more questions about coco cay

[bkerber]

I am planning to snorkel at coco cay.

1. if you bring your own snorkel and only rent the vest will they still instruct you on where to go, etc. like they will with the excursion?

2. depending on the tides how shallow is it for the most part. Is there a lot of swimming involved getting to the sunken plane?

3. Is it rocky on the bottom and would you recommend water shoes

4. are flippers necessary or could you make do with just a mask and snorkel.

 

Thanks to all.

 

Becky

Sovereign of the Seas 8/20/04

[HB Cruiser]

Cannot answer three of the questions but the one about the water shoes, YES, wear them, there are rocks all around the area, not everywere but there are several and they hurt.

 

Tim & Crystal

[trish1c]

Even if you only rent the vest, everyone gets the same orientation & there's a map. It's pretty easy to figure out where the "good stuff" is; everyone else is hanging out there.

 

There are shallow areas but they are used by the swimmers, floaters. There is nothing to see in areas where you can stand. The plane, the shipwreck & the raft are all in deeper waters but there are life guards. The deep reef was clsoed for safety reasons when we were there.

 

Water shoes, definitely!

 

Even with the flippers I was tired. It's a pretty significant swim if you want to see everything.

[Got2Cruise]

Everyone who goes to Coco Cay should bring water shoes or waterproof flipflops. It is not rocky, but there is a layer of broken coral that kills your footsies. If I recall, the lifeguards will not allow you in the section to snorkel unless you have the flippers and vest on.

[bkerber]

Another thought about snokeling... If you wear water shoes to go down to the beach and to get in to deeper water, what do you do when you put on your flippers? Do they fit over your water shoes. Also does anyone know how much renting just the flippers and the lifevest is?

Thanks for your input.

[aqusis]

We have our own snorkel equipment, including flippers, so don't know the cost for flippers, but the vests are $6 for the day.

[Mark_K]

Another thought about snokeling... If you wear water shoes to go down to the beach and to get in to deeper water, what do you do when you put on your flippers? Do they fit over your water shoes. Also does anyone know how much renting just the flippers and the lifevest is?

Thanks for your input.

I've been there twice, never brought water shoes and never had a problem. I think you're being overly concerned if you think you need to wear water shoes just to be able to get into the water to snorkel.

[Lizcourt]

Must respectfully disagree with Mark K. I found it to be virtually impossible to get in/out of the CoCoCay surf without watershoes. It is incredibly shelly/rocky/coral-ly, whatever, and very very uncomfortable without some kind of footwear.

[jean-lynd]

Vests are required to swim in any of the snorkeling areas. If you want to go to the deep area flippers are also required. We didn't know about the flipper rule and we only rented vests. When we tried to swim to the deep area the life guards told us we could not go there without flippers. I hope this helps!