Safety vest for snorkeling?

[RumRunner01]

Hi all, I know this board is for scuba but I'm hoping you all can help answer a question for me.

I was reading on another board where someone asked about bringing their own snorkel gear on a cruise and someone else responded to bring own mask and snorkel and you can rent fins and "mandatory" safety vest at ports.

Ok, I'm an extremely experienced snorkeler and always travel with my own equipment but this mandatory safety vest thing got me irked. When I was in Cancun last October they made us wear those darn vests. I hated every minute of that snorkel trip. Not only is it bulky and uncomfortable, you can't dive down and (carefully) get a better look at sea life and take better underwater pics. I swore I'd never snorkel like that again and avoided purchasing (ahead of time) any snorkel excursions that said anything about a vest.

Well, now I leave on Adventure of the Seas for the southern Caribbean on May 2 and am now concerned that these darn vests may be more widespread than I hoped. I plan on snorkeling in St. Thomas (well, St.John actually), Barbados, Aruba, and possibly St. Martin, Antigua, and Curacao. Will I be bombarded by these saftey vests?!? I sure hope not. They would really ruin the experience.

Thank you for any input!

Amy

Adventure of the Seas 05/02/04

[TrqoisWtrs]

I have only been required (forced [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img]) to wear those snorkel vests on a snorkel excursion through the ship and on RCCL's private island CocoCay. Sounds like you might have had a different vest in Cancun. The only ones I've had to use are pretty much as flat as a pancake - but you can blow air into it as needed. I just make sure they have absolutely no air in them and then I don't have a problem diving down.

I'm with you in that if you are an experienced snorkeler, you shouldn't have to wear them, but guess for insurance reasons or whatever on these excursions you are made to wear them.

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[RumRunner01]

Thanks crusin*tigger. Interesting to know that the vest you had was filled with air. The one in Cancun was a regular ole vest you might wear when water skiing or something. It was a real bummer and the first time I had ever heard of such a thing.

I understand the insurance stuff, but I'd gladly sign a waiver! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Adventure of the Seas 05/02/04

[sportsterjohn]

I do know that they make you wear an inflatable one at Coco Cay. As far as snorkle trips with private vendors, I have never had to wear one.

NCL Sea 3/03
RCCL Sovereign 10/03
NCL Dream 3/7/2004

[Woodsmaster]

A snorkel vest is a safety item. We have been snorkeling and diving for years and view it as a safety cushion.

When you think about it, you are snorkeling in an unknown area with unkknown people and even if you are the best swimmer in the world, a 2 kt. current can make your day miserable if you get caught in it and swept away from the group....

Most of the snorkel vests have been the "horse collar" type that you have to blow up. We never have seen the ski vest Life Jackets on any snorkel excursion.... I agree, I would not wear that type of vest as it is not a snorkel vest. However, I have never had a problem with the blow up vest on any snorkel trip and wouldn't snorkel in strange waters without one now. We carry our own.

If you can't laugh at yourself, then don't get up from the chair.

Sunward II 1982
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Granduer of the Seas 2002
Horizon 7/2003
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Next cruise: July 2004 Golden Princess Southbound Scubahound

[RumRunner01]

I could take a blow up vest you control the size of better than the vests we had to use in Cancun. These were definitely the type you might use in water skiing made of that thick foam that makes everything difficult to manuver around.

Adventure of the Seas 05/02/04

[Moonglow]

Can anyone tell me where to buy a blow up vest or a website that sells them. We are going to Tahiti and have been told to bring own equipment and vests are not usually available. Thanks for any help.

[RacerBC]

I buy ALL my scuba and snorkel gear from this place.. BEST prices out there !

Good Luck

[url="http://www.snorkel-mart.com/c167155.2.html"]http://www.snorkel-mart.com/c167155.2.html[/url]

[Riskywood]

I have found that Diver'sDirect has even better pricing. Their snorkel vest is $30.