Tell Me About Snorkeling in Chileno Bay (Cabo)

[deleckidesign]

First, let me start by saying I had a very bad experience the first (and so far, last) time I went snorkeling. It was an excursion off the coast of Cozumel and the seas were very rough that day. I couldn't figure out how to keep the mouthpiece in without allowing water in. I stayed in the water for 10 minutes max and didn't manage to do any snorkeling. Ever since then, I have not wanted to go snorkeling for fear of me not being able to do it. I know it cannot be that difficult. I chalk it up to the water being very choppy.

Anyway, I was looking at the Chileno Bay Snorkeling excursion in Cabo. I heard from one person that it was great. Wondering if anyone else has done this and can tell me a bit about it. Help me get over my fear of snorkeling once and for all!

 

[CraftyMouse]

I can't help with your quesiton about Chileno Bay (and am interested in the answers you get), but I think I can help with your mouthpiece problems. When you put the mouthpiece in your mouth bite down on it gently while sealing your lips around the tube. The pressure of your teeth should make it much easier to hold it in your mouth.

Good luck!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

First, let me start by saying I had a very bad experience the first (and so far, last) time I went snorkeling. It was an excursion off the coast of Cozumel and the seas were very rough that day. I couldn't figure out how to keep the mouthpiece in without allowing water in. I stayed in the water for 10 minutes max and didn't manage to do any snorkeling. Ever since then, I have not wanted to go snorkeling for fear of me not being able to do it. I know it cannot be that difficult. I chalk it up to the water being very choppy.

Anyway, I was looking at the Chileno Bay Snorkeling excursion in Cabo. I heard from one person that it was great. Wondering if anyone else has done this and can tell me a bit about it. Help me get over my fear of snorkeling once and for all!

Whilst I haven't snorkeled in that area, I can tell you the sea in Cabo is rich with sea life, I have been there before and fully recommend, anything in or on the sea there, there is so much to see.

 

[m&p'smom]

I was thinking of doing this with my dd who is 11...Neither of us have ever done it so I am interested to hear what everyone has to say....

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

First, let me start by saying I had a very bad experience the first (and so far, last) time I went snorkeling. It was an excursion off the coast of Cozumel and the seas were very rough that day. I couldn't figure out how to keep the mouthpiece in without allowing water in. I stayed in the water for 10 minutes max and didn't manage to do any snorkeling. Ever since then, I have not wanted to go snorkeling for fear of me not being able to do it. I know it cannot be that difficult. I chalk it up to the water being very choppy.

Anyway, I was looking at the Chileno Bay Snorkeling excursion in Cabo. I heard from one person that it was great. Wondering if anyone else has done this and can tell me a bit about it. Help me get over my fear of snorkeling once and for all!

That might have been me! I was NOT the snorkeler, chickened out every time, the noise freaked me out, etc. Been to Hawaii twice and couldn't do it either trip. The guide on the Chileno Bay one (Eddie?) totally gave me an orientation on the boat, practiced on the boat out of the water- then got in the water with me and helped me do it. Was I as great as my dh? No. But I am so proud of myself, and the water there was VERY clear, lots of great fish. One guy in our group saw an octopus and another saw a stingray. In November it was not bathtub warm, but warm enough. Should be great on your cruise!!

Now I have the confidence that I can do this at Castaway Cay, and won't be left on the beach by my lonesome while DH, DD, DS all snorkel away...it was sad when DS who is 7 took up snorkeling this summer, just put on a mask, snorkel, and fins and off he went... and his mama was still sitting on the boat!

 

[Anal Annie]

I hate to say it but we did that excursion in '05 and it was horrid. It was a beautiful area and I had done a lot of research before choosing it and hopefully, you will not have the same ocean conditions. It was FREEZING cold water (like thought we were on the Titanic). I jumped into the water and swam to the closest ladder to get back on - as did a lot of others. There was also a lot of foam on the surface of the water and a lot of sea lice. Our DS (8 at the time) meanwhile jumped in & swam to the shore! DH & I got back on the boat & couldn't find him! I had to use my camera lens like a binocular - once we spotted him on the shore DH had to go back in to go get him!

From what I heard later on the ship tho all snorkeling / beach excursions experienced the same water conditions - it wasn't just Chileno Bay. The weather for the whole trip and the ocean conditions combined is why we decided to book back-to-backs on the Wonder for this summer rather than trying the Mexican Riviera in the summer again. Summer is the rainy season down there & I think tropical storms & hurricanes really have a lot of impact on the conditions. We would like to go back down that way - we still really enjoyed our trip - but we won't do it in July again!

