Should I just wait until I get to Kauai to purchase it, or purchase and bring it with me? I did a quickie search and for a fairly good snorkel/mask/fins set and a snorkeling vest, it would run about $100. Does that sound right?

If you can purchase your snorkle gear stateside, I'd do that. Most times it will be cheaper to bring your own gear-that's what we've done in the past.
I don't know what more expert Fodorites think, but I've never used a snorkle vest, so I don't know if it's necessary.

Budman - my husband and I love to snorkel and have all the gear BUT we have found that traveling w/ fins is just not worth it and we leave them home most trips. We bring our own mask, snorkel, and vest (they fold up small) and just rent fins if we need them. We haven't been to hawaii yet but I'm sure rentals are readily available. If you know you love to snorkel get a good mask that fits well from a dive shop, well worth the money ... if your trying it for the first time I would just get a cheapie mask and snorkel from walmart or something and rent fins & vest when you get there. Enjoy

oh and opinions vary on the vest ... if you take an excursion off shore I would definitely use one but they should be provided by any reputable excursion operator ... for beach snorkeling my husband always uses his (but he doesn't float at all on his own, he sinks), I use one only if snorkeling for really long periods. Just a personal preference ... but if your not a strong swimmer than I would use one even from the beach.

Last time I snorkeled was about 20 years ago, and I used a borrowed vest. Made me feel warm and fuzzy.

Would you think a snorkel set from someone like joedive's would be adequate, or should I go to somewhere like Sports Authority to try one on?

We looked into buying our own gear a few years ago and that seems a bit inexpensive to me.

Dh and I just rent it for the week (or our stay) when we travel. The snorkel shops always give us good maps and advice on spots to snorkel and we don't have to worry about lugging our gear too and from our destination. If we lived somewhere that we could snorkel it would make sense to have our own at home, but alas, we don't!

Is the vest for flotation? I've never used one.

If sports authority will really let you try on masks you might want to do that ... I haven't looked at their snorkel gear in a few years but I remember it being sealed sets, not individual masks you could try on.

If you order online ... try
http://snorkel-gear.com/index.htm

snowrooster - yes vest is for flotation, when inflated you can just float on surface with no effort, the type we have (and I think this is common) allow you to let air out and blow air back in easily so you can let it out if you want to dive down and add it back if you get tired and want to float.

Budman if you want to purchase good quality gear you should do so in a dive shop, either here or in Hawaii. Sports Authority is a fine store but they do not carry the quality of a dive shop. When we plan a snorkel vacation we pack our masks and snorkels. Other larger items we can get locally. What is the difference between top quality gear and cheaper stuff? Night and day difference!

Thanks. I think I'll wait until I get there and check things out.

After floundering while trying to snorkel from aa lava, I found a great pair of swim-fins ~30$) with easy on/off heel strap at S.A., bring to HI every time.

John, can you translate that?

Hey man, we've done fine with the inexpensive US Divers gear available here and in Hawaii, carrying a small tube of Vaseline lip balm for any mask leakage problems. I've noticed some snorkel tours in Hawaii also furnish that brand gear as well.

Link to Sports Author.:
http://shopping.msn.com/marketplace.aspx?pmpType=1&mpId=0&pcId=4059&catId= 516&page=4 gear similar to what we have used for a few years now, and FYI, we got our own US divers masks (w/glass lens) at a another non chain local sports store.

I've had trouble getting the heavy one-piece rental swim fins on&off my wide feet, and found a pair of inexpensive "Flow" swim fins at Sports Authority with a detachable heel strap that make it much easier to take fins on/off.

I always recommend trying on the mask prior to purchase if possible. Getting a good fit is important for an enjoyable snorkeling/diving experience.

I recommend that you consider how much you spend on your snorkel gear to how often you plan to use it in the future. Stuff at a dive shop is definitely better quality over much of what you might find at a Sports Authority - but it is also more expensive.

For example, my mask (I dive) was $55 - and I consider it a steal at that price (actually, it was selling closer to $85 everywhere else I looked). Many of the other masks I looked at prior to purchasing were also closer to the $80 range. Snorkels are not too expensive for something really basic - but can run up to around $35 if you have a purge or a flip top thing that helps prevent water from going in, etc.

Dive fins are not really necessary for snorkeling - unless you plan to cover a LOT of ground in choppy conditions and you need the extra power longer fins provide. You can purchase a pair of snorkeling fins for much cheaper. Cheap full foot dive fins run around $60 - $80, if you're looking for a comparison.

However, there is a dive shop right on Kalakaua that often has dive gear on clearance. I can't recall the name of the shop - but you may be able to find dive quality gear at snorkel package prices if they're running a sale.

Thanks for the food for thought. I don't want cheap gear, and then again, I don't want something (can't see scuba diving in my future) over the top. I guess I'll just have to go to a dive shop and check things out. Thanks for your inputs.

One place you might try looking at if you happen to be shopping at Ala Moana one day is a shop called Hana Pa'a Hawaii - it's located inside the Hawaiian Island Creations store. HIC is on the street level of the mall.

It's primarily a skindiving and fishing shop (lures, nets, spearguns, slings) - but they do have some regular dive gear that you would be looking for, such as masks and snorkels. That is where I found my mask at such a great price. At the time I also noticed they had a fair selection of inexpensive dive fins.

This was a few years ago, though - so I'm not that current on their current selection of stuff.

Budman,
Before our first trip to Kaua`i three years ago I went to a dive shop and purchased a snorkel/mask and fins for around $150. I love having my own gear. It's one less thing I have to do once I get there.
-Bill

I was tired of having to rent and return gear (although I did always use Snorkel Bob because of their great 24 hour drop off box) so for my trip last fall to the BI, I bought a mask and snorkel in California and then bought a pair of fins at Walmart (tried them on right there in the aisle), they actually had a broad selection of gear/prices. You could just rent fins too. I ended up taking my new fins home with me, but I'm a really light packer. It's nice to be able to try on several masks at the store to find one that's just right and to have your mask first and get it all adjusted to your face and stuff at home. I bought my stuff at a Sports Chalet in L.A., they actually had a wide selection of masks and snorkels, along with those prepacked sets in plastic, and lots of diving/snorkeling accessories--mesh bags, dry cases, anti-fog goo, etc.

I used to use the snorkel vest too, but am proud to say I overcame my fear of the ocean! (Mostly!) Not that it's bad if you use it, I'm not callin' you a fraidycat or nuthin', I'm just saying, I used it because it made me feel much safer.

glub glub
roxy

I have my own gear but everyone else on my trip rents. Snorkel Bob's is so easy--we stop on the way to the airport. I only own a mask and snorkel--I rent fins because they are too cumbersome to pack.

Along with my expensive snorkel (over $100) I have own the US Diver stuff ($19.99 at Costco) and it works great for me. The main difference is if you want to dive down. The pricey models have a thing where you can blow out the water (helpful if you are diving below the surface) wheras the cheaper equipment does not. I may have a generic sized face bacause I get great suction with the US Diver set.

We snorkel a few times a year so it was worth it for me to buy a set but otherwise I would just rent. It is very inexpensive.

I take my own gear. It pack easily and I KNOW what I have when I get there. It is also easy to just go, without having to rent and return when done.