Cruise Talk: Snorkling St Thomas, St Maarten or Salt Cay?

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»	Cruise Talk » Ports of Call and Destinations » Snorkling St Thomas, St Maarten or Salt Cay?

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Topic: Snorkling St Thomas, St Maarten or Salt Cay?

Katie O'Girl
First Class Passenger
Member # 2704

posted 01-30-2002 06:32 PM

My friend who is going on a cruise with me in February is scared of the ocean. He can't swim and has never seen tropical water. I know that he will be amazed at the colour of the sea and I want him to have fun.
Does anyone know of a beach where the water is calm, no more than waist deep and we can snorkle without him freaking out on me? We will be in St Thomas, St Maarten and Salt Cay.
Thanks.

Posts: 101 | From: Ireland | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 01-30-2002 07:52 PM

You can't really snorkel in waist deep water.
We snorkelled at Pinel Island in St. Maarten and the tide was very strong, so suggest that you DO NOT attempt to go there. The water was so rough and cloudy that we didn't see any fish.

In St. Thomas the best snorkelling is on the island of St. John, but the beach and water at Megan's is fairly shallow and quite calm.
Don't know anything about Salt Cay.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Katie O'Girl
First Class Passenger
Member # 2704

posted 01-30-2002 08:22 PM

Thanks for your reply, sympatico. I had to laugh. I KNOW that you can't really snorkle in waist-deep water. I just meant that I'd like to get him used to putting his face in the water wearing a mask and snorkle first in waist-deep water. (That's how I first learned when I took scuba classes.) Just wear the mask and snorkle and bend over to get the feel of breathing, etc. I figured that he might see something interesting like pretty fish and get intrigued but I know if the water is rough he'll get nervous.

Posts: 101 | From: Ireland | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 01-31-2002 11:54 AM

Katie - have a suggestion. Why doesn't your friend try out the snorkel equipment in the shallow end of the pool on the ship - fresh water one would be better, as I remember first trying to snorkel in shallow water in Cozumel and getting a big mouthful of SALT water - UGH!!! What a taste.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Katie O'Girl
First Class Passenger
Member # 2704

posted 01-31-2002 12:04 PM

Thanks sympatico. You know that's exactly what I was going to do and then I read a review that said that the Pride did not have a pool with a shallow end and that stuck me as sort of odd. I was a bit disappointed because your idea would be best. That's how they did it with me. In a pool first. Do you know if it's true about the Pride?

Posts: 101 | From: Ireland | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 01-31-2002 01:22 PM

Katie - have no idea about the Pride. Have only sailed on HAL ships. Good Luck!

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 02-03-2002 11:02 AM

Hi Katie, I was just going to post the same advice but Sympatico got there first. Great minds think alike Eh Sympatico. I will go one further though. Try the snorkle in a public pool before you leave home! I know it sounds daft and the locals will think he has completly lost his mind but it will really help him. I went snorkling for the first time a couple of years ago. I don't like deep water and don't put my head in the water even though we have a pool in our back yard which I use every day!! The kids get a real kick watching me swim laps and laps and never getting my hair wet!! The hardest part for someone who is really scared of snorkling is the breathing, going to a local pool will really make him feel comfortable with it. hope this helps!

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

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