christiegr

Now ONZGO has the icons going good.

Mae,
I have not dove down while snorkeling because I am scared that me ears would hurt.I might try it the next time that I snorkel..if they start to hurt..I will find the comfort level and stick to it.(probably no more than 10 feet deep??)

Tuxedocat

Christie: I am also a certified diver and one of the things you learn in diving is how to equalize pressure in your ears. You might try it when you're swimming. It doesn't always work because of congestion due to colds/allergies etc., and sometimes just some excess wax in ears. But try this, if you don't already know how: when you are diving down and you start feeling pressure in your ears, keeping your mouth closed, pinch your nostrils closed with your fingers and blow (gently at first until you get the hang of it) through your nose. The air of course can't get out of your closed mouth and nose and will instead push out on your eardrums which will then tend to equalize the pressure between the exterior and interior of your eardrums. Sometimes there is congestion and this technique will not be as effective. Divers will equalize pressure as often as necessary on descent. I seem to need it every 4-5 feet in depth as I go down. Sometimes, I get stuck at a depth for a moment until I can get my ears cleared. If you can't get your ears to equalize while diving down snorkeling, just don't go down any further than you are comfortable. It won't cause permanent damage but a busted eardrum is a nuisance. It takes a some practice but the immense freedom you feel from the ability to get down into the environment is wonderful. With 5 days, you'll have the chance to get really good. Just be patient with yourself and really enjoy the process. With practice, you'll find you will be able to hold your breath longer and longer which also increases your enjoyment of the underwater world. I'm hoping for great weather for your trip.

christiegr

Mae,
Thanks for the diving 101 .As of right now..I am very congested.My 3 year old(who turns 3 today Happy B-day!!)picked up a cold at Preschool..He goes 3 days a week.Now I have it.I have been using that Vicam that is supposed to shorten the duration of a cold..because I hope to be well for his party this Sat. and for St John next Thursday.

I noticed a big storm off the coast of Africa..I will be keeping an eye on it..as well as Opeilia (sp??) the storm that could come to NC.So far..we have been lucky this year not to have been affected by a hurricane.

lauren27

The best snorkeling that I have seen was at Dzul Ha in Cozumel. Belize snorkeling was also pretty good. We went to shark/ray alley there and that was really fun. I also did some fantastic snorkeling in Culebra (small island off of Puerto Rico). There were lots of little coves that you could hike to and snorkel right from the beach--we saw a really wide variety of fish. I've also snorkeled in Costa Maya, Mexico, Bermuda, Jamaica, Key West, Antigua, and St. Kitts but those were nothing to write home about compared to the others. I'm going to the Virgin Islands in October and can't wait to experience the snorkeling there!

ONZGO

gosh, I am going to take this off topic again quot;>

If you must fly with a cold, take a decongestant tablet and use a decongestant nose spray before flying as it will help lesson the pain. This was recommend to a Ear, Eye, Nose & Throat Specialist.

Our family physician has said that a cold usually last about a week and if it hasn't gotten better or start to get better in a week, you should see a doctor. Hope these things help some people.

Get well soon christiegr.

Now back to our regular programing about snorkeling. 8-)

ScottB

So far, the best I've seen is Grand Cayman. There are a lot of different areas to snorkel from shore, and the water clarity is amazing. Our favorite on GC is Eden Rock. The diving there is world class, by far the best I've ever done.

Ambergris Caye off the coast of Belize was very good, but not as good as GC. We did several locations with Shark/Ray Alley being the best. Several nurse sharks, stingrays, and 3 giant spotted eagle rays were the highlight. As another poster said, you have to use a boat to get to the good snorkeling on Ambergris, which is a pain in the butt. We won't be back for this reason.

We snorkeled a few locations on St Thomas during a cruise stop, and I wasn't impressed at all. Coki beach was supposed to be very good, but average at best. Saphire beach again, just average.

St John has been on my wish list for a long time....

christiegr

Scott,
You will have to make that wish come true.

Onzgo,
Thanks for the wish.
I am feeling alot less congested as the day moves forward...thanks to Vicam probably.

christiegr

Scott,
One more thing...I have heard that the snorkeling is awesome in Grand Cayman...would love to experience it.Is it a scrubby island..because the snorkeling would have to be the *best* for me to go there if it is.

ScottB

christie,

Yes, GC is relatively flat and somewhat scrubby. Certainly boring landscape if comparing to something in the USVI. It's the only place we have been to twice, as we really enjoyed the island. Also, the island is still recovering from Hurricane Ivan last year. Many places are rebuilt and back to normal, but from what I've read, there is still a lot to be done.

Things to keep in mind:

The island itself is very easy to get around on your own, and very safe.

