My husband does not swim and will only reluctantly go into the water. Has anyone on the forum who does not swim done snorkling on the islands? We will be visiting Oahu, BI, and Maui. If anyone has suggestions regarding specific companies on any of these islands, I would appreciate the info. The main task will be to convince him!

I'm having all sorts of problems w/ the site this morning but I'll try one more time.

I am in your husband's camp. Basically, swimming for me is staying alive in the water

But several years ago I went to Hanauma Bay and snorkled. What a blast! I got the hotel concierege to hook me up w/ a tour company that picked me up early in the a.m., stopped by a couple of other hotels to pick up 4 other people, provided snorkle gear and even sold disposible underwater cameras. We had about 3+ hours there and left just as all the sightseers arrived around 10:30 a.m.

We literally had the bay almost to ourselves. It took me about 10 or 15 minutes to get over the terror of what I was doing -- but then I literally did not leave the water until we had to leave.

Hanauma bay is very shallow - I could stand up almost everywhere. A couple of the others on the tour were experienced divers and went out beyong the reef -- but inside the bay is very gentle. You see millions of fish and it is amazing.

As I said - I am not a swimmer - can float, do a sort of modified breast stroke/dog paddle but cannot really swim at all. For me snorkleing was a MAJOR high - like someone afraid fo heights going skydiving.

Now this was about 10 years ago and I think the rules for Hanauma Bay have changed. Maybe a local can give you current info. But if you get a chance - go for it. You will NOT be disappointed.

As a non-swimmer too, I can attest that Janis's suggestion is dead-on. The key to safe, enjoyable snorkeling for a non-swimmer is to find a fairly shallow, reef-protected location that will offer calm, clear water where you can put your feet down and stand up anytime you feel the need. Hanauma Bay is prefect for this. There are lots of fish (even in very, very shallow water). Get there EARLY or the place WILL be full as Hanauma Bay is VERY popular.

Kanoehe Bay on the windward side of Oahu is a huge reef-protected lagoon and should offer some nice snorkeling spots for you - though I don't know of any particular spot to recommend.

Ken

FYI - If you ever get to Kauai, try Anini Beach on the north shore, another reef protected location with wonderful snorkeling and many, many fish. Also, the South Pacific (southern hemisphere) offers many, many reef-protect locations (far more than Hawaii). Places like Moorea and Bora Bora in French Polynesia are known world-wide for the their calm, clear, shallow lagoons. So too are Rarotonga and Aitutaki in the wonderful (and fairly inexpensive - we rented a house directly on the lagoon for under $100 USD/night) Cook Islands. My trip photos of these places (and the swimming/snorkeling conditions they offer) can be seen here (if you are at all curious):

http://community.webshots.com/user/lordbalfor

I'm not quite a non-swimmer, but it's certainly not one of my strong points. Nevertheless, when we were on the BI a few years ago I really wanted to try it. It's a lot easier than I had thought, and I would add my voice to the folks who suggested a calm location where the water isn't too deep. I chose to buy snorkel equipment (admittedly pretty speculative since I had no idea whether I'd be successful at this or not) and the guy who sold it to me said "Go on out into the bay, stand in chest-deep water, and try it. If you need help, come and get me." I tried it and was amazed and delighted. It's also possible to snorkel wearing a lifejacket; a friend of mine who was even more nervous than I am did this, with some success.

I am not a strong swimmer and don't float well, but I love to snorkle. I tried it in shallow water where I could stand first to get the breathing down and now I use a "noodle" just so I don't have to worry about floating, I can just relax and look down at the wonderworld under the water. My daughter-in-law uses a boogie board. Try practicing in the pool where you are staying to learn the breathing. On the Big Island, a good place for beginners is Kahalu'u Beach just south of Kona. You can rent equipment there at the beach and it has a shallow entry and lots of fish and sea turtles. Have a wonderful time!

Just a word of caution...my Mom can swim and enjoys being in the water, but could NOT snorkel. It was frightening for her to have her face in the water while breathing...she panicked and couldn't get over that feeling. So, if your husband really hates the water, just know that this could happen to him before you spend a bunch of money on equipment or an excursion.

That said, he should definitely try with a life vest or a "floaty" in shallow water--he may love it!

I'm another person who is pretty much like your husband in regards to swimming. During our recent trip to Oahu, I had two different snorkeling experiences. The first was at Shark's Cove at Pupukea Beach. This did "not" work out for me mainly because I never felt like I could put my feet down. Plus, I also wear glasses and Shark's Cove is pretty much surrounded by a lava grotto, so I had to walk over that to get to my glasses on the sand. Snorkeling here was the only unpleasant part of my Oahu vacation, so much so that my husband rewarded me with a trip to the spa.

Our second snorkeling trip was to Hanauma Bay and I echo everything that was posted before about this place. It was wonderful for a non swimmer! I could have snorkeled at Hanauma Bay for the rest of the day. We arrived early (6:30) before the crowds arrived. A most enjoyable experience!

So, as you can see, my vote also goes for finding a place where your husband feels he can put his feet down. I used a floatation device and it really gave me a feeling of extra security. It is true, however, that even strong swimmers might have trouble getting used to breathing in snorkeling gear. The Hilton Hawaiian Village had snorkeling lessons, although I didn't take one. Other hotels might offer the same service.

