What is too young for snorkeling?

[sherr]

Hi all.
Just wondering. We will be cruising on Feb.26 for 3 days.
My 6 year old wants to snorkel with her 10 year old sisters on CC and I'm not sure she will be able to. She is not a very good swimmer yet. Still needs rings in water over her head. So my question is, do the vests keep kids afloat? Or do you have to be able to tread water on your own?

Thanks for the input!

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

The vests do keep you afloat. I wouldn't worry as long as your 6 year old is snorkeling with others. I can be a little disconcerting the first time. I know it was for my DD and she was 11.

 

[kcashner]

You have more than a month till you cruise. Is there an indoor pool where you can arrange some swim lessons? Even an "free swim" session where she can practice with snorkel equipment will be a help. She'll enjoy it much more is she is more confident with her abilities.

If there's not a class she can fit into, many of the lifeguards at our local pool teach private lessons on their "off" hours.

 

[sherr]

That is good to hear. She will be happy to at least try it.
Good idea to get her swimming before we go. Probably won't be able to pracitice snorkeling but we could at least get in the water and practice breathing and tredding. Thanks!

 

[Nesnboy]

My daughter, who was 5 at the time, went snorkeling for the first time last. It took her about five minutes to learn how to keep the snorkel in her mouth, and her face was down in the water looking at fish for the rest of the week. Your 6 year old shouldn't have a problem. With the life vest they give you, you'd float with a lead bathing suit.

 

[MarkLem]

The snorkeling is quite far from shore. I'm a former high school and college swimmer, and coached, taught lessons, and managed pools in my past life for a few years. If your 6 year old is not a good swimmer, YOU should be if you are going to take her out to the snorkeling areas, float or no float (just my opinion, it's up to you of course). I didn't take my 6 year old out there(it was too far, but she did get in the water with me on a Capt. Marvin trip in Grand Cayman off the back of the boat). she could don a mask and play around close to shore, but there's not much to see (occasionally you will see some fish).

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Probably won't be able to pracitice snorkeling

Why not?

If you need to get some snorkeling gear, it's still available this time of year. While I know there are other and perhaps even better places to get some equipment, I can recomend CampMor as a reputable company (bought lots of camping gear from them over the years).

Here's their list of Snorkel Equipment. Buy your own and you won't have to put your mouth on Snorkel gear that hundreds of others have already had in their mouth (yea they clean that stuff for sanitary purposes, but the thought is still icky).

The only things you need to practive (with adult supervision) is the mask and snorkel. The only fears of buying a mask online is that I don't know how it might fit a 6yo. It might be more worth your time and money to find a local dive shop where you can test fit some masks. You will pay more (I'd expect $30-50 range), but it will be worth it (snorkelling with a leaky mask is NO FUN).

If she can get the hang of it in deep water and realy enjoys it, there will be lots of snorkeling excursions that you can take her on.

The other thing you might want to consider (while you're at the dive shop) is buying her a special snorkel called a dry-snorkel. The dry-snorkel comes with a valve that closes the top of the snorkel if it goes under water for any reason. It can cut down the chances of a beginner choking on some water that unexpectedly gets in the snorkel. The cost will be about $30-40.

 

[moneypit85]

Castaway Cay snorkeling, it was a little to far out for our 7 yr old. and she is a good swimmer. DS 12 and even DH had a time making it all the way out and back, said it was worth it though. the vest are a great help.

enjoy

 

[Laura]

I went snorkeling in Hawaii and saw a mother with her son using something like this. They were with a snorkel tour that sailed into the bay I was in. Basically it looks like a boogie board with a snorkel mask stuck in it.

Would something like it be available to you in Castaway Cay?

 

[GenieDana]

You are not allowed to take rafts or floats into the snorkeling area of CC a shame too, beacuse it would keep the bottom less stirred up.

You can stand in a lot of places at CC at low tide. I wouldn't worry about your 6 year old, our 3 year old is not a strong swimmer and handled the BC's just fine.

 

[sherr]

I think all we can do is at least try it and see if she likes it. I guess I hope all my girls will be the ones that we can't keep out of the water because they love it so much.

We have decided not to purchase our own equipment before we go so we will take our chances on the rentals. Gotta watch our pennies and keep saving up!

 

[precious2flh]

We bought the equipment b4 our cruise and practiced in our pool but when our 6 year old tried it while on the Disney Cruise...the salt water was VERY differnet than the pool water and once she got it in her eyes and mouth...she hated it and enjoyed playing in the family beach are much much more!....and she was already a great swimmer at the time. But every child is different so I would at least let her try! Have a great trip.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

The other thing you might want to consider (while you're at the dive shop) is buying her a special snorkel called a dry-snorkel. The dry-snorkel comes with a valve that closes the top of the snorkel if it goes under water for any reason. It can cut down the chances of a beginner choking on some water that unexpectedly gets in the snorkel. The cost will be about $30-40

Is that called a dry top? If so- the link you showed for campmor.com has the children's size snorkel with dry top for $4.99 and adult size for $8.99.

BTW- what is "quick release snorkel keeper"? Almost every one listed there mentioned that.... no clue what it means.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Bibbidy,

The snorkel you refer to is NOT a "dry-snorkel", this is a dry snorkel. (Note: web page was found with a quick google search, I don't know anything about this dealer).

The "dry top" snorkel you pointed has a tip that is designed to reduce the amount of water that might get in the snorkel if the tip goes under water for just a moment because a wave rolled by. If you dive underwater for a closer look at something with that kind of snorkel, water WILL get in the snorkel.

The "dry-snorkel" on the other hand, has a large value at the top that will close if the tip goes under water for any reason. It is nearly impossible for water to get into the snorkel from the tip.

The quick-release snorkel keeper is just a clip attatched to the snorkel so that you can clip it to your mask. That way your mask helps to keep the snorkel upright and when you take your mask off, the snorkel is still attached to it (so you are not carrying two things). You can see the clip on the snorkel just above the mouth-piece elbow (might be hard to see clearly because it is a black clip on a dark-blue snorkel).

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by HooKooDooKu
The snorkel you refer to is NOT a "dry-snorkel", this is a dry snorkel. (Note: web page was found with a quick google search, I don't know anything about this dealer).

That looks like a great snorkel, I think *I* need that!

 

[hydster]

Our soon to be 5 year old son is an awesome snorkeler. He did it for hours at a time in Cancun when we went (actually went to cozumel to chankanaab) but he had a blast! He cant even really swim that well without water wings or a lifejacket so we just put his lifejacket on him and we all went out. He loved every second of it and begged to go again and again. It was too rough at the beach by our hotel but he did it in the swimming pool as well. I would imagine a little work you would be fine. Usually places like Costco sell snorkel equipment (which I would recommend you buy for your child so that the equipment fits well and salt water doesnt get into their eyes) and then they can practice with it as well. There is nothing worse than a child (or anyone) getting set to snorkel and having their mask leak and their eyes sting! It makes the day very long sometimes! I would suggest buying masks and snorkels for everyone before you leave. Even a cheaper set would be fine as long as the mask fit correctly. I just cant stand the thought of using something that has been in someone else's mouth no matter how clean they claim it is. JMO

Heidi