Ok. I keep seeing that you should snorkel while at Coco Cay in the Bahamas. But no one has commented on how good it was, if they liked it, if it isn't worth it, etc. Any comments on that? And, might be a dumb questions, but I've never done this, so I'll risk it-Can I take an underwater camera when we go snorkeling, or are the pictures not good enough to spend the money?
Also, is this the snorkel that ends in snorkeling with the sharks?
Whether the snorkeling is good or bad in Coco Cay is going to be a subjective depending on the poster's experiences. In other words, what one person thinks is great, another may think is boring - really depends on how many times they've snorkeled and where.
With that said, I'm a scuba diver with over 150 dives. I certified as an open water diver, advanced open water diver, and as a rescue diver. So my experiences and opinions with snorkeling in Coco Cay are sure to be different than others.
First, RCCL required us to have a snorkeling vest. So we had to rent them from RCCL - just another way to make money! Mind you, we weren't required to inflate them, but we were required to wear them. None of the other cruise lines' private islands have such a requirement.
Second, there are many conch shells on the sea floor. I noticed one small sign advising guests not to take them, but I saw alot of people carrying them out of the water and walk right by the lifeguards without anything being said. I even went up to one and pointed to a guest with a conch shell and asked him why they don't enforce the rule. His comment was that they "did not want to embarrass the guest." I think this is appalling! I've been a diver for many years and one thing they teach you is to respect the sea and everything in it. The general rule of thumb is "take nothing - leave nothing". In other words, you do not take out anything except trash and you leave no trash behind.
Third, the snorkeling areas are very crowded. I just love getting kicked in the face by someone who has no idea what they're doing or how to be respectful of others.
Can you tell by now I hate snorkeling at Coco Cay? Of all the private islands, I consider it to be my least favorite.
The snorkeling itself is not too bad, if you can get away from people - there are some interesting things to see, some small fish, and water clarity is fairly good. But with alot of people splashing around, sometimes the visibility can be limited.
As for whether to take an underwater camera there, if you've never snorkeled before, you will probably find it fascinating and want to take some pictures.
When you get off the tenders, there are basically three beaches to go to. The first one is the biggest and the most crowded. Walk further and you'll find the second beach, which is a little smaller and less crowded. Continue down the path and you'll find the third beach, which is the smallest and least crowded - that's where we like to go.
Depending on your itinerary, there are probably other places you'll be visiting that have better snorkeling, plus you can use your camera there as well.
As for sharks, don't know where you got that one, but you definitely don't have to worry about any in Coco Cay.
And perhaps someone else may know of snorkeling trips with sharks, but I've never heard of any. Scuba diving with the sharks, yes, but not snorkeling. Perhaps you were thinking of snorkeling with the sting rays - this is done is several places, but the most popular place is in Grand Cayman.
I've found snorkeling is best on Coco Cay if you go very early, before the crowds get there. I enjoyed it a lot until the crowds walked all over the shallow bottom and stirred up the sand making it murky.
As for snorkeling with sharks, there is an excrusion out of Nassa that does that, I believe it is Stuart's Cove.
You're right about Stuart's Cove - I dove with them once. They do allow snorkeling where there are sharks, but they are at a depth of about 40', so they're not very close to the snorkelers. Plus they are reef sharks, which are not dangerous to humans. Definitely neat to see though when the water is clear.
I actually have underwater video of me petting a sand shark off the Florida Keys. It was truly amazing!
Having snorkeled at CocoCay eight or ten times, I would agree that earlier is better. Also, if you are a decent swimmer, and swim beyond the crowds, there is more to see. You'll need to go out beyond the lifeguard, and to your left as you face the water from the beach. That's where the coral is nice.
there are also ample opportunities to see fish and rays. Once (only) I was fortunate enough to see an Eagle Ray at CocoCay. Usually, it's just the Sting Rays that you see, though.
If you want to see loads of fish, however, head dover to the lifeguard tower. Those guys feed them, and they really concregate there.
For sharke, you can do that in Nassau. Another fun thing in Nassau is the swim with the Sting Rays Excursion. The one there is one of my farorites... I prefer it to the one in the Caymans.
I've read in a few places that when we get to Coco Cay, we need to walk to the furthest, less crowded beach. And I was thinking the snorkeling thing would be best early with less people, so ya'll have sealed it for me! Stuart's Cove is the one with the snorkeling with the sharks that I was talking about. But now my only problem is that everyone keeps telling me to see Atlantis when we go to Nassau. I had originally thought we'd want to snorkel there too, but then I found a Catamaran Sail/Snorkel excursion for Key West that I think might be better, and allow us to still do Atlantis in Nassau.
Anyone ever been to either of these? If we go see Atlantis, and spend some time on the beach there too, are we just stuck there the entire day? Or can we leave and go sight see in Nassau too?
And as for Key West, after we're done with the sail (assuming it's early morning) are there beaches there to visit? We kinda want to split our days between a little beach time and a little sight see/excursion time.
Ok. I keep seeing that you should snorkel while at Coco Cay in the Bahamas. But no one has commented on how good it was, if they liked it, if it isn't worth it, etc. Any comments on that? And, might be a dumb questions, but I've never done this, so I'll risk it-Can I take an underwater camera when we go snorkeling, or are the pictures not good enough to spend the money?
Also, is this the snorkel that ends in snorkeling with the sharks?
Judge for yourself!...
I encountered 2 that day! They came right up to me! Definitely NOT shy!!!
I've read in a few places that when we get to Coco Cay, we need to walk to the furthest, less crowded beach. And I was thinking the snorkeling thing would be best early with less people, so ya'll have sealed it for me! Stuart's Cove is the one with the snorkeling with the sharks that I was talking about. But now my only problem is that everyone keeps telling me to see Atlantis when we go to Nassau. I had originally thought we'd want to snorkel there too, but then I found a Catamaran Sail/Snorkel excursion for Key West that I think might be better, and allow us to still do Atlantis in Nassau.
Anyone ever been to either of these? If we go see Atlantis, and spend some time on the beach there too, are we just stuck there the entire day? Or can we leave and go sight see in Nassau too?
And as for Key West, after we're done with the sail (assuming it's early morning) are there beaches there to visit? We kinda want to split our days between a little beach time and a little sight see/excursion time.
You are all so helpful!
The snorkeling is actually next best thing to lousey down where the more private beaches are. No reef there, and water is very shallow, and there is lots of sea grass when you get out far enough to really snorkel.
I recommend the location I talked about in post #5.
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