Snorkeling for the first time

[GoToTheRock]

Hey ya'll,
I am planning to go snorkeling for the first time on my upcoming vacation and I am slightly nervous. I have been looking at masks and snorkels and wondering what to get. I want to keep my spenditure down but I want something that will work well for me. Any suggestions would be welcome, Thanks.

[mrmccoy]

If you go on a charter type trip they will rent everthing you need but If you are just going alone you can probly still rent mask fins and a snorkel from a dive shop.

[chilly willy]

Originally Posted by GoToTheRock

Hey ya'll,
I am planning to go snorkeling for the first time on my upcoming vacation and I am slightly nervous. I have been looking at masks and snorkels and wondering what to get. I want to keep my spenditure down but I want something that will work well for me. Any suggestions would be welcome, Thanks.

You can get a snorkle set, mask, snorkle and fins pretty cheap from a local dive shop where you are vacationing. Make sure the mask fits and seals your face before you buy it. You can also rent from dive shops but if you plan on using them more than a couple of days the cost of buying them vs renting makes more sense. Ask the local shops where the novice snorkle spots are and enjoy yourself!

[gee]

where are you going for vacation?

Originally Posted by GoToTheRock

Hey ya'll,
I am planning to go snorkeling for the first time on my upcoming vacation and I am slightly nervous. I have been looking at masks and snorkels and wondering what to get. I want to keep my spenditure down but I want something that will work well for me. Any suggestions would be welcome, Thanks.

[designer_mel]

I've learned you sometimes get what you pay for when it comes to water activity equipment.

If you are buying a snorkel I recommend a "dry snorkel". This simply means if you were to submerge your snorkel in the water (which is easily done in waves or when moving your head too far in certain directions) water will not enter the tube of your snorkel and make it's way to your mouth. I love my dry snorkel mainly because I like to dive under the water while snorkeling, maybe to retrieve something off the bottom, and when I surface I can immediately breathe without having to blow air through my snorkel to clear it.

Don't be afraid to try the masks on to ensure you purchase one with a good fit!!! Non-fitting equipment will leave you frustrated once in the water. A good fitting mask should "stick" to your face without the strap over your head when you put in place and suck air up through your nose to seal. If you can't do this, the mask is too big.

Also, if you purchase from a dive shop ask them how to clear your mask if water enters while you are swimming. A few pointers can go a long way in making your snorkel adventure enjoyable!!

Have fun!!!

[GoToTheRock]

Originally Posted by gee

where are you going for vacation?

I'll be stopping for one day in Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. I plan to go out to Stingray City in Grand Cayman, are there any reefs or places of interest to snorkel in Grand Cayman?

[bsktcase93]

I would go to a dive shop and get a mask that works well for you.....you don't want it to start leaking and if you get a clear skirt get a mask with a color frame, I had all clear and it sucked for snorkeling

[gee]

Originally Posted by GoToTheRock

I'll be stopping for one day in Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. I plan to go out to Stingray City in Grand Cayman, are there any reefs or places of interest to snorkel in Grand Cayman?

I'm sorry but I can not offer advise on snorkeling at Grand Cayman. However, I've heard that the Stingray City trip is a lot of fun. Have a great time and let us know how it turns out.

[donjohnsey]

Originally Posted by gee

I'm sorry but I can not offer advise on snorkeling at Grand Cayman. However, I've heard that the Stingray City trip is a lot of fun. Have a great time and let us know how it turns out.

[donjohnsey]

Went to StingRay City about 12 years ago. There were coral reefs close to where they fed the stingrays - you can not go to land there and can not stand on the reefs (or at least should not). I don't remember the reefs being anything special, but the stingrays were a lot of fun and pretty awesome. They had a diver there shooting underwater video so be sure and tell the diver to get shots of you going under to meet the stingrays. You have to buy the video though. I got several shots of going about 10 feet under and meeting a huge ray that thought I had some food. You can feed them chum if you wish and even rub them as they eat. Experienced divers probably think the whole trip is cheesy, but if you have never seen the stingrays before, then you are likely to enjoy it. I took my kids and they had a blast. The trip out to StingRay city was about an hour or so on a big catamaran style boat. Island music and sun on the way... food and beer on return trip. Did not do any other snorkel trips there.