Boatingmom Posted December 19, 2014 #1 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Who brings their own gear? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PORT ROYAL Posted December 19, 2014 #2 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Who brings their own gear? Mask with prescription lenses, plus own dry snorkell, for these reasons. Trips do not supply prescription lens masks, or a dry snorkell. Plus I know where my kit has been. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZmike480 Posted December 19, 2014 #3 Share Posted December 19, 2014 I bring my own gear, so I don't have to worry about the quality of rental equipment. AZmike480 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sox Fan Cruiser Posted December 19, 2014 #4 Share Posted December 19, 2014 I do! We had to for French Polynesia as the tours don't provide snorkel gear. We have done so ever since. You can get a snorkel, mask and fins with a mesh carrying bag and it takes up little space. I would much rather use mine than grab from the bucket of masks/snorkels they provide on most snorkeling excursions. The quality is better and it fits better. Also, if you wear glasses, you can have your mask set to your prescription and you can leave the glasses behind. I don't like wearing my contacts on a day to day basis but I use them when I snorkel (as I did not get a prescription mask). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam Green Posted December 19, 2014 #5 Share Posted December 19, 2014 DH & I do! We bought sets on clearance after Christmas 2 years ago and they will be going with us in February on the Coral. You know where they've been. You're comfortable with the fit and quality. Just put each set in a plastic bag before packing them. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RetiredNTraveling Posted December 19, 2014 #6 Share Posted December 19, 2014 I recently bought a set to take on our Hawaii, Samoa & Tahiti cruise next year. I just can't imagine picking a snorkel out of a barrel of them and stuffing it in my mouth. I received some great advice from Snorkel Mart as to what I should buy and took their advice. Now I look like the following and am ready for everything! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted December 19, 2014 #7 Share Posted December 19, 2014 I recently bought a set to take on our Hawaii, Samoa & Tahiti cruise next year. I just can't imagine picking a snorkel out of a barrel of them and stuffing it in my mouth. I received some great advice from Snorkel Mart as to what I should buy and took their advice. Now I look like the following and am ready for everything! Love the Goofy gif. Do make sure you visit the drift snorkel off Tahaa Is (a boat ride from Raiatea). It's a brilliant 'ride' and worth doing the run twice. Enjoy :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amtrack Springfield Posted December 19, 2014 #8 Share Posted December 19, 2014 We take our own gear and vests. It is in the bag and already to go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhoneGoddess Posted December 19, 2014 #9 Share Posted December 19, 2014 I do. I'm a bit of germ freak :o It's all in a mesh bag and really doesn't take up very much room in the luggage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare richstowe Posted December 19, 2014 #10 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Each and every trip , cruise or beach , we discuss this issue . I lean to bringing my own , DW less so. She is not as enthusiastic about snorkeling as me and isn't crazy about wasting space and weight on the equipment . I hate paying money for often inferior equipment . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare JustinPlusLauren Posted December 19, 2014 #11 Share Posted December 19, 2014 This will be my first time bringing my own gear. We will be using it at least at Princess Cays so we don't have to rent it. It is nice to have the option of snorkeling wherever we want off a beach! In some instances though we may book a tour and just use their equipment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colo Cruiser Posted December 19, 2014 #12 Share Posted December 19, 2014 (edited) I recently bought a set to take on our Hawaii, Samoa & Tahiti cruise next year. I just can't imagine picking a snorkel out of a barrel of them and stuffing it in my mouth. I received some great advice from Snorkel Mart as to what I should buy and took their advice. Now I look like the following and am ready for everything! Kinda like blowing the whistle on the life jacket. :eek: We used to bring everything, but now its down to the mask only. Edited December 19, 2014 by Colo Cruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjack22 Posted December 19, 2014 #13 Share Posted December 19, 2014 We just had this same debate. I just ordered a snorkel set for me today. My husband has a old set. What decided me was a couple of things. First on this cruise there will be five snorkel opportunities. Two of our excursions provide gear, the rest did not. Second I was leery (although I have done it before) to use mouthpieces that has been in someone else's mouth. And lastly because we will have room to fly with them because we get two pieces of luggage each for free and if we need to can take an extra bag for the gear. In my opinion snorkel gear (with fins) takes up significant space in your luggage not to mention weight. But for us on this cruise it makes sense to take our own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommypig Posted December 19, 2014 #14 Share Posted December 19, 2014 I always bring my mask -- I am very nearsighted so my mask has a -7.0 diopter so that I get to see the pretty fishes too. I also like my snorkle because it has only been in my mouth and has a better purge valve than the cheapo ones on most excursions. It is possible to get short travel fins, but they don't give quite the same propulsion as longer fins. I don't tend to do much in rough or really deep water so I generally don't wear them, but if I was going to be out in open ocean I would definitely bring them. Since Princess provides coin operated laundry facilities, we tend to bring much less clothing and much more stuff to do (we tend to take longer cruises). It is amazing how little clothes you really need in warm destinations. So there is plenty of room for the snorkle gear. Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOCALS Posted December 19, 2014 #15 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Who brings their own gear? When you are 6'6" and have a size 15 shoe, you bring your own gear. Most operators don't have high quality, clean and large size snorkel gear. Funny story, was on a Mexican Riviera cruise several years ago. The tour operator in broken English and Spanish asked why I brought my own. I my best Spanish, I replied "do you have size 15 fins"? Of course the answer was no. The largest size they had was 12. Plus agree with those about prescription masks and the cleanliness of the snorkels. I will continue to bring my own. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tahoe Boater Posted December 19, 2014 #16 Share Posted December 19, 2014 We used to bring our own snorkle gear on cruises, now we bring our own scuba gear. Same reasons as above. Germs, quality, performance, comfort and of course.....price. We dive some days when we are able and we snorkle when we are unable to arrange a dive trip. I would also bring a few spare parts with you if you travel with your own gear. An extra mask and fins strap are good to carry. We had a mask issue on a trip one time first day in port and were unable to find a replacement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compozer Posted December 20, 2014 #17 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Tahoe Boater, I had to do a double take. i could have written your post. If you really enjoy snorkeling, you really should purchase a good mask. Go to a local dive shop. You will have a better experience - no leaks, fogging, etc. Also, think about taking a snorkeling class if you are afraid, not sure or have had a bad experience. And if you are introducing children to the sport, let them take a class. They don't cost very much and they will be so much more comfortable. I am sure most of us have been on an excursion with at least one child screaming that they want to go back. Enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WisCruiser2 Posted December 20, 2014 #18 Share Posted December 20, 2014 We just had this same debate. I just ordered a snorkel set for me today. My husband has a old set. What decided me was a couple of things. First on this cruise there will be five snorkel opportunities. Two of our excursions provide gear, the rest did not. Second I was leery (although I have done it before) to use mouthpieces that has been in someone else's mouth. And lastly because we will have room to fly with them because we get two pieces of luggage each for free and if we need to can take an extra bag for the gear. In my opinion snorkel gear (with fins) takes up significant space in your luggage not to mention weight. But for us on this cruise it makes sense to take our own. Our snorkel gear (including fins) fits in the bottom end of our suitcase, takes up a couple inches & not really that much weight. We've always been under the limit, so I don't think you'll need an extra bag but if you do, nice to know you can use it! Our first cruise, with our daughters, was in 1999, before airlines got so picky about bags -- one daughter brought a whole suitcase full of shoes!!:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eandj Posted December 20, 2014 #19 Share Posted December 20, 2014 We bought equip for a 9 day land trip on West Bay beach where we did walk in snorkeling twice a day. :) We carry along just the snorkel masks if just planning an excursion or two which offer the flippers when cruising. Love having a good clean fit of my own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck Turgidson Posted December 20, 2014 #20 Share Posted December 20, 2014 I bring my own, I'll have no part of a gnawed on, snotty filled , quick dipped piece of diving gear in my mouth:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted December 20, 2014 #21 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Who brings their own gear? People who want a mask that fits well and people that would rather not have a breathing tube in their mouth that many others have used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Times Prince Posted December 20, 2014 #22 Share Posted December 20, 2014 After some difficulties with fit and the "soda straw" snorkels, we bought our own equipment. First snorkels with splash guard and purge valve, which worked fine for a long time, then later the whole set, including a prescription lenses mask for my wife so she could see the fishes. Sanitation was also a factor. A local dive shop sold us expensive gear (e.g. mask for $69) and I recently replaced the masks and snorkels with Cressi gear from Amazon. with both costing less than the previous mask. Fins from dive shop are large, and take up about half of a 24" suitcase. Bringing our own gear often means we are in the water quickly (everything fits), and allows us to do shore snorkels in places like Cozumel and Roatan for the cost of a cab ride. When on a Princess excursion in St. John, we got an extra half hour in the water while everyone else was making sure equipment fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MauiLvrs Posted December 20, 2014 #23 Share Posted December 20, 2014 If we are going to dive one dive ... we will usually rent. For more than one dive we will take our own gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topspot Posted December 20, 2014 #24 Share Posted December 20, 2014 We also bring our own gear for all of the above reasons. When packing, socks or underwear fit nicely in the foot section of the fins. We use every inch of space when we pack. DD needs her wetsuit, she has no "natural insulation" and gets cold easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sox Fan Cruiser Posted December 20, 2014 #25 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Love the Goofy gif. Do make sure you visit the drift snorkel off Tahaa Is (a boat ride from Raiatea). It's a brilliant 'ride' and worth doing the run twice. Enjoy :) Hands down, the best excursion I have ever been on. And I have amazing pics to prove it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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