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Posted By: caroln Snorkeling For Beginner - 04/11/07 03:00 PM
My best friend and I will be down next week and are really looking forward to it. She is not the strongest swimmer, and not 100% comforable in the water, but she really wants to try snorkeling, and I really want to make it the best possible experience I can for her. I am getting her a proper fitting mask before we come down and a dry snorkel, but does anyone have any other recommendations to help make snorkeling there a really good experience for someone brand new to it? I know there is some type of snorkel vest thing available that keeps you from getting your head underwater, are those available for rent there? Any recommendations for a good guide for a beginner? Is it possible to have a one on one guide for snorkeling?
Any help would be appreciated smile
Carol
Posted By: travelqueen Re: Snorkeling For Beginner - 04/11/07 03:40 PM
Have you snorkeled before? I don't think you have to be a good swimmer to do it... the fins keep you sorta floating... contact Clifford and Eric. They do a really good job. You can get contact info. from Conconets. I think Steve books for them.
Posted By: kris48 Re: Snorkeling For Beginner - 04/11/07 03:44 PM
Just about any of the guides will offer a life jacket. I personally had a great first experience with Tulu, but I know there are plenty of others on the island as well. The main thing would be to find someone willing to take out a very small group. It also wouldn't hurt for her to practice a bit in a pool, or in the shallow water around Ramon's beach.
Posted By: lil'red Re: Snorkeling For Beginner - 04/11/07 03:46 PM
I felt the same way the first time I snorkeled. I had not been in the ocean in decades, and don't like to swim much. What I found is that the salt water and swim fins seemed to keep me more boyant than I had anticipated, and after about 15 minutes of holding the rope of the boat and just looking under water I was more comfortable. There was not much swimming involved at all, more of just floating and looking down.
Posted By: KC Jayhawk Re: Snorkeling For Beginner - 04/11/07 03:48 PM
We have had great experiences with Geraldo and Fido Badillo, on their catamaran El Gato. They will take out as few as four, and Fido is a great one-on-one snorkel guide . . .very protective and reassuring for newbies. They have a web link in the Boating section of the main AC.com website. Highly recommended!!
Posted By: Bobber Re: Snorkeling For Beginner - 04/11/07 04:03 PM
I would go with Kris48. Invest in an inflatable snorkeling vest, not all that expensive and compact. Start with a dip in the hotel pool, have your friend practice a little technique, keeping the snorkel tip up, how to blow it out, and how to not panic. Being in a circumstance where you can stand up if you start to get shaky is very important. After this, hit someplace like Ramon's pier where you can still stand up, but have something to actually look at. When your friend is comfortable enough that she (?) gets more interested in seeing things than concentrating on the next breath, then out to Hol Chan. It is a lot like diving, you have to be comfortable enough to handle things without panicking. If you have to concentrate on survival, you miss the point of doing it.
Posted By: sweetjane Re: Snorkeling For Beginner - 04/11/07 05:27 PM
i am a total water ninny. i assure you your friend will have no problems.

every guide i ever had on AC was very good with newbies and ninnies, just inform them to that. someone will watch your friend and keep an eye out. some guides tie a life ring around their waist and let uncomfortable folks hang on. some put life jackets around your waist to help weak swimmers focus on maneuvering. some have even held my hand until i acclimated.

after a few minutes, your friend will see the wonder below and forget all about their discomfort. belize it.

Posted By: BFaucett Re: Snorkeling For Beginner - 04/11/07 06:34 PM
If you really want to see some neat stuff try snorkeling at night. There are many more critters that come out at night then during the day. Just ask the dive operators when they will be doing a night snorkle trip.
Posted By: kerry Re: Snorkeling For Beginner - 04/11/07 07:31 PM
agree with bfaucet...i did a nite snorkel a few years ago at hol chan...totally different than during the day...hard to believe it was the same place...very kool...
Posted By: BFaucett Re: Snorkeling For Beginner - 04/11/07 08:50 PM
I will be there myself next week if you need someone to go snorkling with.
Bob
Posted By: J DOG Re: Snorkeling For Beginner - 04/11/07 09:06 PM
The best advice I can give you is to start with a easy site like Mexico Rocks/ Tres cocos where the water is very shallow & not much current, after that try Hol Chan where it's deeper & much more fish, the current at Hol Chan is stronger because it is shaped like a horse shoe & very close to the barrier reef.
I had 3 gals who never snorkled before & it only took them about 10 min. to catch on at Mexico Rocks, we went out with El Gato.
Practicing out by one of the piers is a good ideal also.
Just relax & enjoy!!
Posted By: snorkelgirl Re: Snorkeling For Beginner - 04/11/07 10:22 PM
Already lotsa great advice here.

I brought my best friend first time snorkeler last year. I had her practice in the pool. Mostly just get her used to breathing through a tube and submerging her face and how to power her movement with her legs/flippers and not with her arms.

Then on to Mexico Rocks and Ramon's, then to Hol Chan.

Then...I couldn't get her out of the water til after dark!!

Posted By: 1BKeeper Re: Snorkeling For Beginner - 04/12/07 03:21 AM
My husband is not a floater (swims fine) and he was wearing himself out even with fins until our guide convinced him to use a vest.

I thought that the snorkeling was easier than getting back into the boat. Any suggestions for a not so skinny weakling? Who has the best boat ladders?
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