St. Maarten Rhino Rider and St. John Mini Boat Adventure

[ITGirl50]

Has anyone done these port adventures?

I thought they looked fun, but then someone told me I would have to climb back into the boat after snorkeling and that it's really, really hard to do that. Is that true? Anyone have any experience with either of these adventures and would you do it again?

 

[Principessa]

We did the St John mini boat adventure. It was awesome, really fun, BUT it is true that it is IMPOSSIBLY DIFFICULT to get back into the boat after the snorkeling. As I recall, it was easy enough for DS13 and oh so tough for me! I'm not athletic, and I'm not skinny. I don't remember if it was hard for everyone else. I would do it again, but only if DH came with to help me hoist myself back into the boat. This is definitely a trip for the physically fit. Also, since DH wasn't with (he doesn't like the water!) I had to drive the boat. A larg-ish rubber boat with a motor, that's fine..but to see over the bow, you have to ride ON YOUR KNEES, kneeling on a wood plank. Ouch! the vibration of the boat hitting the waves, slamming my knees onto that board...ouch! And you have no choice because you have to keep your boat in line with the others and match the lead pace. However, this trip was one of the most exciting exhilirating things I've ever done! The coral reef we snorkeled above was FANTASTIC, mesmerizing, incredible. Like a Discovery Channel movie. So if you have help, go for it. Maybe start doing pull ups now? There is also a bit of walking involved. Not a problem, but the day we went the guide was in a hurry and the pace was brisk. Fun but a true challenge.

 

[ITGirl50]

We did the St John mini boat adventure. It was awesome, really fun, BUT it is true that it is IMPOSSIBLY DIFFICULT to get back into the boat after the snorkeling. As I recall, it was easy enough for DS13 and oh so tough for me! I'm not athletic, and I'm not skinny. I don't remember if it was hard for everyone else. I would do it again, but only if DH came with to help me hoist myself back into the boat. This is definitely a trip for the physically fit. Also, since DH wasn't with (he doesn't like the water!) I had to drive the boat. A larg-ish rubber boat with a motor, that's fine..but to see over the bow, you have to ride ON YOUR KNEES, kneeling on a wood plank. Ouch! the vibration of the boat hitting the waves, slamming my knees onto that board...ouch! And you have no choice because you have to keep your boat in line with the others and match the lead pace. However, this trip was one of the most exciting exhilirating things I've ever done! The coral reef we snorkeled above was FANTASTIC, mesmerizing, incredible. Like a Discovery Channel movie. So if you have help, go for it. Maybe start doing pull ups now? There is also a bit of walking involved. Not a problem, but the day we went the guide was in a hurry and the pace was brisk. Fun but a true challenge.

Wow! Thanks for the detailed information. We will have to think about it more.

 

[Principessa]

No problem!
When I have an answer, I have a lot to say!
I guess I have gotten over that I'm afraid to post feeling. I just really enjoy reading about other's opinions so I figure I better share mine too. Good luck with your decision.

 

[ITGirl50]

DH says we need to practice getting into a inner tube in the pool before we go....

I have a couple more questions:

1) Can you touch the bottom to bounce up?
2) What is the water temp like? We will be going the 2nd week of March 2011

 

[Principessa]

Touch the bottom? NO Way - you are out in the middle of the ocean.
I don't think you can even see the bottom. Ok, it may not be the ocean, I think the guide told us if it was a bay or cove or some such...but to a midwesterner, it's the middle of the ocean.

I will try and figure out how to post the photo I took of DS during a lull in the driving you so can get an idea. You take a boat out to St. Thomas, then walk to the mini boats, then drive the mini boats about 10 minutes over to the fabulous coral reef which is off of an uninhabited or slightly inhabited island. Then you jump in the water and start snorkeling. There is no instruction on how to snorkel so if you haven't done it before, read up! I was clueless. But it was fun. Had I known how to snorkel I wouldn not have wasted some of my viewing time figuring out how to breathe and see. The viewing time goes by so fast.

