Snorkling CC and Nassau

[lborne]

My wife, myself and our 3 and 8 year olds will be on the Wonder November 16. We do not want to snorkel off a boat, but would rather do it off a beach, since the 3 yr old will probably just want to play in the sand. Should we bother snorkling in CC, or take a taxi to a beach in Nassau? Several years ago we did CC and the reef was sparse. Has it improved?

Does anyone know of a good place (away from Atlantis) to snorkel?

[magic1]

Just got off the Wonder 2 weeks ago and I would say if you are going to snorkel off the beach do it at Castway Cay. Altough you have to swim out a ways to see things, disney has built several artificial reefs including subs and boats and the Sailor Mickey that have attracked fish. They also have lifegaurds posted in case you have to worry about your 8 yr old. My son and I did the catamaran/snorkel in Nassau and loved it If you can bring your own equipment do it so you won't be charged the $23. You can get the life vest free.(that's required to snorkel at CC.)

[RB Bonzo]

My wife, myself and our 3 and 8 year olds will be on the Wonder November 16. We do not want to snorkel off a boat, but would rather do it off a beach, since the 3 yr old will probably just want to play in the sand. Should we bother snorkling in CC, or take a taxi to a beach in Nassau? Several years ago we did CC and the reef was sparse. Has it improved?

Does anyone know of a good place (away from Atlantis) to snorkel?

I love CC, but not for snorkeling; there are fish, but it is a totally artificial environment. No reef.

[OceanLiner]

CC is a great place to learn to snorkle, which is what my 6 year learned on his first DCL cruise. It's very protected and it feels very safe for the kids.

That being said, there really is not alot to see. Some fish, not many, and very artifical. Also, be aware that the lagoon is very clear at the begining of the day and then very murky from all the activity as the day goes on.

We had a really good time in Nassau at Paradise Island. The water was really clear and beach clean. Make sure that everyone has swim shoes at PI because sea urchin spines do not feel so good. I know this from experience.

[lborne]

Thanks for the replies. My wife and I have done some fantastic snorkling around the world, and as I figured, CC is just too crowded. Artifical reefs eventually can turn in to great dive sites, but they need to be left alone for a while.

Since my 8 year old is a great swimmer and has no problems snorkling, we will probably try somewhere in Nassau away from the crowds. It is one place we've never been - any ideas?

Thanks

[Rykat247]

Posted this elsewhere but will do it again.
Take a couple of zip lock bags with you, each morning while having breakfast, stash a few link sausages away in the zip lock and save them for snorkeling at CC. Forget the coral, there's no reef but there are a lot of fish there and when they find you and smell the sausage it is a sight to behold. Your 8 year old won't believe it.
While you are snorkeling keep the zip lock sealed in you pocket or inside your bathing suit and when you are about to return toward the beach take a couple out and start breaking them up in small pieces- it usually only takes a few minutes and when they find you, you will be surrounded by beaytiful yellowtail snappers from 6 inches long up to 3 or 4 pounds. They are a bit aggressive but don't really bite (too much). We found that if you return back to one of the sand hills inside of the deeper water, where you can stand in waist high water it is much easier to control the flow of fish and food.
Make sure you have at least a couple of dozen sausages and keep them in the zip lock till you "hand them out".
We brought other stuff with us, like salmon, bread, crawfish but man they really like the sausages best.
If ya ain't into feeding a school of beautiful yellowtails then go back and sit on the beach!

While you are snorkeling out as far as you can go, keep a close watch for a couple of large (8 pound) Hog Snappers that appear to live near the rocks out by the fence. You may also see a couple of Barracudas in the lagoon. They look menacing and to be honest I wouldn't mess around with them. Look close it may be an"artificial" reef but there is plenty to see!:D

[Host Mick]

Posted this elsewhere but will do it again.
Take a couple of zip lock bags with you, each morning while having breakfast, stash a few link sausages away in the zip lock and save them for snorkeling at CC. Forget the coral, there's no reef but there are a lot of fish there and when they find you and smell the sausage it is a sight to behold. Your 8 year old won't believe it.
While you are snorkeling keep the zip lock sealed in you pocket or inside your bathing suit and when you are about to return toward the beach take a couple out and start breaking them up in small pieces- it usually only takes a few minutes and when they find you, you will be surrounded by beaytiful yellowtail snappers from 6 inches long up to 3 or 4 pounds. They are a bit aggressive but don't really bite (too much). We found that if you return back to one of the sand hills inside of the deeper water, where you can stand in waist high water it is much easier to control the flow of fish and food.
Make sure you have at least a couple of dozen sausages and keep them in the zip lock till you "hand them out".
We brought other stuff with us, like salmon, bread, crawfish but man they really like the sausages best.
If ya ain't into feeding a school of beautiful yellowtails then go back and sit on the beach!

While you are snorkeling out as far as you can go, keep a close watch for a couple of large (8 pound) Hog Snappers that appear to live near the rocks out by the fence. You may also see a couple of Barracudas in the lagoon. They look menacing and to be honest I wouldn't mess around with them. Look close it may be an"artificial" reef but there is plenty to see!:D

I heard that they go nuts for cheez-whiz in a can. When I have swam at CC, I never needed any food, they swarmed me whenever I went in the water. It must be my cod-scented cologne.
Also, stay away from the Baracudas. I know someone who was attacked by one when he was scraping the barnacles off of a boat. The baracuda was attracted to the shiny scraper. He lost a finger.