Since you're not a great swimmer and are a bit nervous about getting into the water to snorkel, consider using a water skier's belt. It is a simple floatation device that fits around the waist. It adds plenty of buoyancy to let you feel really secure, yet doesn't hold your head up at the exaggerated angle of a collar style life vest. I'm not a good swimmer but I used one for years all over the world and it worked really well. Now I use a shorty wet suit. These can be rented at dive shops for about $10 per day. It gives me the added buoyancy I need and added warmth. Even though the climate is tropical the water can be very cold if you stay in for more than a few minutes.

Since like me, you are blind without your corrective lenses consider a dive mask with correction (much like "cheater" drug store reading glasses). You can find them at dive shops. Or consider contacts for snorkeling. The water gives a bit of magnification, but not enough to make things really clear if you're dependent on corrective lenses, but wearing contacts works great.

As for not being able to sink in salt water - forget it. I can sink like a stone and panic in an instant. I agree with all the posters above. Get some equipment, take a snorkeling lesson at home before you go (most dive shops offer them even in landlocked cities). Know what you're doing. There is a bit of an art to the process - like knowing how to get your mask to fit properly so it won't leak the whole time.

But don't give up. I just can't say enough about the beauty underwater. Do whatever it takes to make yourself feel secure so you can enjoy the spectacular sights.

SSN, You asked about "rules for snorkeling". Here are the ones I give to our friends when they visit in Cozumel.

"We do not inherit the earth from our parents. It is lent to us by our children," so goes an old Chinese proverb. This is especially true of the underwater world and coral reefs. The world's reefs are being destroyed at such a rapid rate that by the time our children inherit this world, there may be nothing under the sea worth viewing.

What Can One Person Do?

Keep hands, fins and equipment off of coral reefs and marine animals when diving, snorkeling, or fishing. Even minimal human contact can break or destroy coral polyps and injure fish and animals.

Don't stir up sediment - it cuts off sunlight needed for photosynthesis. The coral reef begins with algae that use sunlight to make food. The algae nourish the tiny coral animals known as polyps. Coral polyps secrete a hard, stony shell of calcium carbonate that builds up over time becoming the actual coral reef.

Keep coral and marine creatures alive and underwater for your next visit - don't bring home collected souvenirs. Buy an underwater photograph instead. The shells you see on the ocean floor have living creatures inside.

Don't throw trash into the water. Plastic bags wrap around branching corals, causing them to suffocate and die. Bags, six-pack rings and cigarette butts kill great numbers of marine animals through entanglement and ingestion.

Protect your skin from the sun with a shirt whenever possible. Oily sunscreen can contaminate and suffocate corals.

Don't urinate in the water near coral reefs. Coral polyps, reef fish and other sea creatures are susceptible to disease-carrying bacteria and viruses from human contamination.

Don't anchor on the reefs. A thoughtless toss of an anchor can easily destroy years of coral growth. A dragging anchor rope from a boat swinging in the current can chafe through or snap off fragile coral branches in a few minutes.

Dive with responsible operators that are committed to keeping coral reefs alive.

Please help preserve the coral for future generations.

When I was a child, I visited all over the Wailea area of Maui, most of the time in the water. There is some really good advice here, particularly about learning how to snorkel in a pool or spa first as well as finding out the water conditions from a PROFESSIONAL or snorkel tour operator BEFORE entering the water. The Pacific can be a very dangerous place, even really close to shore. Riptides and shore currents can be particularly nasty but the locals, particularly lifeguards, can tell you when and where to go in safety. My grandmother would always warn us of the currents every morning as we set off to go exploring. Even in what looks like a "sheltered bay" you can run into trouble if the conditions are wrong.

I would NOT suggest Molokini as a place to visit on your first snorkelling trip since there is mainly deep water there. But there are TONS of places along the shore to visit and I am sure tons of dive shops/guided tours. My main advice would be to get as comfortable in the water BEFORE going to Hawaii as possible. Take lessons at your local Y if you really can't swim very well, or at all, and once in/on the ocean ALWAYS wear a life vest.

