Need recommendations for in-depth snorkeling

Hi all,

My parents are in their mid-60s and have been travelling to Tobago for
several years. My mother likes the "in-depth" snorkeling (i.e., she can
walk from her cottage into the water and snorkel, and never worry that
she's in over her head) and my father loves the birdwatching and other
island amenities. Sadly, my mother's health is not great and the
stopovers necessary to get to Tobago have been quite hard on her. Can
anyone recommend a place in the Caribbean that sounds similar? We've
done some great snorkeling in Belize but that involved a one-hour boat
trip to one of the cays, and my mother is not interested in that. My
parents have a mid-range budget, and prefer rustic to something like a
Sandals, a Beaches or the like. Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks, Callen

I recommend St John in the USVI. Several good walkin from beach snorkeling
sites.

Gene

"Callen Molenda" <ach7h@virginia.edu> wrote in message
news:403A4F2A.A1566427@virginia.edu...
> Hi all,
>
> My parents are in their mid-60s and have been travelling to Tobago for
> several years. My mother likes the "in-depth" snorkeling (i.e., she can
> walk from her cottage into the water and snorkel, and never worry that
> she's in over her head) and my father loves the birdwatching and other
> island amenities. Sadly, my mother's health is not great and the
> stopovers necessary to get to Tobago have been quite hard on her. Can
> anyone recommend a place in the Caribbean that sounds similar? We've
> done some great snorkeling in Belize but that involved a one-hour boat
> trip to one of the cays, and my mother is not interested in that. My
> parents have a mid-range budget, and prefer rustic to something like a
> Sandals, a Beaches or the like. Any suggestions would be greatly
> appreciated. Thanks, Callen

I don't know what your departure city is, but BWIA has begun direct flights
from Toronto, New York, and Washington, DC, to Tobago. Would those flights work
for your parents?

We just returned from Tobago, taking the very lengthy American Airlines route
from Boston, which had us connecting in Miami, arriving late in Port of Spain,
overnighting there, and taking a Tobago express flight the next morning. If we
go back, I'm definitely checking into the BWIA flights.




<< Subject: Need recommendations for in-depth snorkeling
From: Callen Molenda ach7h@virginia.edu >>


<< Hi all,

My parents are in their mid-60s and have been travelling to Tobago for
several years. My mother likes the "in-depth" snorkeling (i.e., she can
walk from her cottage into the water and snorkel, and never worry that
she's in over her head) and my father loves the birdwatching and other
island amenities. Sadly, my mother's health is not great and the
stopovers necessary to get to Tobago have been quite hard on her. Can
anyone recommend a place in the Caribbean that sounds similar? We've
done some great snorkeling in Belize but that involved a one-hour boat
trip to one of the cays, and my mother is not interested in that. My
parents have a mid-range budget, and prefer rustic to something like a
Sandals, a Beaches or the like. Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks, Callen


>>

"Juliana L Holm" <jholm@osf1.gmu.edu> wrote in message
news:c1djuk$v6j@portal.gmu.edu...
> Callen Molenda <ach7h@virginia.edu> wrote:
> St. John, USVI. US National Park, great walk-in snorkelling from
> several different places.
>
> Julie

Absolutely Julie, Just got back from St Thomas and St Johns. Trunk bay also
has a great snorkeling trail with plaques under the water to read.

Jane

>My parents are in their mid-60s and have been travelling to Tobago for
>several years. My mother likes the "in-depth" snorkeling (i.e., she can
>walk from her cottage into the water and snorkel, and never worry that
>she's in over her head) and my father loves the birdwatching and other
>island amenities. Sadly, my mother's health is not great and the
>stopovers necessary to get to Tobago have been quite hard on her. Can
>anyone recommend a place in the Caribbean that sounds similar? We've
>done some great snorkeling in Belize but that involved a one-hour boat
>trip to one of the cays, and my mother is not interested in that. My
>parents have a mid-range budget, and prefer rustic to something like a
>Sandals, a Beaches or the like. Any suggestions would be greatly
>appreciated. Thanks, Callen

Where are you travelling from?

By the way, I don't know if your mother has an inflatable
snorkelling vest, but it is an absolute necessity for her now.
They aren't very expensive, and may well save her life if she
does get 'over her head'.