Water temp? We were there June 8th or so...it must have been fine because I do not remember at all. Air temp was very hot; we were sad that we forgot hats for the boat ride over; DS turned his towel into a turban to get out of the sun. Very cute.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

We did the Rhino Riders and love it. We had so much fun. I will try and find some pics and post them.

 

[unionville]

We did the mini boats in St. Maarten through shoretrips.com. The boats are a wonderful way to enjoy the islands. Long story short, there was a miscommunication in our reservation so they wanted us to do the afternoon excursion. We had already taken a taxi to the tour office and had concerns we would miss the departure of the cruise ship if we waited until afternoon. After a quick phone call, Shoretrips was awesome and removed the charge of the excursion and we got to ride on the larger "mother-ship" with the lead captain for free. We had a beautiful tour of the island under a shaded canopy and our 7-year old son at the time got to help drive the big boat. We felt lucky to be with the captain who could tell us so much about what we were seeing. Now, where am I going with this??? The mini boats follow behind the big boat for the most part. It looked like lots of fun driving those boats. We made a stop off shore of a private beach where you could jump off to swim. The mini boats would tie-up to the large ship when you stop. We were not in super deep water, but I couldn't touch bottom. Remember that I had to get back in the BIG BOAT! How embarrassing when my husband and captain had to heave me in the boat. I just have no arm strength. The men and teenagers didn't seem to have any problems. The captain also had to help the other women return to the mini-boats and they were not as far out of the water as my boat. On to snorkeling stop! This time the water was of course much deeper - no chance of a bounce off the bottom. I didn't learn my lesson and jumped right off to snorkel. The captain took the group around a reef to show them where a nurse shark was usually located. My husband, son, and I snorkeled around the boats. My son was not super confident about snorkeling and we didn't want to get too far away. We decided to board before the captain and group returned. This time my husband heaved me onto a mini boat and then we stepped over to the bigger boat. Another lady returned to the boats before the gang too. After several attempts to get into her mini boat, my husband went to help. Apparently my husband didn't realize that she did not weigh as much as I did and he almost heaved her over the mini boat and out the other side! We still giggle about that story! We had a fun day but my husband makes sure I verify that there is a ladder available to return to the boat before I jump in the water these days!

 

[ITGirl50]

We did the Rhino Riders and love it. We had so much fun. I will try and find some pics and post them.

I would love to see some pictures!

 

[ITGirl50]

We were not in super deep water, but I couldn't touch bottom. Remember that I had to get back in the BIG BOAT! How embarrassing when my husband and captain had to heave me in the boat. I just have no arm strength. The men and teenagers didn't seem to have any problems. The captain also had to help the other women return to the mini-boats and they were not as far out of the water as my boat. On to snorkeling stop! This time the water was of course much deeper - no chance of a bounce off the bottom. I didn't learn my lesson and jumped right off to snorkel. The captain took the group around a reef to show them where a nurse shark was usually located. My husband, son, and I snorkeled around the boats. My son was not super confident about snorkeling and we didn't want to get too far away. We decided to board before the captain and group returned. This time my husband heaved me onto a mini boat and then we stepped over to the bigger boat. Another lady returned to the boats before the gang too. After several attempts to get into her mini boat, my husband went to help. Apparently my husband didn't realize that she did not weigh as much as I did and he almost heaved her over the mini boat and out the other side! We still giggle about that story! We had a fun day but my husband makes sure I verify that there is a ladder available to return to the boat before I jump in the water these days!

You would think there would have been a ladder in the large boat??
I guess if other people are struggling to get back in, I can take the embarrassment to get the opportunity to see things I have never seen before. Also, knowing ahead of time about how hard it is to get back into the boat, allows me the time to workout and gain some upper body strength!

It sounds like you had a very memorable trip! That's what I would like to do...something to remember.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I could only find one picture, I have no idea what happened to all my other pictures. Anyway here is the Rhino Rider: