Snorkel Gear

[familyfuncruise]

Can you bring your own snorkeling equipment from home? or do they offer it for purchase on carnival? (if so how much is it?) My son likes to snorkel and one of our stops will be at half moon cay and grand turk. Thanks in advance for any info.

[SPacificbound]

I'm sure you will hear from Carnival cruisers but just wanted to comment, I would never use a snorkel and mask anyone else had used, kind of like using another person's toothbrush. :)

[SMerritt]

I'm sure you will hear from Carnival cruisers but just wanted to comment, I would never use a snorkel and mask anyone else had used, kind of like using another person's toothbrush. :)

 

Agree to the above and from hearing others, the "rentals" are in bad shape

 

Snorkles and masks are very reasonably priced, you can purchase from ebay to sporting goods stores......easy and lightweight to pack + better fitment

 

No need for fins if you are just floating around off of the beach, or rent the swim fins at most all beaches and ships private islands

[cb at sea]

If you don't want to buy gear, the "rental" stuff is sanitized! No worries! After all, you use forks and spoons and glasses that others have used.....and towels and sheets.....they clean the snorkel gear quite well.....if they didn't, all of their clientele would be ill!!!!!

[panoramaofthepast]

If you don't want to buy gear, the "rental" stuff is sanitized! No worries! After all, you use forks and spoons and glasses that others have used.....and towels and sheets.....they clean the snorkel gear quite well.....if they didn't, all of their clientele would be ill!!!!!

If you have mask and snorkel, bring them, especially if they have corrective lens. Fins are much more difficult to carry, so I would make do without them or rent them there.

[Beezle82]

If you don't want to buy gear, the "rental" stuff is sanitized! No worries! After all, you use forks and spoons and glasses that others have used.....and towels and sheets.....they clean the snorkel gear quite well.....if they didn't, all of their clientele would be ill!!!!!

 

My thoughts exactly! At first I was kind of grossed out by the thought of using someone else's snorkel gear, but the more you think about it, it's not so bad.

 

I mean, most people don't think twice about drying their face on a bath towel that was previously used to dry someone else's nether-regions, so why does the snorkel gear automatically get such a bad rap?? ;)

[klauer]

It depends on what you consider being "cleaned well". On the big snorkel excursions I've been on, all the equipment goes into a bucket with water and some bleach.

[Laurie S.]

And some times there's no bleach at all. I won't use rental gear.

[Doug S]

If you don't want to buy gear, the "rental" stuff is sanitized! No worries! After all, you use forks and spoons and glasses that others have used.....and towels and sheets.....they clean the snorkel gear quite well.....if they didn't, all of their clientele would be ill!!!!!

 

As the previous several posts have said,from personal experience I simply don't trust the sanitation techniques of an island outfitter. They throw their assortment of masks and snorkels in a plastic barrel of water, and from what I could tell, there was no bleach. Ive seen them refill with hose water, and no bleach was ever added that I saw, or smelled. Seen the same on dive boats. I learned not to rinse my gear in the community slop bucket.

 

Also, a mask is not a one size fits all piece of gear. For the best experience do not just get one off of e-bay without trying it for fit. If you take dive classes, one of the first things most instructors will do is make sure you are geared up properly, and a big part of that is having a properly fitting mask. Snorkeling or diving with a leaker mask that does not fit takes all the fun out of it.

 

Why religiously hand wash and use sanitizer on board, then put yourself at risk by sticking a snorkel in your mouth that someone you don't know at all just took out of theirs? NORO anyone...

[fi'fi]

Bring your own. If possible

[chipq]

I pack my own mask and snorkel and found that I have not needed fins but I am a fairly strong swimmer. On last couple CCL cruises the excursion desk had a mask and snorkel set for $5. They appeared to be a reasonably decent set for the price.

 

http://luv2cruise.blogspot.com

[Katana_Geldar]

P&O let you keep the snorkel when you hire and you give back the mask and fins. That works out better, I think but the snorkel is crappy.

[Putterdude]

I always bring my own gear. I have concerns about a rental mask fitting (I also have corrective lenses in mine) never mind who's mouth the snorkel has been in.

[Nebr.cruiser]

I usually bring my own mask and snorkel because the rental/provided ones tend not to fit my face very well. I have used provided masks and snorkels on tours before, but almost always have fit issues.

 

I am one who is not overly concerned about the cleanliness, so that part didn't bother me, and I've never gotten sick. They are at least rinsed off, if not disinfected, plus you can swirl the equipment around in the ocean a few times and rub it a bit if concerned.

 

I don't usually bring fins; I'm a strong swimmer and for just normal snorkeling in fairly calm water, I don't need them. If they are available, I might use them.

[biker@sea]

We always bring our own snorkel and mask. Forget the flippers.

[dsrdsrdsr]

I took fins as well as mask. Not only do they make swimming a whole lot easier for me, not being an especially strong swimmer; they're also available to take on other non-snorkel tours that include some beach/ocean time.

[Gunner22aa]

We take our own. My wifes has corrective lenses in hers so it saves having to wear her glasses under an ill fitting mask provided by a tour operator. I don't like the idea of a pre used snorkel. Although we both have good fins we tend to leave them at home.

[klauer]

I would bring fins if you have them and you have large or small feet. They are men's sizes and the 4/5 and 10/11 and up go quickly. We put them in the bottom of our duffel bags.

[Katana_Geldar]

Fins are also a good idea for kids and if you are not a very confident swimmer. But if you don't have fins, you still need your feet covered if you're in or near a reef.