Thread: Snorkeling Excursions

Are you comfortable using the snorkeling equipment provided by the tour operators, or do you bring your own? How much would a good set cost?

I use their equipment, but in Cancun, they gave each of us brand new snorkles (individually wrapped) that we were allowed to keep after the excursion (this was at Isla Mujeres).

Now when I plan to go international SCUBA diving, I'll be bringing more of my own equipment!!

Originally Posted by sailyn

Are you comfortable using the snorkeling equipment provided by the tour operators, or do you bring your own? How much would a good set cost?

At a minimum, you need a good mask that won't leak water. The best way to test a mask in a store would be to hold the mask against your face and breathe in. Let the mask go and it "should" stick to your face. If it doesn't then the mask will leak in the water. A "good" mask can cost anywhere from $10 to $50.

You also need a snorkle, which costs about $10.

Fins are also important for snorkling...if you don't care, then use the snorkle operators as these can get expensive. My split fins (for SCUBA) were about $120, but on sale, I got them for $90.

On our first cruise, I rented our equipment from Carnival. On the next cruise, I used the excursion operators' equipment. I then went and bought a $100 mask and snorkel so that I had one with a good fit. I was snorkeling at Princess Cay, rolled over on my back w/ my mask on top of my head, and it fell off into the murky water, never to be seen by me again! I figured I just helped out the local economy!

I got my next snorkel, mask and flippers at Sam's Club (~$40)and they fit fine.

I take my own flippers because those black ones don't fit my feet right and give me a blister. I have the kind that has the strap that goes behind my heel.

We love snorkeling and do it whenever we can.

Thanks for the input!

I am an avid snorkeller who is also nearsighted. To begin with I brought my own equipment for hygiene issues, but now I bring my equipment because my wonderful husband gave me a prescription mask before our last Caribbean cruise.
Snorkelling is even better when you can really see!!

I take my own mask and snorkel for the same reasons localady does...
Mask, so I can actually SEE, and Sonrkel cause it only goes in MY mouth.

I have fins, but rarely take them... those puppies take up a LOT of room in cruise luggage, and you can't wear fins while snorkeling with stingrays, anyway, which is one of my favorite activities.

Other than Stingray snorkeling, I wear their fins if there is a current, or other reason to do so. Otherwise, I don't bother with them.

We take our own, but have rented it thru the excursions. We got 2 nice sets at Walmart at the end of summer sale last year, so we tke our own now!

What I really like is when your snorkel excursion guide says they consider the annoying safety vest optional!

(I can ditch one of those things so fast it'll make your head spin!)

I just used their equipment. I hadn't been snorkeling in years so I didn't want to buy equipment I wouldn't necessarily need in the future. I really didn't have a problem using their stuff.