drsmith Posted October 3, 2019 #1 Share Posted October 3, 2019 (edited) I've been reading comments from several different sources with conflicting information and would appreciation some clarification from someone who has been to Coco Cay in the last two months. If I have my own snorkel mask, can I snorkel on my own in the designated snorkel area without a vest? I read somewhere that they recently started allowing this, but you have to sign a waiver if you don't wear a vest. But I've seen other comments that say otherwise. Also, if snorkeling in the main snorkel area without a vest is not permitted on my own, is there another place at Coco Cay where this IS permitted? And what will I see? I like the main snorkel area and have been there several times, but not in the past four years. And...what's the condition of the water/fish/jellyfish/etc since the storms? I assume it's settled by now and the seaweed has been cleared from the beaches? Edited October 3, 2019 by drsmith To add question about condition after storms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midwest Sunseeker Posted October 7, 2019 #2 Share Posted October 7, 2019 I have the same snorkel questions. In the past a vest was required and I just rented that one item. Is that still the case? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smilz Posted October 31, 2019 #3 Share Posted October 31, 2019 Will be there on 11/12. Will report back. Do you remember what the rental fee is?DH can't find his vest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted October 31, 2019 #4 Share Posted October 31, 2019 They should not allow anyone to snorkel without a vest. If you don't want to pay to rent then buy one. They are not that expensive, I have one in additon to mask and snorkel. The vest packs easy and does not take up much room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PretenderFishing Posted October 31, 2019 #5 Share Posted October 31, 2019 (edited) I am also hoping to snorkel sans vest in a couple weeks, so will look forward to seeing what is reported back on this thread. I could buy one, but I just prefer not to wear one. Never wear one snorkeling anywhere else, so why bother here. I'm also hoping that I could snorkel outside the designated area to avoid getting kicked in the face. So much area there to explore if we are allowed to... Edited October 31, 2019 by PretenderFishing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hp_slash Posted November 1, 2019 #6 Share Posted November 1, 2019 Is the snorkeling good on Coco Cay? I would have assumed with all the human activity there wouldn't be many fish to see in the water. I'm going there on Anthem in December and if it's a good experience I'd like to snorkel there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatka Posted November 1, 2019 #7 Share Posted November 1, 2019 (edited) 20 hours ago, Charles4515 said: They should not allow anyone to snorkel without a vest. If you don't want to pay to rent then buy one. They are not that expensive, I have one in additon to mask and snorkel. The vest packs easy and does not take up much room. Why? I never snorkel with a vest and I did some extensive snorkeling in my life. I can lay in the water face up or down for a long time. Vest is for own protection, not to protect reefs or anything. Edited November 1, 2019 by Tatka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatka Posted November 1, 2019 #8 Share Posted November 1, 2019 1 hour ago, hp_slash said: Is the snorkeling good on Coco Cay? I would have assumed with all the human activity there wouldn't be many fish to see in the water. I'm going there on Anthem in December and if it's a good experience I'd like to snorkel there. We snorkeled there several when park was not built yet we just snorkeled off the beach and near the rocks it was good. Not amazingly good, but good. In addition to colorful fish we saw a little stingray. From what I see in RCI excursion list There is also a special area, reef and sunken ship. I wonder where is it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatka Posted November 1, 2019 #9 Share Posted November 1, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted November 1, 2019 #10 Share Posted November 1, 2019 20 minutes ago, Tatka said: Why? I never snorkel with a vest and I did some extensive snorkeling in my life. I can lay in the water face up or down for a long time. Vest is for own protection, not to protect reefs or anything. For safety. It is insurance. Also for visability. I never put air in the vest because I dive down but someday I may need too. In any case at a place like Co Co with lifeguards there can be liability if something happens. Why would they go on your say so that you don't need a vest? They can't look at you and tell you are experienced. They should require it with no exceptions. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatka Posted November 1, 2019 #11 Share Posted November 1, 2019 2 minutes ago, Charles4515 said: For safety. It is insurance. Also for visability. I never put air in the vest because I dive down but someday I may need too. In any case at a place like Co Co with lifeguards there can be liability if something happens. Why would they go on your say so that you don't need a vest? They can't look at you and tell you are experienced. They should require it with no exceptions. . I do not think outside of official excursions there are liability to RCI Looks like they allow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare taxatty Posted November 5, 2019 #12 Share Posted November 5, 2019 We've been to Coco Cay several times with our own snorkeling equipment and to date have never had an issue. Because we live near the port, we've always brought cheap pool noodles instead of using a vest and no one's ever said anything about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esmerelda Posted November 14, 2019 #13 Share Posted November 14, 2019 Hmmm, we would love to snorkel there but not with a vest. I’m glad this topic was mentioned. Perhaps they are doing this because RC owns the island and it’s a liability situation. I may just lay on a lounger somewhere if so.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chipmoose Posted November 19, 2019 #14 Share Posted November 19, 2019 We were there last month and brought own mask & fins. Snorkel area is limited to keep snorkelers out of boating areas, I was hoping you could snorkel all over the island but no such luck. There is a shipwreck with some cannons, I was told the airplane is no longer accessible in the snorkel area from the beach. The snorkel shack has you sign a waiver and take a vest (no cost for the vest), and there is a safety/instructional video playing a loop on the side of that snorkel shack. As others have said you don't have to inflate the vest if you want to dive down. Lots of fish, not much coral or reef, some folks saw a sea turtle and rays. Later in the day I saw some folks snorkeling without a vest and never saw anyone stop them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott2165 Posted December 15, 2019 #15 Share Posted December 15, 2019 I snorkel there every time and don’t wear a vest. I use my gear. I don’t go to their designated area. I just go around the rocks and grass beds. I’ve seen tons of colorful fish, stingrays, needlefish, and small sharks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udamom Posted January 14, 2020 #16 Share Posted January 14, 2020 I snorkeled there in Oct with my own gear and no vest. No issues. I wasn't overly impressed by the snorkeling. Went out by where the people paying to do a snorkel tour were and didn't see much (too crowded I think in that area) There are a few floating platform lifeguard station things and under those I saw some stingrays and one turtle. By the rocks closer into shore were more schools of fish but not very colorful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigrednole Posted June 6, 2020 #17 Share Posted June 6, 2020 On 12/14/2019 at 11:46 PM, scott2165 said: I snorkel there every time and don’t wear a vest. I use my gear. I don’t go to their designated area. I just go around the rocks and grass beds. I’ve seen tons of colorful fish, stingrays, needlefish, and small sharks. I know this is a little old of a post, but can you tell me where this is located? No real maps showing the decent areas where to snorkel. Only the CocoCay map with the plane picture randomly off the shore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ofmyheart Posted October 23, 2021 #18 Share Posted October 23, 2021 We took our own gear in 2018 & had bought vests for $10 on Amazon... Same price as renting. We never used them they are still in the packages but had them just incase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhondaC Posted October 29, 2021 #19 Share Posted October 29, 2021 Snorkel vests are no big deal, especially if you don't fill with air. They lie flat on your body, and you don't even know they're there. I found them on Amazon for $17. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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