Hello!
The snorkeling chickens would be my family - well, and least my 2 teenage kids and me - it seems like if you go to Belize, you really should spend a morning snorkeling, but we've never done anything like that and aren't strong swimmers. Is it terribly difficult to stay afloat -you'd have on a life vest, I'm sure? Do you wind up sucking up lots of ocean water? How is the experience of being in the hot sun on the water? Any tales of your snorkeling experience would be eagerly read! If we do go to the coast, it would likely be to the Toucan Sittee near Dangriga, arriving from St. Ignacio, then returning to the airport (which is probably another set of questions on transport!). So....hence the question,what's it like and is it a "must do"?

I like to snorkel and don't consider myself a strong swimmer. Sea water causes one to be very buoyant, I don't use a life vest. However, I'm sure they're available. You should rent/buy a mask/snorkel and practice off the shore. It's really pretty easy. I found that I have to think about breathing through my mouth at first, and have to remind myself to take slow easy breaths.

My husband is not a strong swimmer and always uses a vest - he just feels more comfortable that way. It also makes me feel a whole lot more comfortable since I don't have to worry about him! I would recommend that you wear a T-shirt in the water as well - it's amazing how sunburned you can get otherwise.

As to the whether or not you end up sucking a lot of water, some of that depends on what the conditions are like. If it's rough, you could have a problem.

But it's definitely a fun experience - and you're right, if you're in Belize, you've got to go snorkeling!

Talk to Yoli at Toucan Sittee about arranging a tour for snorkeling - there are several resorts near there (a few miles away in Hopkins) that provide trips. Have her tell them you're snorkeling chickens so they can accommodate your concerns. It would be a 20 or so mile boat trip to the reef.

You've picked another spot we loved! Yoli is great about setting up any taxis, shuttles, tours, etc. you might want. Maya Centre Village/Cockscomb Reserve, Mayflower site, and Hopkins Village are all within striking distance. The landscaping is lovely and the food fabulous, but take good insect repellent - the mozzies there were the worst we saw on our trip (we had great success with the Controlled Release product sold by Sawyers: http://www.sawyerproducts.com/sawyer...lent/index.htm . Happy trails!

I am not a strong swimmer but enjoy snorkeling.

I recall a trip where an older gentleman was not a strong swimmer, but was embarassed to ask for a life jacket. He was exhausted by the time he made it back to the boat and pretty much had a terrible time.

I always ask for or take my own vest. I also have a dry snorkel.

My snorkeling adventures are pretty much "lie on top of the water and watch all the beauty below".

My children (all lifeguards) are excellent swimmers, free dive, float, whatever they want, sometimes look like dolphins themselves.

So my advice - purchase dry snorkel and mask before trip - use the fins supplied by your tour operator.

Ask for a life jacket or purchase a snorkel vest before your trip.

Once you experience this with the help of the dry snorkel and vest, your confidence will build and I believe the beauty you see will bring you back to this past time many times again.

Enjoy!

If you are not strong swimmers just watch out for the current, you get so interested looking down that pretty soon you can end up very far from the boat or shore.

I'm not a strong swimmer, but am very comfortable snorkeling unless it's very choppy. Even then, with a snorkelling vest on (which many people use), you should be fine. In calm, clear water, you can go for quite a while, even without a vest. It does help to find a rock or something to stand on for a few minutes to take a breather. If you are going on a snorkeling group tour, I can't imagine them not giving you a vest. If you are on your own, stick to lagoons and backwaters the first time out to get the feel of it.
Unless there are fair sized waves, you won't get water down your snorkel.
We just spent a week snorkeling in Mexico and it's amazing.

Most of the guides I'ver been out with tow a life ring or other flotation device along. You can rest on it, use it for support, etc. As previously stated, though, you float easily in the ocean water. If you don't plan on diving to the sea bottom you can wear a standard life vest, which they will provide.

A better option is an inflatable life vest which you can purchase at home. There are two types, one uses CO2, the other you inflate through a blow tube. The latter is much cheaper and probably all you need. These won't inhibit (too much . . .) your diving, but can be inflated should you decide you need flotation.

The dry snorkels mentioned above are a good option -- my wife swears by hers.

It's a very safe activity, especially with a guide. I'll bet you buy your own gear for your next trip.

I have been a swimmer all my life but my husband is really afraid of water (he loves to white water raft...go figure). He likes to snorkel only if he has a vest. I like to just float on my own but do find it very relaxing to use a vest once in awhile to keep him company. Don't feel silly asking for one if it will help you enjoy it more. You'll waste your money if you are uncomfortable. The salt water, as was mentioned does help you float. You will be begging for more than just a morning once you get the hang of it. It is incredible down there. I wear a white t shirt over my bathing suit and take breaks to put more sun screen on my legs and arms. You will probably be given fins as well. When I don't use them I put sun screen on the bottoms of my feet as well. I use them sometimes and sometimes not. Talk about feeling silly, wait until you put those on and have to try to walk into the water LOL. All part of the fun and just remember, everyone looks just as silly.

I first went snorkeling off of Cozumel 20 + years ago before it got built up. I just laid on the beach and stuck my head in the water with the snorkel to get the feel for it. A fish came along and looked so huge that I pulled back out of the water and screamed shark! Scared me to death. I am glad the beach was deserted so nobody could see me do it. San Francisco beach is crowded these days so I am glad I did it then. I have since been snorkeling with real reef sharks and loved every minute of it.

Jean was right on when she wrote about the breathing. I still panic just a little when I first put my face in the water. Once I remind myself to breathe slowly I am okay. I do get mouthfuls of water once in awhile. One of these days I will pick up a mask and snorkel of my own that keeps the water out like Donna has but for now I just put up with the water.

I highly recommend packing your own mask and snorkel. Not all faces and mouths are created equal so for comfort alone it's nice to always have equipment you know is comfortable. A mask that fits poorly can leave sore spots on your face or leak or both. Not all rental equipment is in good shape and there's also some nagging questions about how clean they are. I'm a diver so I want my own mask for that, too. Whether it's worth it to you depends on how much you think you'll like snorkeling and how often you think you'll go. Masks made from silicone skirts and glass faces are great if you can find what you want for a reasonable cost. Having nice equipment improved my snorkeling experiences so much I watched sales on a scuba equipment website and bought a mask, snorkel, and fins for my husband (maybe $35-40 total) and he couldn't believe the difference it made. Renting fins isn't a problem so, if you're wanting to pack light, leave them at home.

Just my 2 cents' worth...

Thanks to all of your replies! It is fun reading about your experiences. I'm noticing more than one of you advised getting our own mask/snorkel, but I'm thinking that would take up a lot of space in our backpacks - or maybe not? Do the masks just kind of mush down? Would you want to buy a mask down there?

deb