We will be going to St Thomas in Feb. and have never snorkeled, but want to give it a try. So I have a few questions.
1. Should you rent or buy your stuff and bring it? I have heard the quality of rental equipment is not very good and good fit is important. I am a good swimmer, but I remember doing snorkeling in high school swimming and having a terrible time with water leaks. But that was ..... years and .... pounds ago.

2. My husband has glasses and can't see very well without them. He can read without them, but for anything else he needs glasses. I have read you can buy googles with prescription lenses. There where 2 kinds - one more expensive custom made for you and the other you gave your eye correction numbers and they matched it - my guess is somewhat closely.

So, if we like snorkeling - I would expect we will use the stuff for more than 1 vacation. We go somewhere a couple of times a year.

Why haven't we tried snorkeling before now? This is our first trip to the carribean and it seems to really enjoy the beauty of the area and the beaches, you need to see the underwater things also.

Karen,
Definitely buy your own.My husband and I bought "Body Glove" snorkeling gear and love it.We have used it on 3 trips so far.Ours came with a convient carrying case and some anti-fog gel for the mask.But we rarely use our fins..they seem to be good for if you plan on diving down.

We also bought some snorkeling vests.They were $50 each and came in handy while snorkeling out in deep water when you need to clear your mask.

Have fun!I would bet that you will become a snorkeling fanatic!

Christie

hi karen and mitch. i couldn't agree more that you need to snorkel (or dive) to fully appreciate the caribbean. i go with my own stuff but i snorkel every day i'm there.
the fit of your mask is THE most important thing. leaks blur your vision and make the experience lousy! at best. breathing water - well s****. one stray hair under the mask can let water in. so if you are not really sure you will continue to snorkel just buy that to start. or buy cheapy packages and extra masks. cost is about the same at local dive shops as in non resort dive shops on islands whether in package or pieces. the mask should feel comfortable on your face and if you breathe in through your nose with mask on, but not strapped on, it should stick to your face when you let go with your hands. the prescription googles are very expensive so i might consider the less costly match your correction type. most of what you will be looking at will be anywhere from 2' to 40' away. so this is a tough call as you can't opt for the better kind once your there, but, could for next trip...

Is it possible to buy your mask and then rent just the vest?
Also, as we are newbies - it make sense to start with a snorkeling tour or group. Do you agree? I think I need to buy the book snorkeling for dummies. It must be out there.

Hello Karen! I would recommend you buy your own also. I would also strongly recommend that you catch the ferry at Red Hook in St. Thomas and spend a day shoekeling in St. John. In St. John snorkle Hawksnest beach and Cinnamon Bay. Those are my 2 favorite places in St. John.Do go to St. John and snorkle.

I concur -- buy your own snorkel gear - the mask fit is important and having a snorkel that has the blow valve is very helpful. A good dive shop should help you with some nice choices. I've owned mine a while - but think the mask/snorkel cost about $100 combined - well worth it. I use it yearly on trips and in the summer months. I also own a neoprene glove to keep my hair from tangling in the mask strap - it is very helpful if you have long hair. My whole family also uses shorty wetsuits. If you like to be in the water for a while it keeps you from getting chilled, and helps with bouncy. St Thomas has some good snorkeling at Sapphire Beach, and Coki Beach is loaded but the beach is small and crowded. ST John has great places to snorkel -- you'll want to spend a couple of days there if you have time. Tortola has great beaches and the Baths at Virgin Gorda are very cool. There are charters that will sail you there, feed you, and act as tour guides - very fun! Enjoy!

I would definitely take fins if you think you are going to be anywhere with a current or if you plan to be snorkelling tagalongs with dive boats.

If your husband has contact lenses, her can wear these and be just fine. Also remember that everything looks about 15% bigger under water so if his vision isn't too bad, he could get away with a normal mask.

Instead of fog gel for the mask, use spit. Just before you enter the water, rub spit on the inside and outside of each lens and then rinse off in salt water. Spit works much better than gels, is free, and you don't have to pack it.

If you go to St John..go to Francis bay..snorkel around the rocks to the left of the beach..looking towards the ocean.We saw a ton of fish there.It also would be a good idea to buy a book.I bought "Snorkeling Guide To Marine Life" Florida,Caribbean,Bahamas By: Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach.It will help you identify what you see while snorkeling.

A good way to know if you are at a good snorkeling spot is to look out at the water..if you see any dark that looks like it could be a reef or seagrass..chances are you will see something! If its seagrass..you will probably see some Seaturtles!Also around rocks in the water is a good place to snorkel.Good luck and I'm sure that you will have fun!

Christie

By the way..be careful not to touch coral as it will damage it and fire coral can be very painful..I have heard.Just a FYI if you did not know this already.

karen, 2 other places to snorkel on st. thomas are secret harbour and sugar bay. go off the right side of either of these beaches. i agree you do want fins. and a bouyancy vest and the snorkel with the blow out valve but i personally, would not purchase all these things until you have at least tried it.
there are numerous snorkel tours. i have been on the castaway girl out of havensight and had a great experience.
a fabulous excursion you should look at is www.newhorizonscharters.com goes to the baths on virgin gorda to tour, marina cay for lunch at pussers, monkey point to snorkel and soggy dollar bar on white bay beach for a swim and afternoon libation. this is a full and fun filled day. great view of the bvi's,good crew, good snacks, good painkillers. very popular! as in you should book your trip now! and do please be careful of the corals. they are so delicate - just the flip of a fin can damage them.

My hubby and I just started snorkeling a couple years ago (we are 52 yrs old). We took a short crash course on a cruise ship trip several years ago. We love it. It's easier if you go on snorkel boat excursions first..I always wear a life vest cause if you get tired you just float around on your back for awhile and enjoy the surroundings!! Most boat excursions provide the snorkel gear..we always have a great time on the excursions. We are going to St. John this January 2 and are going on the New HorizonsII and also doing a lot of beach snorkeling. I also did this on St. Thomas 2 yrs. ago. Snorkeled right from the beach. We are now buying our own equipment this year. My hubby is going to purchase the in-stock prescription mask also. Have fun and relax..this isn't scuba diving.

Karen, snorkeling is one of the most rewarding activities you can ever learn, IMO. Just have a little patience with the process and yourself and soon you will be incredibly happy with it. As Virginia points out, one little hair can cause leakage, but it's also about whether the mask is suited to your face. You should really go to a dive shop (preferably at home as the cost tends to be lower) and have the store clerk assist you in finding the right mask. Any dive shop in the islands will be able to help you find a good mask for you. It is also good to start with a snorkel trip/group where there'll be an old pro or two to give you pointers. Many of these snorkel trip operators also carry floatation stuff to give you extra confidence. It took me a couple of times to figure out that I can't really drown as long as I have that snorkel in my mouth. Even with a mask full of water, I can still breath. Your inflated lungs is a natural floatation device. There's nothing more relaxing than just floating above a coral reef watching the fish do their thing. It'll take a little practice but it's like riding a bike, once you really get a hang of it, it'll be great. As for your hubby with the glasses, visiting a good dive shop will take care of that too. Call ahead and make sure they carry a line of prescription lense masks. Vision in the water is slightly distorted anyway. My near-sighted husband uses the cheaper kind which just adds a bit of extra magnification so he can see better, too. If he doesn't have his special mask, he'll just snorkel with his contact lenses in... carefully... he says it's like showering with your lenses in. You just have to be careful.