Snorkel Vests and Cocoa Cay - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

Jim143 · 05-12-2009, 04:00 PM

We are going to be in Cocoa Cay with RCI (Monarch) in the end of June/Early July. We have all the snorkel gear except the vests. I read that RCI requires the vest while snorkeling on Cocoa Cay. I have also read that the rent them for $6.00 for the full day.

Now, here is my question. My wife and I want to go snorkeling but for now need to save some cash. Can we rent just the vests without signing up for any kind of snorkeling excursions? If so, that is $12.00 versus the almost $70 it would cost for both of us to buy them out right before the cruise. After the cruise, I don't know how much we will use them. She might go snorkeling more than me - but I will be "graduating" to a certified diver so I'll be dropping a lot of cash for the BC, Regulator and class.

Do you know if we can rent just the vests for the day or should we bite the bullet and buy our own? We really don't want to do the snorkel excursion because we don't want to feel like "herded sheep" and wanted to be able to come and go (in the water) as we please while we are there.. . .

LuLu · 05-12-2009, 04:33 PM

No Problem!

You can just rent the snorkel vest! That's what most people do!

Cocoa Cay is our favorite of the "Private Islands"!

You'll have FUN!

Sailfish · 05-12-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim143

Now, here is my question. My wife and I want to go snorkeling but for now need to save some cash. Can we rent just the vests without signing up for any kind of snorkeling excursions?

My husband and I are certified scuba divers, but wanted to simply go snorkeling on our own, as we had all our own gear - minus the vest - the last time we went to Coco Cay. Though we strongly felt the vest was not necessary, the lifeguard made us wear one to go snorkeling. He directed us to the snorkel hut on Coco Cay and they gave us one each free of charge to use. They told us it was a liability issue with Royal Caribbean, so we had no choice if we wanted to snorkel. Things might be different now - we were last there in 2007.

I am not sure if you are wanting to use the snorkel vest in other ports, but I do not believe you will have to pay to use one in Coco Cay. I would recommend you each invest in a snorkel kit (fins, mask and snorkel) - you never know when it may come in handy, and they aren't all that expensive - you should be able to find one on eBay for under $10. If you plan to get certified anyway, you'll need fins, mask and a snorkel - make sure you get dive quality equipment (there's a difference). I have no idea what the cost would be for a snorkel vast, but I would recommend you check eBay for that too. If your wife feels more comfortable snorkeling with one, I'd definitely invest in one, and I don't think they cost all that much.

Good luck!

P.S. You can get excellent quality starter dive equipment on eBay for a fraction of what you would spend in a dive shop. After you have been diving for a while, then you can treat yourself to nice gear. Until then, you should be able to get a decent BC and regulator for under $200. A dive computer is also a must, but they have come down in price, so shop the June (end of season) inventory sales at your local dive shop - remember, prices on dive equipment are always higher in the winter/spring all over the US. Also, June is when new dive equipment for the upcoming tropical dive season (in the winter) is first introduced and last season's stuff is put on clearance.

canarymoon · 05-12-2009, 10:10 PM

You don't have to book an excursion to snorkel on CocoCauy. I never do. (Been there a few times, always snorkel)

I usually take just my mask and snorkel. (Space issue) and rent only the fins and vest. You can do that at CocoCay. I don't recall if I have ever had the ocasion to just rent the vest... maybe they don't charge for it, but I know it's rather inexpensive to rent fins and vest.

canarymoon · 05-12-2009, 10:18 PM

OH - The snorkeling there is good, but not excellent.
to see the coral, go in at the main beach, and swim out towards the lifeguard tower and hang a left. once you arewell past the rocks.

If you want to see fish, go near the lifeguard. They feed them, so lots of fish there.

There are occasional baracudas - never saw a really large one. Also jellyfish at times (not always)... usually the small ones you can just swoosh away with your hands. They are not a big problem.
You may see some Southern Stingrays, too. If you get really lucky, you might run across an Eagle Ray. Saw a huge one there once. Boy, what that a treat that was! Pretty sure it was a female, it was so large. She was sailing along between the lifeguard tower and the 'reef' area.

Jim143 · 05-13-2009, 08:46 AM

Quote:

( I would recommend you each invest in a snorkel kit (fins, mask and snorkel)

Having been through the Discover Scuba already and knowing I want to get certified, I already purchased Dive Quality mask, dry snorkel, fins and booties for me. I bought my wife good quality gear too. If she ever changed her mind, she could very easily use it for diving as well. It is just the vests we don't have and don't want to get (yet).

Quote:

to see the coral, go in at the main beach, and swim out towards the lifeguard tower and hang a left. once you arewell past the rocks.

I have read this a lot. Supposedly, if i remember correctly with things I have read, if I go out to the lifeguard tower and hang left, not only is there coral, but also a sunken plane(?). I had plan on heading out in that direction. Just curious - about how far out is the lifeguard tower and then how much further (left) is the coral and possibly plane?

Thanks again for your responses. . .

canarymoon · 05-13-2009, 10:19 AM

Oh, my goodness, I am the world's worst at estimating distances. It's not far at all, really... But here's my wild guess:

MAYBE 75 or 100 yards to the lifeguard, and left another 50-60???

If you aare good with distances, please come back to this thread on your return, and correct me, because, like I said, I am really, really guessing!

Jim143 · 05-13-2009, 10:46 AM

LOL

Ok. I will.

canarymoon · 05-13-2009, 10:49 AM

Thanks.

And have a wonderful voyage. We really LOVE CocoCay. That stop, alone, is worth the price of the cruise, in my book.

Sailfish · 05-13-2009, 11:42 AM

We dove while in Coco Cay once through Royal Caribbean; it was a one tank dive from shore and quite pricey. I personally wouldn't do it again, but it's a very conservative dive at around 35-45 feet and great for someone newly certified. It was a long swim (it wasn't an issue for me or my husband, but the the other three divers were quite upset by this) and the visibility wasn't great. We had lunch with the dive master who said it was hit or miss there. They do get eagle rays and a few reef sharks - we saw three small ones up close which totally made the dive for us! We took uw photos that turned this mediocre dive into something to remember!

Personally, we saw more snorkeling than diving in Coco Cay (except for the grey tips). I don't recall when you were planning to go, but the dm said the summer has the best visibility there - we dove in winter.

Have fun!

Suzi