--
Ken Tough

x-no-archive:yes


Ken Tough <ken@objectech.co.uk> wrote:

>
>>My parents are in their mid-60s and have been travelling to Tobago for
>>several years. My mother likes the "in-depth" snorkeling (i.e., she can
>>walk from her cottage into the water and snorkel, and never worry that
>>she's in over her head) and my father loves the birdwatching and other
>>island amenities. Sadly, my mother's health is not great and the
>>stopovers necessary to get to Tobago have been quite hard on her. Can
>>anyone recommend a place in the Caribbean that sounds similar? We've
>>done some great snorkeling in Belize but that involved a one-hour boat
>>trip to one of the cays, and my mother is not interested in that. My
>>parents have a mid-range budget, and prefer rustic to something like a
>>Sandals, a Beaches or the like. Any suggestions would be greatly
>>appreciated. Thanks, Callen
>
>Where are you travelling from?
>
>By the way, I don't know if your mother has an inflatable
>snorkelling vest, but it is an absolute necessity for her now.

HEY - what's this NOW business. I'm 66 and I'm still actively scuba
diving and snorkeling without a vest thank you very much in water over
my head.

For the OP's mom who doesn't swim well - she should have had a vest
all along. For those of us that swim well, a snorkeling vest isn't
something that we need by the 'mid 60s'. Now my mom who is 94 would
need something like that if she was snorkeling off a beach as she
doesn't have the balance in the water that she once had - due partly
to dowagers hump and probably partly to different fat distribution.
But she does water aerobics without one.

>They aren't very expensive, and may well save her life if she
>does get 'over her head'.

grandma Rosalie

"Rosalie B." wrote:
>
> x-no-archive:yes
>
> Ken Tough <ken@objectech.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >
> >>My parents are in their mid-60s and have been travelling to Tobago for
> >>several years. My mother likes the "in-depth" snorkeling (i.e., she can
> >>walk from her cottage into the water and snorkel, and never worry that
> >>she's in over her head) and my father loves the birdwatching and other
> >>island amenities. Sadly, my mother's health is not great and the
> >>stopovers necessary to get to Tobago have been quite hard on her. Can
> >>anyone recommend a place in the Caribbean that sounds similar? We've
> >>done some great snorkeling in Belize but that involved a one-hour boat
> >>trip to one of the cays, and my mother is not interested in that. My
> >>parents have a mid-range budget, and prefer rustic to something like a
> >>Sandals, a Beaches or the like. Any suggestions would be greatly
> >>appreciated. Thanks, Callen
> >
> >Where are you travelling from?
> >
> >By the way, I don't know if your mother has an inflatable
> >snorkelling vest, but it is an absolute necessity for her now.
>
> HEY - what's this NOW business. I'm 66 and I'm still actively scuba
> diving and snorkeling without a vest thank you very much in water over
> my head.
>
> For the OP's mom who doesn't swim well - she should have had a vest
> all along. For those of us that swim well, a snorkeling vest isn't
> something that we need by the 'mid 60s'. Now my mom who is 94 would
> need something like that if she was snorkeling off a beach as she
> doesn't have the balance in the water that she once had - due partly
> to dowagers hump and probably partly to different fat distribution.
> But she does water aerobics without one.
>
> >They aren't very expensive, and may well save her life if she
> >does get 'over her head'.

Hi all,

I should explain - my mother is an excellent swimmer but suffers from
vertigo and panic attacks if she gets too far over her head - similar to
claustrophobia. That's why she snorkels and my dad does the scuba and
caving trips.

I am intrigued about the vests, do they offer the ability to snorkel
with the security of not "getting over your head"?

Thanks much for everybody's imput.

Callen (in Virginia)

x-no-archive:yes


Callen Molenda <ach7h@virginia.edu> wrote:

>"Rosalie B." wrote:
>>
>> Ken Tough <ken@objectech.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >>My parents are in their mid-60s and have been travelling to Tobago for
>> >>several years. My mother likes the "in-depth" snorkeling (i.e., she can
>> >>walk from her cottage into the water and snorkel, and never worry that
>> >>she's in over her head) and my father loves the birdwatching and other
>> >>island amenities. Sadly, my mother's health is not great and the
>> >>stopovers necessary to get to Tobago have been quite hard on her. Can
>> >>anyone recommend a place in the Caribbean that sounds similar? We've
>> >>done some great snorkeling in Belize but that involved a one-hour boat
>> >>trip to one of the cays, and my mother is not interested in that. My
>> >>parents have a mid-range budget, and prefer rustic to something like a
>> >>Sandals, a Beaches or the like. Any suggestions would be greatly
>> >>appreciated. Thanks, Callen
>> >
>> >Where are you travelling from?
>> >
>> >By the way, I don't know if your mother has an inflatable
>> >snorkelling vest, but it is an absolute necessity for her now.
>>
>> HEY - what's this NOW business. I'm 66 and I'm still actively scuba
>> diving and snorkeling without a vest thank you very much in water over
>> my head.
>>
>> For the OP's mom who doesn't swim well - she should have had a vest
>> all along. For those of us that swim well, a snorkeling vest isn't
>> something that we need by the 'mid 60s'. Now my mom who is 94 would
>> need something like that if she was snorkeling off a beach as she
>> doesn't have the balance in the water that she once had - due partly
>> to dowagers hump and probably partly to different fat distribution.
>> But she does water aerobics without one.
>>
>> >They aren't very expensive, and may well save her life if she
>> >does get 'over her head'.
>
>Hi all,
>
>I should explain - my mother is an excellent swimmer but suffers from
>vertigo and panic attacks if she gets too far over her head - similar to
>claustrophobia. That's why she snorkels and my dad does the scuba and
>caving trips.

