New to snorkeling...need help

[tnrnchick74]

My fiancee and I are thinking about doing some snorkeling on our next cruise. I have done some snorkeling in the past...he has done some in the past but neither of us are experts.

 

Also, we are thinking about getting SCUBA certified at some point in the future. I have asthma and my MDs have always said "no" to SCUBA but I'm well controlled and haven't had a bad episode in over 2 years. My previous pulmonologist had said that if I stayed well controlled and didn't go too deep then in the future it was a possibility. I know I would need to get medical clearance before hand...but does anyone else have any experience with this?

 

Our big question is equipment. We would like to buy our own. I'm living in Central Florida and he is going to be moving to the area, so doing some snorkeling and/or diving is a local possibility in the future.

 

I would like to go to a shop locally to try stuff on, etc. Does anyone know of good shops in Brevard county or the Orlando area? What equipment should we invest in? Anything we need to avoid? We both wear glasses and will need prescription lenses.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[Capt_BJ]

Sea Dragons, 265 Barnes Blvd, .... I think this is Rockledge ..... not far from the LOWES on Fiske .... just a little west of US 1 and Barnes intersection

 

HATT's Diving, 2006 S Front St Melbourne

[tnrnchick74]

Awesome - thanks ! I am really close to both of those!

[booth22]

check your local region forum on http://www.scubaboard.com for lots of suggestions and opinions on LDS' in your area!

[cul8er]

If you are planning to cruise to snorkeling destinations, my experience is the Western Caribbean has the better snorkeling spots. I have snorkeled both Western and Eastern, and Grand Cayman and Roatan, Honduras (both Western Caribbean), have awesome snorkeling. I like the actual ports better in the Eastern Caribbean, though. My favorite Eastern Caribbean snorkeling destination is St. Johns, accessible by ferry from St. Thomas. Almost the whole island of St. Johns is a National Park and the ocean is consequently in much better condition.