Cowcrazy65 Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 There are 6 of us and we are going to the Bahamas for the first time. Wondering about Snorkeling at Coco Cay. Do most people bring their own snorkel gear? Is the snorkeling there something worth doing or would you suggest doing it in Nassau? Not everyone wants to snorkel and we all want to stay together when off the ship. THANKS!!!! :huh: :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 I can't answer whether the snorkeling is good or not, but I would recommend bringing your own gear if you have it to save money. If you do t have your own vests, you'll likely be required to rent one at Coco Caye, though. Cowcrazy65 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLA Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 I have read some good things about snorkeling at Coco Cay - as Doc mentioned, you can bring your own gear but it is also available to rent for I believe around $30 if you don't want to bring your own. I believe there are some sunken shipwreck type things that Royal Caribbean has placed that you can check out around the snorkeling area as well. Cowcrazy65 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 I guess my only addition here is to ask what time of year ? We were there a number of years ago during either December of January (not sure which) and it was definitely too cool to swim...IMO. There were a few brave souls in the water but for the most part, it was a day to SIT on the beach but stay dry. Cowcrazy65 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdixon22 Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 We went snorkeling last March at Coco Cay and it was great. Lots to see including rays, sunken airplane, and war stuff. Bring your own equipment if you can as renting was expensive. Water was nice. Cowcrazy65 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowcrazy65 Posted January 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 Thanks! we are going on the Valentine cruise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerel Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 I liked the snorkeling. I brought my own gear but had to pay for a life jacket (required), the jacket is the kind you inflate by mouth so don't worry about it keeping you afloat while diving. They had a sunken plane, side of a ship with cannons sticking out, and something else cool. I really liked how they had buoys marking where the stuff was so you didn't have to search. They also had floating docks to rest, which comes in handy because stuff is a bit far out. They even had coloured disks placed randomly, if you find one you get a price. This all may sound fake and corny to those who like a natural experience but it was pretty fun. I'd recommend bringing your own gear if you have it, it's not like you have to lug it around town or anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monorailmedic Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Surprised they make you rent the buoyancy jacket. You'd think that being something they require, that is unreasonable to assume someone will furnish themselves, all while reducing risk to pax and RCI, they'd just hand them out. I've seen DCL do this, I don't recall if NCL does the same. Wondering if the cost is high enough to justify buying on before the trip... http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_0_10?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=buoyancy+vest&sprefix=buoyancy+vest%2Caps%2C155&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Abuoyancy+vest&tag=billyandlaris-20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Surprised they make you rent the buoyancy jacket. You'd think that being something they require, that is unreasonable to assume someone will furnish themselves, all while reducing risk to pax and RCI, they'd just hand them out. I've seen DCL do this, I don't recall if NCL does the same. Wondering if the cost is high enough to justify buying on before the trip... http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_0_10?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=buoyancy+vest&sprefix=buoyancy+vest%2Caps%2C155&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Abuoyancy+vest&tag=billyandlaris-20 Probably not worth buying unless you plan on using them again in the future. If memory recalls, I read they charged like $5 or $10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monorailmedic Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 Probably not worth buying unless you plan on using them again in the future. If memory recalls, I read they charged like $5 or $10. That's not too bad, thanks. Will think about it. We'd use them again on RCCL I suppose, just a matter of how much I want them taking up space in the closet. DocLC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdixon22 Posted January 31, 2016 Report Share Posted January 31, 2016 We snorkeled in Coco Cay last year and just went into the water without a life jacket. No one said anything to us. We are strong swimmers (being from Florida). It is a long swim out to the sunken treasures so if you are not a strong swimmer I would rent one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asphodel Posted March 5, 2016 Report Share Posted March 5, 2016 Do most people bring their own snorkel gear? Most people do not but I believe that is because most people do not own snorkel gear. I have snorkel gear I bought around 25 years ago when I was in Hawaii (at a Sears of all places!) and yes, I drag it along to all my cruises. This is easy for me to do since I drive from Houston to Galveston to cruise out of Galveston so I don't have to worry about flying with it. In fact a couple years ago when we did fly to Puerto Rico for a Southern Caribbean cruise, we left the snorkel gear at home rather than try to check it. If you're not an avid snorkeler, then I wouldn't worry about it. Royal Blue 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royal Blue Posted March 5, 2016 Report Share Posted March 5, 2016 We brought 2 sets as a family of four. Newer gear is quite compact and had nice carry bag. Balcony room makes storage less hassle. Coco was nice spot to dive. I think they encouraged the vests back then too but i just ignored the calls from shore. Thats a bit too much nanny care. Found a massive shell close to shore but it burrowed back in the sand by the end of the day. I recall a bag check before boarding the tender so nothing other than sand leaves the island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruise-y Posted March 7, 2016 Report Share Posted March 7, 2016 We travel in the Caribbean a lot and we always take our own masks and snorkels. They take very little room in your suitcase, as they fold down well (take them out of the case) and the long tube can easily tuck into side edges. They aren't that expensive, you can buy them at sporting goods stores, and the cost is probably not that much more than that of a rental. Frankly, I don't want to use a snorkel that hundreds of other people have had in their mouth. Not trying to be gross, but those masks can get snotty when people are trying to make a suction to keep them on their faces. The masks have to be taken off and on a few times to get the seal right and people are bobbing and blowing water around and so on. Maybe the tour boats sanitize them, but maybe they don't. Because, you know, It's Island Time, Mon! Even if you only use it once, your kids can play with it in the pool back home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aragogando Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 I have my own and purchased the vest and a set for my friend when we did Sombrero Reef in the keys last fall. We are going in Coco Cay and then taking a boat trip from St. Thomas to St John's to snorkel 3 spots there for our excursion. I bought her gear off of Amazon for 39.99 and she stated that it was the best snorkeling trip she had been on due to having good equipment. She has snorkeled in Mexico, St. John's, Hawaii and other locations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arebee Posted March 29, 2016 Report Share Posted March 29, 2016 I hope one of them is Trunk Bay. There is a underwater nature trail around the little island. Spent a week on St. John a few years ago, awesome place. No one is in a hurry... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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