Snorkeling gear, rent or buy?

I have been on many cruises but have not gone snorkeling. I am taking my granddaughter for her high school graduation gift. She wants to go snorkeling. Do you rent or take your own? I could rent a mask, but can't imagine renting a snorkel.. :confused:

Buy a whole face mask from Amazon. THey are much more user friendly then the old fashion mask and snorkle

They are pretty inexpensive to buy from Academy Sports.

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We bought cheapos from Walmart because we don't use them any other time, so saw no need to spend much. They're a little awkward to transport (we had room in our carry-ons) but I read plenty of cases where many places that rent them aren't in the greatest of shape. And there's the whole idea of countless people using them before you, if that bothers you. They got the job done. It was our first time snorkeling and we had a lot of fun.

I recommend just buying snorkel and mask and bring with you, rent fins as they are bulky. Just about everywhere you go there will be rental places. Better fit and sanitary, nothing ruin a vacation then a nasal infection from an unclean snorkel or mask... like I had

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We have our own snorkel gear...not expensive. You need a mask that fits your face or you will not have a lot of fun snorkeling. I agree with above poster to buy the mask and snorkel and rent the swim fins. Also make sure you rent a safety vest, if not going on a structured excursion. You can fill them with air to suit your needs. For a first timer, this can make you feel much more comfortable in the water if you are water over your head. Read up on how to treat your mask before you use it, to take care of any fogging of the lenses. This can occur with any mask, but particularly with new masks. Lots of methods and products to reduce the fogging.

Relax and enjoy the wonderful experience of snorkeling. You will probably get hooked on it.

Another vote for buying your own. If you use your gear twice you have already come out ahead for what you would pay to rent some.

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Comfort and fit are the two most important criteria when selecting a snorkel and mask. Please go to a Scuba Diving shop near your home and try various masks on your face. Silicon rubber are the best long lasting, but more expensive. If you wear prescription lenses your mask can be sent to have lenses attached to the inner glass so you can see clearly.

Snorkel should be short and comfortable in your mouth. Some are available that you soak the mouth piece in hot water and then bite down on it. It will mold to the pattern of your teeth and be very comfortable.

Do take a lesson on how to use a snorkel. It is easy, once you know how. You will learn how to clear the water from the snorkel without looking like Shamu surfacing from a deep dive. Easier breathing will allow you to swim with less fatigue.

Finally, to keep your mask from fogging up inside, apply a single drop of baby shampoo on the glass, use your finger to cover the entire surface. Dip the mask quickly in and out of the water and put it on. Some people spit in their mask before a dive, but you really don't want those germs near your eyes.

A pair of wet suit booties will keep your feet cozy, and protect from anything sharp on the sea floor. Fins if you need them, and again always look for comfort and fit.

Mask, fins and snorkel are the first items in my bag when going to the tropics. You really don't want to use rental gear of anything you put in your mouth, on your feet, or near your nose and eyes.

You will enjoy your dive. Everyone does.

I just bought masks and snorkels for me and my two kiddos. We have never been snorkeling so I just got them while out and about. I found mine at Ross and go theirs at Big Lots. They should work for the one day we will be in the water. I personally am a recovering germaphobe lol. Over it enough to go on the cruise, but not enough to use a rented snorkel. If you can get a good seal on the mask just go for whichever brand you can find.

We all need prescription masks so we bought ours on Amazondotcom and our snorkels. I refuse to use rental ones as you have NO idea what procedures they use to keep them sanitary. It wasn't very expensive for them. Worth it for me to know it's MINE.

As first-timers, I hope you are planning to do a snorkel excursion as opposed to just going somewhere to snorkel on your own. As a first-time snorkeler, you will (hopefully) get some useful instruction from the crew on how to snorkel successfully, e.g. how to wear a mask so that you get a good seal and no water seeps in.

Personally, I can rarely be bothered with packing a mask and snorkel for an activity that I do once on vacation. I have snorkeled many, many times in locations all over the world using rental equipment without a problem. But, if it's an issue for you, just buy something. However, unless you are going on an excursion where gear is supplied, you may have to pay a full rental fee to just get the fins, i.e. snorkel gear is often rented as a package deal, so you can't pay less to just rent fins.

And finally, I learned from the crew of one of the top snorkel boats at the Great Barrier Reef that spit rinsed out by seawater is the best way to de-fog your mask. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me.

We all need prescription masks so we bought ours on Amazondotcom and our snorkels. I refuse to use rental ones as you have NO idea what procedures they use to keep them sanitary. It wasn't very expensive for them. Worth it for me to know it's MINE.

