As I recall, it is recommended that if you have a cold/flu you should change your toothbrush to stop reinfecting yourself. If toothbrushes are rinsed well and kept outside the body and still transmit illness I think it is reasonable to assume the same could possibly apply to snorkel tubes. How do you know for sure somebody at the rental place is thoroughly washing or decontaminating stuff appropriately? I carry my own tube, but like bluefan leave the fins behind. Also alcohol lowers bacteria but does not kill everything. :?

Go to a store that sells wine making supplies, buy a packet of the powder that is used to strilize wine making equipment, mix it with water, and use it to sterilize your snorkel gear.

An in depth link http://www.scuba-doc.com/AIDSrsk.htm

Just think of all the fish that have been peeing in the ocean since the beginning of time... :o

Just returned from a family vacation where all ten of us rented boat and snorkel gear from a professional dive shop. I had my alcohol swabs but did not use them as the dive shop uses 10% bleach water on their equipment which is the best! They took a lot of time to fit each of us with masks and fins, sprayed our masks with anti-fog and fed us fresh pineapple and melon after we returned to the boat. They had a captain and first mate on board and each spent time giving instructions to our four grandchildren who had never snorkeled before. I will always seek a professional dive shop from now on. The cost was $22.00 pp.

I took my own snorkel & mask to Key West and was glad. My snorkel was a much better quality than the ones they gave you to use on the boat. My niece used their equipment and had no problems. I got my equipment at Sports Authority on sale as a set for $25. Didn't take much room in the bottom of my suitcase. However, the shark that crossed my path didn't notice whether I was in rented or store-bought gear...LOL!!

Maui has great snorkeling, but by all means, buy your own mask and snorkel. I've NEVER used a rented mask that didn't leak, and then you don't worry about anyone's germs. They are not that bulky to pack, if you take care of them they will last for years, and no, you don't have to spend a forture.

cd-was the dive shop that you found on Maui?