The snorkelling in Hawaii is AMAZING. The sealife and plants are absolutely gorgeous. If you use some common sense, the advice found here and that from your local Hawaiian resources, you will have a wonderful experience. My first trip to Molokini was when I was 9 and I LOVED it. It was so beautiful, and the boat tour operators were great, telling us the history of the crater and also all about what we would see on and about it. I'm sure since then it has gotten even better (this was back in the early 80's). Have a wonderful trip and do give snorkelling a try, you will not regret it. :)

Hi, Everyone:
Thank you so much for your advice and encouragement! I check out the Yellow Pages and didn't think I'll found anyone that gives snorkelling lessons but to my surprise, there are a couple of places. The outlets are not big but will definitely look further into it.

Now I'm trying to find places in Maui that provides wetsuits. I'm always cold and I would prefer it if I can be a bit warmer. Even checked with Maui Dive Shop via e-mail and they don't have it. They do have boogie boards though. Can anyone tell me where I can find some wetsuits to rent in Maui? Thanks again everyone, you've been a tremendous help!

SSN,

Please do take a snorkeling class before you go to Maui so that you may at least get some more exposure to safety precautions. Bear in mind that many snorkeling locales and beaches on Maui arent' manned with lifeguards.

Most dive/snorkel outlets offering courses are generally not "big" except for Sports Chalet so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

As for wetsuit rentals, you might want to try Snorkel Bob's and continue searching dive shops on Maui. Or ask a local dive shop you get lessons from if you can rent from them. Although Hawaii's water temperature is consistently warm as in most tropical locales, I still wear a thin lycra skin just because I feel more comfortable in it. It's also cheap enough that you might want to consider purchasing one. If you want something warmer, you might want to try a neoprene/micropene skin suit (0.5-1mm) or a full on wetsuit, but I wouldn't get something thicker than 3mm otherwise you'll boil on the surface!

Hope this helps!

What about those torpedo tours touted for non-swimmers? I have not ried it but was thinking of trying one because my hubby is also a poor swimmer.

Hi, Myst:
Haven't heard about torpedo tours before, can you tell me more about them?

Also we only have time in Maui for 3 days, does anyone know where we can get some discounts? Heard about some discounts where you have to go through their condo presentations. But there's so much we want to do and not enough to try them all, we won't have time to go through those presentations. There's also the "Gold Card" but we won't use it enough to get our money worth. Would love to hear from others & their experience. Mahalo!

http://www.torpedotours.com/snorkeling.htm

Kind of late. You are probably back by now. LOL, but if anyone is interested the link is attached.

if it isn't too late I will add my suggestions/ Kapalua Bay is easy access as are the beaches at Kihei - esp. Kamole III. You can see fish and get the hang of snorkeling in thigh deep water sometimes. You will not need a wet suit, but Snorkel Bob's will be happy to talk you into one! Try a rash guard (Walmart or Costco) for some upper body insulation. Please give it a try - it is soo cool. I am a water chicken and a poor swimmer who has progressed from a snorkel virgin to an addict. I pay attention to my surroundings and inner feelings. When I get uneasy it is time to head in. Enjoy!

You don't say when you're going, so I don't know if you'll get this message in time...Just wanted to let you know that I am going with my sister to Maui in September and this will be her 8th trip to Hawaii (my 2nd) and I doubt that she has ever put her head under the water! I am convinced she has always had an awesome time (from the stories she tells!), even without ever having snorkeled. There are lots of other ways to enjoy the water-the Atlantis sub comes to mind-and that way you could see and enjoy the marine life without getting wet. I am considering doing it, because I bought an Entertainment book for Hawaii on ebay ('cause it's sold out for 2003)and there is a coupon (25% off) for the sub ride. Just a thought...have fun!

Hi, Myst, Kschico & Andiejo:
Thanks for your suggestions. We are going in March, wish we could go sooner but it didn't quite work out. We tried Atlantis sub before and would like to try something different this time. We enjoyed the sub experience & think Andiejo, you would too. That's a great idea for a backup.