Ooooh if I like snorkeling and plan on doing it again I'll definitely need to look into a prescription mask. I was just going to be a lil blind under the sea [emoji23]

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As first-timers, I hope you are planning to do a snorkel excursion as opposed to just going somewhere to snorkel on your own. As a first-time snorkeler, you will (hopefully) get some useful instruction from the crew on how to snorkel successfully, e.g. how to wear a mask so that you get a good seal and no water seeps in.

I see where you're coming from, but there are plenty of beaches with water shallow enough to safely practice and to see if you even enjoy snorkeling. I'd hate to pay ~$100 for a snorkeling excursion only to find out I don't even enjoy doing it.

Of course it's a good idea to practice, which can be done in a swimming pool. But there's a difference between being comfortable with your snorkeling gear and "enjoying" snorkeling. It's all about what you can see and if you are in a spot where you will just see stirred up sand and the occasional fish, it won't be a great experience. Going to the areas where there is a reef with lots of coral and sea life is a completely different experience. Some islands have decent shore snorkeling, but usually you need to know those locations. For a first timer, a good excursion can be the difference in enjoying your experience. I do not recommend an excursion with tons of people. Try to find one with a smaller group that offers a better chance of help from the crew.

Also...the same snorkeling spot on different days and times can give you a different snorkeling experience.

There is a great web site by Galen and Nicole Piehl, Tropical Snorkeling dot com that I follow and will be helpful to anyone wanting more information about snorkeling.

I bring my own snorkel and mask, just to be my own comfort zone. I have seen snorkels rinsed with a quick swish in 2" of sea water by a rental guy in Roatan, would hate to put that equipment in my mouth or on my face.

Here's something to help your visibility levels - use inexpensive oil free or biodegradable sun screen prior to entering the water. Nothing like layers of oily sun screen from 30 snorkelers to hinder your vision.

Great advise from everyone. Looks like we will buy. I was afraid of how everything is cleaned and the fit as well. We are going on 2 excursions. After we get the hang of it, I am sure we will try it at every beach we go to! Thanks as usual to Cruise Critic friends!

My husband always brings his own snorkeling gear. Rented it once and that was enough for him.

He found the rented gear dirty and not in good condition. This way he tends to his own gear. Keeps in good shape.

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I've been diving & snorkeling since 1993. A very few times I have taken my own gear, but mostly use the gear provided on the excursion. If I sit and ponder everything, I guess I might get creeped out over the thought of renting gear. However, salt water kills a lot of germs - I had a doctor have me do salt water gargles for a throat infection, even. Even though there are anti-fog drops to use in your mask, they may not always be handy. The spit method works & there's no shortage of that. I've never come home with any infections from using rented gear.

The biggest con for me of rental gear is the mask fit. If you have a narrow face, sometimes it can take trying on several to get a good fit. So, if using the excursion provider's gear, start testing the masks before they are all taken. Hold the mask in position on your face, but don't put on the head strap. Breathe in through your nose. If the mask stays on your face without holding it with your hand, you've got a good seal. If not, try another mask.

Same as some others: Take mask & snorkel but rent fins because they are a pain to carry around. ;)

I recommend just buying snorkel and mask and bring with you, rent fins as they are bulky. Just about everywhere you go there will be rental places. Better fit and sanitary, nothing ruin a vacation then a nasal infection from an unclean snorkel or mask... like I had

 

 

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You can not catch an infection. All masks, snorkels are dropped in a bucket with chlorine bleach in them to sanitize.

You can not catch an infection. All masks, snorkels are dropped in a bucket with chlorine bleach in them to sanitize.

Not always. I've stayed at Infinity Bay on Roatan, the hotel/condo that borders Tabyana Beach. At the end of the day, when the cruisers are returning to their ships, I've watched the beach vendor take his snorkel equipment to the waters edge, swish the masks and snorkels for a second or two in the salt water and put them all in a big plastic pail for use the next day. No chlorine or any other sanitizer was used.

A reputable excursion vendor may follow a disinfecting protocol, but I've witnessed vendors like the guy I just mentioned who don't. I'll take my chances in the casino, not on a rental snorkel I'm sticking in my mouth and breathing through.

You can not catch an infection. All masks, snorkels are dropped in a bucket with chlorine bleach in them to sanitize.

You don't have a clue. do you see anyone changing that "bleach"? How many times had that boat already been out? Bleach degrades and becomes totally ineffective, just like chlorine in hot tubs, pools which is another story.

Secretions, do not just "slide" off the snorkels. certainly aren't scrubbed from the inside. or even rinsed. There are numerous infectious opportunities.