4774Papa Posted May 18, 2017 #1 Share Posted May 18, 2017 We are on the RC Explorer of the Seas next year TP and will stop at several South Pacific Islands. Snorkeling seems to be very popular. Is there an option to snorkel with a life vest so one would float on the surface? Also, is some of the snorkeling done is shallow enough water, so someone could easily stand up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted May 19, 2017 #2 Share Posted May 19, 2017 We are on the RC Explorer of the Seas next year TP and will stop at several South Pacific Islands. Snorkeling seems to be very popular. Is there an option to snorkel with a life vest so one would float on the surface? Also, is some of the snorkeling done is shallow enough water, so someone could easily stand up? For $20+\-, you can get a "float vest" on Amazon or at a local dive shop. You inflate it with your breath. Very compact and light. Works great. Depending on where you go and if you do some excursions that feature lagoons (e.g., Blue Lagoon on Fakarava? - if I remember correctly), you can wade in and see some fish. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter.kath@hotmail.com Posted May 19, 2017 #3 Share Posted May 19, 2017 Another option is taking a "noodle" which you place under your chest and float on. If you have not snorkelled before there are some easy breath masks on eBay for about $50 these are great especially if you have trouble breathing with a normal snorkel and mask. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted May 19, 2017 #4 Share Posted May 19, 2017 Another option is taking a "noodle" which you place under your chest and float on.If you have not snorkelled before there are some easy breath masks on eBay for about $50 these are great especially if you have trouble breathing with a normal snorkel and mask. Sent from my iPad using Forums In many Polynesian snorkling spots, you are in the open ocean. Even protected areas may have currents. A noodle would not be appropriate. Get a float vest. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquidneck1 Posted May 19, 2017 #5 Share Posted May 19, 2017 And please don't plan on standing up without watching for coral and also protect your feet then you do so. That said, we used a snorkel vest that we brought and it was great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4774Papa Posted May 19, 2017 Author #6 Share Posted May 19, 2017 And please don't plan on standing up without watching for coral and also protect your feet then you do so. That said, we used a snorkel vest that we brought and it was great. Thanks for the information. No one specifically answered my questions. However, based on your posts, it would appear that life vests are not available on site and snorkeling there generally involves deeper water. I have snorkeled before in waters that were too deep to stand up, but I was able to float on top of the water without much movement. DW is concerned about swimming without a life vest and probably won't go there without one. We don't plan on buying one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tahitianbigkahuna Posted May 19, 2017 #7 Share Posted May 19, 2017 Thanks for the information. No one specifically answered my questions. However, based on your posts, it would appear that life vests are not available on site and snorkeling there generally involves deeper water. I have snorkeled before in waters that were too deep to stand up, but I was able to float on top of the water without much movement. DW is concerned about swimming without a life vest and probably won't go there without one. We don't plan on buying one. Hard to answer without knowing exactly which Islands. Snorkeling spots can be very different depending on the island. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquidneck1 Posted May 19, 2017 #8 Share Posted May 19, 2017 I agree that the sites vary. Some sites are quite shallow, you cannot stand and you sort of float and swim gently over the coral. In that case a vest can protect but I also wore a rash guard. Some sites are deep and others moderately so. My husband wore a swim vest a lot and I less so. We also wore these. They went right into my fins and I never had to worry about what I was stepping on. Tilos Neoprene Fin Socks By the way, there are definitely some operators that have vests. When you plan your excursions, you need to read the details. The vests deflate so they take almost no room in the luggage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted May 19, 2017 #9 Share Posted May 19, 2017 Thanks for the information. No one specifically answered my questions. However, based on your posts, it would appear that life vests are not available on site and snorkeling there generally involves deeper water. I have snorkeled before in waters that were too deep to stand up, but I was able to float on top of the water without much movement. DW is concerned about swimming without a life vest and probably won't go there without one. We don't plan on buying one. Your question has been answered. Lagoons are bath tubs. Near in, offshore waters can have currents. You really need to be much more specific about which islands. A float vest is essential for poor (or uncertain) swimmers in any water deeper than you. Some locations lend themselves to current generated "drift snorkeling" (floating with the current from drop off to pick up spot- your boat follows close-by). Others range from calm to rough. Again, for about $20+\-, you can get a self-inflatable float vest. Some snorkeling tours have them (as well as wetsuits and/or rash-guards- again depending on location). Pretty much all tours will have masks/snorkels/fins (we bring our own mask/snorkel and reef shoes for rocky shores). Strong swimmers, we may or may not use the provided fins - again, it all depends on location. Buy the float-vest and make your spouse happy AND SAFE. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meamat Posted May 25, 2017 #10 Share Posted May 25, 2017 It's very hard to answer more specifically unless we know what ports you're visiting. You of course have the option to snorkel with a life vest if you bring it with you. I haven't seen any available for use in ports, but then again you may be visiting different places than I've been. Mare was probably the best island for snorkeling in shallow water, but I'm not sure if that's on your itinerary. Many islands have places that you could swim/snorkel in shallow water, quality varies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocoLoco1 Posted June 17, 2017 #11 Share Posted June 17, 2017 Answers: Yes and Yes. BUT an inflatable 'MaeWest' type of flotation device affords a much more comfortable and ethical experience; as you don't kill the coral you want to see. Walking in from shore often means you're walking onto dead coral others walked on before you did. ps WHERE are you intending to snorkel? Locomotiveman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod&Deb Posted January 12, 2018 #12 Share Posted January 12, 2018 LOL if you are not competent swimmer you must have access to a life vest as it could save her life and really they are not that expensive. If you can't swim I suggest you don't go past your waist. Be careful as all beaches have drop off points that could catch you out very easily. It's not really not worth a life for a few dollars well spent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SinbadThePorter Posted January 13, 2018 #13 Share Posted January 13, 2018 I have snorkeled before in waters that were too deep to stand up, but I was able to float on top of the water without much movement. DW is concerned about swimming without a life vest and probably won't go there without one. We don't plan on buying one. I don't want to be a killjoy, but I would suggest that neither of you snorkel if you aren't swimmers. It's suprising how quickly even an adult can drown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocoLoco1 Posted January 14, 2018 #14 Share Posted January 14, 2018 Prospective Snorkelers, I have NEVER seen a Snorkel Tour operation without flotation gear avail. Never. I've SCUBA'd and snorkeled since the 1960's. Snorkeling properly ABOVE coral in 10-12 feet of water necessitates it. For those except children, wading in 3 feet of water would not of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJo1973 Posted February 4, 2018 #15 Share Posted February 4, 2018 Prospective Snorkelers, I have NEVER seen a Snorkel Tour operation without flotation gear avail. Never. I've SCUBA'd and snorkeled since the 1960's. Snorkeling properly ABOVE coral in 10-12 feet of water necessitates it. For those except children, wading in 3 feet of water would not of course. I have but it was a $16 tour in the Philippines. LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meamat Posted February 5, 2018 #16 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Prospective Snorkelers, I have NEVER seen a Snorkel Tour operation without flotation gear avail. Never. I've SCUBA'd and snorkeled since the 1960's. Snorkeling properly ABOVE coral in 10-12 feet of water necessitates it. For those except children, wading in 3 feet of water would not of course. On many of the islands visited by RCI, Carnival, etc out of Australia people are talking about snorkelling on their own without paid tours. Places like Mare, Isle of Pines, and Mystery Island people are not usually using any snorkel tour as such. They just walk in off the beach with their own equipment or equipment hired from the ship. Your response is very true if we're talking about larger scale tour operations, but of course that's hard to know unless the OP tells us what kind of snorkelling she's planning to do in which ports. There are still lots of small local operators in some of these locations, truly people that just drive a few people in a van to a nice spot for beach snorkelling or hire out hodgepodge equipment in popular areas. For that reason I wouldn't count on flotation vests being available at the ports unless you were taking a specific snorkelling tour. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisefun27 Posted February 5, 2018 #17 Share Posted February 5, 2018 I'm not a strong swimmer by no means but I have a swim vest that I bought on Amazon. I can stay in the water for hours on end with by best on. A swim vest is a lot smaller then a life vest. It doesn't weigh hardly anything. I have been to the South Pacific islands [emoji267] 6 times and I love ❤️ my vest. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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