting, and didn't regret it a bit. The dry snorkle is a must have-it closes off so you can't accidentally snurgle the water back in. I am a beginner snorkler but a decent swimmer, and definately think taking a beginner swimming class is the way to go. Then you can enjoy your time in the water and overcome those fears in the process.
Good luck!
Kathy

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Yes, you wear an inflatable vest, but it is still possible to drown while snorkeling, even with the vest and as a decent swimmer.

This is why, no matter how good of a swimmer you are and even if you are a part of an excursion, you ALWAYS USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM. You just never know when you might get in trouble in some unexpected way.

 

[TexasTrudy]

The water at the adult beach is only up to hip level (I'm 5'4") for about 200 yards, so you can walk out quite a ways (out towards the big red buoys). Disney hasn't added anything for snorkelers to see. If you snorkel there, you will see wildlife like fish, starfish, snails, etc. My recommendation is to bring water-shoes (the bottom is very rocky everywhere) and swim goggles (to see cool stuff under water). If you snorkel, go to the family beach and try the trails. Bring your own gear (look for a snorkel with a splash guard). Hubby and I rented Disney's gear and my mask kept leaking even though it was on very tight. Have fun!

 

[disneyholic family]

by the way, before you go to a whole lot of effort, we thought the snorkeling at the family beach was terrible.....(we didn't try the adult beach)...

we're used to snorkeling/scuba diving in a coral reef, so granted anything would have a hard time matching what we're used to...
but nevertheless, the snorkeling area had nothing at all to see until you get very far out into the water (and it's very deep the whole way out) and once you're finally out there, it's just stuff that has been added by disney...
all 4 of us thought it was an incredible waste of time and effort to snorkel there....
we are not planning on snorkeling next week when we're at CC....
there are plenty of other things to do on CC besides snorkel (we're not even planning on swimming this time, we'll be too busy with other stuff)....

 

[HooKooDooKu]

My recommendation is to bring water-shoes (the bottom is very rocky everywhere)

More than just rocky. There are sea urchines (sp?) off the adult beach AND THEY ARE NO FUN TO STEP ON (you'll be pulling spines out of your foot for a week).

For us, the worst part of snorkeling the family beach was visibility was very poor. We didn't go until late in the day and so lots of sand had been kicked up. Visibility was like 15 feet. By comparison, we had just come from snorkeling off the adult beach where visibility was like 150 feet. I hear the visibility is better if you go early in the day. While yes the stuff you see is stuff that Disney put there, there is still lots of interesting sea life that now inhabit these things.

As for snorkeling off the adult beach, it's been hit-and-miss:

The first time (before the island was hit by a hurrican) the sea was calm and visibility was teriffic. The sea floor was littered with sand dollars (either the hurrican wiped them out or people have started to collect them), we saw fish, lots of star fish, conchs (sp?), lobsters, a shark, and stingray.

The next time, sea was rough (my wife and I would loose each other in the waves when we were only 15 feet apart) and so much sand was stirred up by the waves that visibility was only 20 ft.