DiveMaster

2 hours ago, josumello said:

Thanks everyone!!

I did do a search for Holland on all rewards and it did come up. Today I am planning to book our first HAL. When I get booking number I will apply for OBC. 

Note:  You can use those Gift Cards to add OBC to your account.  Consider CCL shares for the shareholder benefit OBC since the share price is fairly low.   Also, if an NCL cruise, consider HNCL shares for their shareholder OBC since the share price is fairly low.

Having troubles with HAL's website.  Sometimes I log in and have no past cruises, existing reservations and etc. and other times I do.  Website would not accept my HAL gift cards as payment and I had to call in.  Now looking into a cruise, but I cannot even find any cabins.👎

We are 4 star and our boarding time keeps dropping back, now from 2:00 to 2:20.  We completed our paperwork long ago, except for the health questions and ArriveCan/Verifly app for Zaandam (Fort Lauderdale to Montreal) which have to wait until next week.  The order to board does not make sense unless perhaps HAL is reordering based on cabin price and higher priced cabins are still being sold?  However, boarding time was not strictly enforced on our last RCI and HAL cruises this year.

My son and I do Manta Raya. My dive shop also does Manta Raya. Ferdinando is a PADI MSDT. I took my son to dive with him when he was just PADI JOW rated to 40 feet. Later took him again when he reached 12 to get his PADI JAOW. My son would snorkel in between dives. Enjoy - Manata Raya can work anything you want for your time and the water is great - whether in the top 20 feet or 100 feet further down.

After reading about Cozumel, I'd like to do at least three days of activities. Unfortunately, I'm arriving with a cruise ship and need advice for an 8-hour stay. Snorkeling is my number one priority. I've never been and want a good experience. I'm 40, an OK swimmer, in pretty good shape.

 

Here are my questions:

 

1. Would snorkeling from a boat from Paradise Reef and Dzul Ha (through Manta Raya Divers) be significantly better than snorkeling off the shore?

 

2. For a little more $, I could snorkel to either Dzul Ha, Yucab and Paradise reef or Dzul Ha, Yucab and Cardona with Manta Raya. If the snorkeling would be significantly better than in #1, I might try this (less than $40 per person, including equipment, park fees, drinks, and snacks).

 

3. With such limited time, would we be better off renting a vehicle with my friends, snorkeling off the shore and spending some other time at a nice beach and/or driving to the east side?

 

4. Anyone know anything about Manta Raya Divers from personal experience?

 

I realize it's hard to go wrong with any of these plans, as long as the weather cooperates.

 

Thanks for your advice!

Regarding the masks, you might also check your stap position on your head, sometimes a slight difference in position can help with leaks.

A few options - you can go with a shorty wetsuit to add some buoyancy, wear a standard life jacket, or take along a life guard. You don't float? In freshwater or salt? Salt does make you more buoyant. Best advice is to learn to swim, followed by have a life guard with an eye on you (shallows or deeper, as you can drift out). A life vest is not going to position you for snorkeling by the nature of its design. If your snorkeling vest lost floatation, a life guard or rescue diver would know what to do, but you might take an untrained person down in a panic situation. BTW, in salt you can snorkel in very shallow water where you can easily stand up. That is probably where you should stay.

I don't swim and can't float. I'll be going to the Carribbean (Tortola, St. Thomas, San Juan) in a few weeks, and I'm wondering about how far out it would be safe for me to venture out with my snorkel vest and fins. Last year, my first time snorkeling, I stayed very close to shore -- I'd guess... 15-20 feet or so? Considering I hadn't even been in the ocean in 20 years or so, I felt pretty comfortable, not really nervous at all, but I don't want to do anything stupid. Suggestions?

Liz:

See http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/DPK44.html for the flat style waterproof pouch (AKA DryPak). This would probably be the style you should look for down under at a reasonable price.

I read somewhere on here that a waterproof 'wallet' type thing to carry your cruise card, credit card & money etc. for when you go on shore is a good idea - what a fantastic idea!