Have fun in Hawaii, snorkeling is only one part of the fun there!

Just be sure his mask fits well. Otherwise water will seep into it and likely induce a sense of anxiety if not panic. I think this is the biggest mistake made by beginners, and will make a huge difference in his experience being positive.

"Hanauma bay is very shallow - I could stand up almost everywhere"

"fairly shallow, reef-protected location that will offer calm, clear water where you can put your feet down and stand up anytime you feel the need"

Sorry - had to respond - hope this is standing in a sandy area and not on the reef itself!

Tigger - Of course. Never a good idea to stand on coral. It breaks the coral and gives you NASTY cuts on any unprotected surface.

Ken

Maybe a last resort for your husband to try would be one of those styrofoam boards with a viewing glass built right into it. We used them for our kids when they were little, and they work better than nothing at all. Maybe he'd get the bug and feel braver about trying a mask and snorkel. Of course, if using a mask is no concern, then the suggestions above to stay in shallow water are good ones. There are so many places to snorkel in Hawaii, where you can see many fish in waist deep water, it shouldn't be a problem. Except the best viewing is out further in the water, where you can float above coral. The sandy shores tend to be less populated with fish, and murky, too. I'll bet he'll be entranced by the underwater beautfy and be able to enjoy it.

Thanks so much for all the encouragement! I have not even said anything about this to him as I'm not sure of his reaction - wanted to get info first. In 40+ years of marriage, I have only been able to get him into the water at Sanibel island, where he could walk waaaay out...
I love to swim and do so daily, so I really hope i can persuade him to try. Any particular companies to try with?

Conlet, now that I have an idea about your age, let me ask you if your husband wears glasses. As a lifelong myopic, I can tell you that not being able to see well does NOT add to one's confidence in the water!

If this is the case, I recommend renting a snorkel mask for him that has magnifying lenses. I bought mine from Snorkel Bob and have been very pleased with it, but you can rent them as well.

He will hardly be entranced by the underwater beauty if he can't see it!

Glad to see this post because I have felt a little foolish about my fear of snorkeling. I am not a good swimmer and also claustrophobic so the whole breathing with my face in the water gives me the creeps. I would still like to give it another try while I am in Maui in another 6 weeks:. Does anyone know of a shallow area for snorkeling in Maui?

One thing to try to get your confidence up before venturing into the ocean is trying it out in a swimming pool. That way you will be familiar with the whole breathing through the snorkel thing and can focus your attention on the cool fishies below you.

Agree with Marilyn about getting your mask to fit. There is nothing worse than having to keep clearing your mask. One thing to remember is that you can actually have your mask too tight, which will cause it to leak also. Newbies always seem to think leaking means the mask is too loose, so keep tightening it, when in reality they may need to loosen it.

Conlet, I've snorkeled all over, Caribbean, Belize, Cayman, and IMHO, Hawaii is the best. I've never seen such a wide variety of fish all in one place. Once your husband sees a turtle in his natural environment, I think he'll be hooked!

Tip: You can use a little petrolium jelly along the edges of the mask to make a better seal and help prevent leaks. I always have to do this because of my moustache.

Ken

Conlet,

I have not snorkeled yet in Hawaii (this December I will, though!), but found this site which might be useful.

http://www.alohafriends.com/BI_by_ocean.html

I think you can find info about the other islands as well.

If your husband is afraid of the water, wearing a flotation device in very shallow water might be a good idea. Also, check out snorkeling spots that are good for kids or beginners.

A tour on a glass-bottomed boat might also be good.

Have fun!

Martha

I've never snorkled before but plan to on my visit to Oahu in March. However, the comment about glasses and magnifying masks made me think. I wear contacts (the hard type - since I have severe astigmatism). I am planning on wearing my contacts with the mask - and am assuming that it is not too hard to get a mask that has a good seal - I don't want to be losing my contacts! Any suggestions/comments on how to choose a mask would be appreciated.

bart, wherever you buy or rent the mask should be able to help you get a good fit (as long as you're not buying it on ebay!).

Do you wear your contacts in the water now? I used to wear my soft contacts while snorkeling but I think they are less prone to flipping out of your eye than the hard ones. It is not while the mask is on that you might lose your contacts, but you can't guarantee that you won't need to put your head up, take your mask off, and clear it. So you'll have to weigh those factors.

I'm not sure how badly the astigmatism will affect your vision without your contacts, but despite my extreme correction, the magnifying lenses work very well for me, much better than I expected. I had an excellent experience at Snorkel Bob's (they are all over HI) and would recommend them. (You can do some pre-trip research at www.snorkelbob.com)

I bought my mask there, with a different strength lens in each eye. They encouraged me to try it out and come back if necessary and they would switch out the lens for a different strength.

Message: >I am planning on wearing my contacts with the mask - and am assuming that it is not too hard to get a mask that has a good seal - I don't want to be losing my contacts! Any suggestions/comments on how to choose a mask would be appreciated.<

Bart-

Place the mask on your face (make sure you don't have any hair interrupting the seal on your face) look straight ahead and gently inhale. If the mask is a good fit, it should remain on your face. You should not have to inhale really strongly to keep it on.

I dive all the time with my contacts, so as long as you have a good fit it's not a problem.