The flights are short and easy, you'll be snorkeling by mid-afternoon on your travel day.

The restaurants are fabulous.

Seven Mile beach is long & gorgeous, with 10 different shades of turquoise water. (5.5 miles I believe)

The locals are very friendly.

Some downsides:

Quite americanized in the busy section of 7MB. Yes, you'll unfotunately see a few fast food joints. Although 7MB has some conjested areas, you can easily escape that by staying further north on the beach, and finding plenty of solitude. Once you are on the beach, you'll quickly forget the conjestion areas.

GC isn't for everyone, but it did fit what we like to do quite nicely, hence why we visited a 2nd time.

Having said how much we enjoy snorkeling, and trying new sites/beaches, I'm convinced that St John may just become our new favorite when we finally get there someday.

Snubes

Elkhorn coral canyons off Pink Gin Beach in Grenada. Awesome.

christiegr

Scott,
Thanks for the information on GC.I guess that I will research it more...and then maybe add it to our *to travel to* list. Wow...is that list getting long.If we can pull ourselves away from St John..we would like to go to Negril,Jamaica,Harbour Island,Fiji,Maui,Kaua'i(again),St Kitts and Nevis and then maybe GC could fall somewhere in there.

tucsonartist

I am so surprised to read Cozumel on the list of favorite snorkeling spots! I thought the snorkeling there was very poor - the diving was good, but not the snorkeling. Maybe we were there at a bad time of year? Snorkeling is awesome in Hawaii - on the Big Island by the scared refuge, near Captain Cook; anywhere on Kauai and many places on Maui. We are going to Tortola for the first time in December. Is there good snorkeling there?

Tuxedocat

Christie: Only do this if you feel comfortable. I take a dose of Sudafed about an hour before I travel by plane or snorkeling/diving whether I feel congested or not. The drawback is that it may give you a bit "dry" feeling. Pseudophredrine makes your sinuses thin out to relieve congestion. You might try snorkeling without Sudafed and if it feels fine then don't take it, but if you feel stuffy, then just try some.

Tuxedocat

Christie: just a reminder, it's just what I would do. Please do not take it as dispensation of medical advice! Sudafed is still over the counter stuff, that is, if the methadone addicts haven't ruined it for all of us and they've taken it off the counter.

christiegr

Mae,
It makes good sense...what you said about Sudafed.I know not to take that as medical advice. I am one of those people who inherited sinus problems and some allergies..not too many allergies..thank god!

It's a shame when pharmacies have to put over the counter meds behind the counter..because of drug addicts.

cmcfong

I like to snorkle over the blockade runners which wrecked off the coast of Bermuda. Generally speaking the reefs and fish in the Bermuda waters are not spectacular, but that is an interesting option. I go with Blue Water Divers
For a spectacular diving or snorkeling adventure in a bare bones place check out www.smallhopebay.com in the Bahamas. Truly a one of a kind place.

ejcrowe

Snorkeling is one of my favorite activities when I travel to the Caribbean. The first place I tried snorkeling will always remain special to me, and that was at the base of the Pitons in St. Lucia. I'm not sure if it's my rose colored glasses influencing my memory or not, but it is to date the most colorful place I've snorkeled-- both in terms of the fish and the coral.

I think I saw the widest variety of creatures snorkeling off Guana and Cooper Island in the BVIs. I was a little disappointed in the snorkeling on Tortola after reading how great it was supposed to be--all of the coral looked either dead or dying.

The site that surprised me the most was snorkeling at the Baths on Virgin Gorda. I was expecting touristy, which it definitely was, but I was unprepared for how magical it would feel snorkeling among those rocky grottos. The colors, the shifting of the light against the boulders, the beautiful fish & other creatures--well, I would go back in a heartbeat if I could (and one day will!).

Anybody have any specific spots on Vieques to recommend for snorkeling? It's where we're heading next!

Tuxedocat

ejCrowe: The base of the Pitons! Now that's what I call a romantic snorkeling spot. We have dear friends from St. Lucia and hope to visit there in the not too distant future. I absolutely loved the Baths too. Did you find the underwater swimthrough? That was great. I'm adding that Pitons to my list.

sceneisle

Isla Fernandina (Galapagos Islands) - Playful seals, giant turtles and penguins.

Waterlemon Cay (St. John) - Lots of fish, high visibility.

Oil Slick (Bonaire) - Don't let the name fool you.............it's located near an old oil refinery. Interesting topography and lots of fish. Easy entry, via ladder.

connette

Tahiti, for the fish and the coral - no question. Followed by the protected beach in Lanai, the Galapagos - not so much for the beauty, as for the usual swim mates - like 6' black tip sharks, penquins, seals etc. Between Maui and Molokini is also quite nice for the turtles.