 

[Anal Annie]

First, let me start by saying I had a very bad experience the first (and so far, last) time I went snorkeling. It was an excursion off the coast of Cozumel and the seas were very rough that day. I couldn't figure out how to keep the mouthpiece in without allowing water in. I stayed in the water for 10 minutes max and didn't manage to do any snorkeling. Ever since then, I have not wanted to go snorkeling for fear of me not being able to do it. I know it cannot be that difficult. I chalk it up to the water being very choppy.

Anyway, I was looking at the Chileno Bay Snorkeling excursion in Cabo. I heard from one person that it was great. Wondering if anyone else has done this and can tell me a bit about it. Help me get over my fear of snorkeling once and for all!

I have also had bad experiences (mainly with leaky masks) but you have to relax and breathe normally. Buy your own gear and you can practice at home, in the tub or at your local pool where you won't be sucking in salt water! The water in Cozumel is THE clearest ever! Gorgeous. But there is a really strong current around the island which can be scary. We had really, really rough water in St. John which did not produce good conditions either. Hawaii has the most magnificant snorkeling we have ever done. I have never seen so many fish from off shore snorkeling as we did off the Kona coast. Incredible. We waded in & there were thousands of fish. Snorkeling takes a little getting used to. Don't give up on it!

 

[pclaire]

My daughter (then age 7) and I went on this excursion in july 2005. Gorgeous scenery on the way, past the arch. The first place we stopped was too rough, so they found us another bay. Very, very rough, the kids were not allowed to snorkel. They were all upset. The water wasn't too cold, so we jumped in and swam around for a few minutes. The good news is that the sail back t0 the ship was fabulous and all the kids sat in the front of the catamaran while we flew home. Good sailing weather = bad snorkeling conditions. I think it wold be a great excursion, but only if the weather cooperates.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Yes the Pacific is much colder than the Caribbean, our first few days out of LA were cold and we missed Cabo due to a hurricane, I had been there before with Princess. The sea life and sea views are great.

 

[airtime247]

We did the Chileno Bay snorkeling excursion with Disney when they did the '05 westbound repositioning cruise. We've been snorkeling at several ports and this was easily our least favorite. The boat was nice and equipment good but as was previously mentioned, the water was really cold. The best part of the excursion was the tour around the bay beforehand.

I also found the water to be green and very murky. The fish were very plentiful but I couldn't see them until they were within a few feet of me. They also didn't seem very colorful but maybe it was just the green water that made them appear that way.

Several people were also stung by tiny jellyfish.

I don't know how much the conditions had to do with the time of year we went so you may want to look into that.

-steve

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

The Pacific is always going to be a LOT colder than the Atlantic or the Caribbean... even down in Mexico. if you are expecting 80+ degree water, don't get in it. You will be unhappy with the water temps in Mexico. I guess it seemed warm enough to us Californians! You also won't see the crystal blue water like the Caribbean, or beaches with that white sugar soft sand. The Mexican Riviera is not at all like the Caribbean or the Gulf of Mexico, so be forewarned. I think people expect the same experience, and it's a different part of the world. If you go into this cruise expecting Cozumel or Grand Cayman you will be sorely disappointed. I think jellyfish can be found in any tropical port, anytime- so that's just bad luck. We had calm waters, but the week before cruisers were getting sick because you have to tender in Cabo, and it was so choppy.

Hopefully, the OP will have great weather!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

The Pacific is always going to be a LOT colder than the Atlantic or the Caribbean... even down in Mexico. if you are expecting 80+ degree water, don't get in it. You will be unhappy with the water temps in Mexico. I guess it seemed warm enough to us Californians! You also won't see the crystal blue water like the Caribbean, or beaches with that white sugar soft sand. The Mexican Riviera is not at all like the Caribbean or the Gulf of Mexico, so be forewarned. I think people expect the same experience, and it's a different part of the world. If you go into this cruise expecting Cozumel or Grand Cayman you will be sorely disappointed. I think jellyfish can be found in any tropical port, anytime- so that's just bad luck. We had calm waters, but the week before cruisers were getting sick because you have to tender in Cabo, and it was so choppy.

Hopefully, the OP will have great weather!

Fully agree.