Kschico: Thanks for the tips & encouragement, we happen to be staying in Kihei area so that makes it even better. Where on Kamole III is a good place to get in the water? Any other good place to try? Would love to hear more about your experiences. Thanks so much!

SSN,

In south Maui: Keawakapu beach just south of Kam III is a good place to snorkel, great beach...also Po'olenalena and Palauea, south of Wailea, also two beautiful beaches. Go early to snorkel! The water's the calmest (wind hasn't kicked up yet, snorkeling will be pretty hard when it does) and still very warm, and there's hardly anyone out. We got up everyday at like 5am to snorkel and always had a cool (as opposed to blazing midday sun), empty beach to ourselves. All the places I mentioned have great snorkeling REALLY close to shore, which I like too because I get a little nervous sometimes, but snorkeling is just so much fun, you shouldn't miss out!

love
roxy

Hi, Roxy:
Thanks for the tips! Wrote it down & will check the location on the map. A problem for me will be having to get up at 5 in the morning, especially on vacation. Is 8 or 9AM too late? When you said it's really close to shore, how close is it? Is the water over your head? Just trying to get an idea of how far I need to go in the water before I should give up & try another location. Your help is greatly appreciated.

SSN,

Do you have a copy of Maui Revealed? If not, I strongly suggest getting one, the snorkel maps and tips were invaluable. The book marks on a map EXACTLY where to snorkel on each beach. The snorkeling at the places I mentioned are literally right offshore...no, you won't be able to stand, but it's gonna be like 20 ft maybe...you can always see the bottom, and I felt very safe. The shore is always VERY close by...that's what's so cool about snorkeling in Maui. It'll still be fine if you get out there by 9am, it's still fine,

Sorry, I accidentally sent that too soon...I was saying, yeah, 9am is fine, it's just that in our experience, the earlier the better, but 9 is no problem. Just be aware, the winds are nuts there, like, I heard about the wind in south Maui but didn't believe it til we got there!

At the sites I mentioned, you won't have to go out very far or worry about "giving up", trust me. Maui Revealed will help you A LOT in that regard...also, if you're unsure, generally you should head for the lava outcroppings, that's always where the snorkeling was.

Have fun, snorkeling rules!

love
roxy

Roxy: I have been looking for the Maui Revealed book but haven't found it in Canada yet. So if anyone don't want theirs, please let me know. Sounds like I'll need a life vest for sure. Thought that the wind doesn't pick up until in the afternoon, would it be windy at 9AM? Thanks again!

SSN
We snorkelled on the Great Barrier Reef last year. I am a reasonably good swimmer but when we went out on the dive boat I chose to wear a snorkel vest. I find it gives a nice sense of security if you are feeling at all nervous. (It isn't the swimming aspect that bothers me but I get a bit panicky about the breathing sometimes, so the vest is like a security blanket!) We could also snorkel the reef from shore at our resort but I didn't like it nearly as much. If you go out with an organized snorkel trip and they are aware that you are poor swimmers I think you'll be safer than going it alone from the shore. The deep water isn't that big a deal from the boat if you wear a vest. The danger won't be from drowning if you are being watched by the boat crew. From shore nobody is watching you float out to sea even in a vest!! I haven't been to Hawaii before so I can't comment specifically, but several people (tourists)drowned swimming from shore in Australia when we were there. Don't take chances in the ocean if you are not familiar with the waves, currents and tides, it is risky business. The experience of seeing, and swimming with the fish, turtles and even an occasional reef shark was amazing, so if you can do it safely definitely give it a try.
Cheers,
Lin

SSN,

9am will be fine to snorkel, it doesn't start getting windy until midday. And a snorkel vest is a very good idea for you; I used one, it makes you feel more comfortable because it keeps you afloat with little effort and can be inflated to your preference.

Go to www.wizardpub.com to buy Maui Revealed direct from the authors.

love
roxy