Snorkel life vest at great stirrup cay

[StarAFire]

Hi,

 

it’s been many years since we went to Great stirrup cay but I had a vague memory that they used to require a life jacket when snorkeling. If so, do they charge you to rent one from them?  If it makes any difference we will be on the Getaway.   Thx

Edited March 25, 2023 by StarAFire

[mjkacmom]

The last time we were there they charged for the vest, it wasn’t a lot.

[jrlamour]

I was there a few weeks ago. It was $10 for the life vest rental.

[gracebest]

3 hours ago, StarAFire said:

Hi,

 

it’s been many years since we went to Great stirrup cay but I had a vague memory that they used to require a life jacket when snorkeling. If so, do they charge you to rent one from them?  If it makes any difference we will be on the Getaway.   Thx

I bought some on Amazon for about $10 and we will be able to use them at other ports where we are snorkeling.  They come in a small pouch and will take up very little space in our luggage.

[Monica887]

4 minutes ago, gracebest said:

I bought some on Amazon for about $10 and we will be able to use them at other ports where we are snorkeling.  They come in a small pouch and will take up very little space in our luggage.

I think I'm going to finally do this. I never want to snorkel for long so paying to rent gear doesn't make sense. If I finally buy it'll cost less than an excursion and if I only go for a little bit on each cruise it'll be worth the cost. 

[BirdTravels]

We have not been to GSC post pandemic (we have tried, but always cancelled). I don’t remember a vest requirement to snorkel there. Is that new?

[david_sobe]

37 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

We have not been to GSC post pandemic (we have tried, but always cancelled). I don’t remember a vest requirement to snorkel there. Is that new?

I remember bringing my own snorkel equipment in 2010 and they required a vest.  You can sneak by with your own equipment and no vest.  However if a lifeguard sees you they will instruct you to get a vest.  Make sense.  Safety first.  

I was bad and never wore one but that was wrong for me to do.  The next time I rented the equipment and the vest comes with the equipment rental.

[Miro2007]

We brought our own snorkel equipment in 2012 and 2016 and did not use a life vest. Walked passed the lifequards without the vest and they said nothing.
We are going again this year and I hope it still isn't mandatory. I prefer snorkeling (diving under) without the vest 🙂