I've had vertigo myself and it is really disorienting. I was in bed
at the time so I knew the room wasn't REALLY swinging around.
>
>I am intrigued about the vests, do they offer the ability to snorkel
>with the security of not "getting over your head"?
>
The vests keep you afloat so you can't sink. Whether that will
address your mom's fears or not I don't know. They are similar to
water ski vests. Or she could just use a PFD, but those float you
head up, so snorkeling might be difficult.

I am so buoyant (and was the same even when I was skinnier and
younger) that it is very difficult for me to surface dive. I can
float vertical in the water with my nose out without sculling or
moving at all. So I don't think a snorkel vest would be much use to
me.
>Thanks much for everybody's imput.
>
>Callen (in Virginia)

grandma Rosalie

Rosalie B. <gmbeasle@> wrote:

>HEY - what's this NOW business. I'm 66 and I'm still actively scuba
>diving and snorkeling without a vest thank you very much in water over
>my head.

-Any- snorkellers in waters they don't know well ought to have them.
Other than that, I'll bet you do get tired out quicker than you did
in your 40's, even if you are fighting fit. Get caught in a nasty
current and swept a thousand or two metres out, and you'd wish you
had one too.

>For the OP's mom who doesn't swim well - she should have had a vest
>all along. For those of us that swim well, a snorkeling vest isn't
>something that we need by the 'mid 60s'. Now my mom who is 94 would
>need something like that if she was snorkeling off a beach as she
>doesn't have the balance in the water that she once had - due partly
>to dowagers hump and probably partly to different fat distribution.
>But she does water aerobics without one.

They're there to cope with the remote 'what ifs'. Nobody's
going to get swept out to sea doing water aerobics, but my own
parents years ago got stranded on a reef in cuba when the wind
blew up while snorkelling, and if they had been a few years
further along might well not have made it through.

--
Ken Tough

x-no-archive:yes


Ken Tough <ken@objectech.co.uk> wrote:

>Rosalie B. <gmbeasle@> wrote:
>
>>HEY - what's this NOW business. I'm 66 and I'm still actively scuba
>>diving and snorkeling without a vest thank you very much in water over
>>my head.
>
>-Any- snorkellers in waters they don't know well ought to have them.
>Other than that, I'll bet you do get tired out quicker than you did
>in your 40's, even if you are fighting fit. Get caught in a nasty
>current and swept a thousand or two metres out, and you'd wish you
>had one too.
>
Yes but that's not age related. You said she needed one NOW as if it
was an age thing. Moreover, if it is a 'swept out to sea' thing, for
a person that floats very well, like me, the snorkeling vest just
ensures that you stay on the surface - it doesn't help you get back to
the base.

I really think that whether one gets 'tired out' depends on how fit
one is rather than one's age. The speed at which one is able to swim
may decrease with age - that's true. But I don't believe

a) that the cut-off is in the 60's vs the 40's (I think it is more
likely to be 30's vs 50's) and
b) I think fitness is far more relevant than age.

>>For the OP's mom who doesn't swim well - she should have had a vest
>>all along. For those of us that swim well, a snorkeling vest isn't

I just want to correct that the OP said her mom swam well, but just
was subject to panic attacks if over her head. I don't know if a
snorkeling vest would help her as panic attacks aren't always
susceptible to rational thought.

>>something that we need by the 'mid 60s'. Now my mom who is 94 would
>>need something like that if she was snorkeling off a beach as she
>>doesn't have the balance in the water that she once had - due partly
>>to dowagers hump and probably partly to different fat distribution.
>>But she does water aerobics without one.
>
>They're there to cope with the remote 'what ifs'. Nobody's
>going to get swept out to sea doing water aerobics, but my own
>parents years ago got stranded on a reef in cuba when the wind
>blew up while snorkelling, and if they had been a few years
>further along might well not have made it through.

FWIW, I mostly snorkel from our own boat or from the dinghy of our
boat. I check very carefully before I go in to see if I have any
current. If I do (like if I see water trails on the anchor chain) - I
don't go or if I must go (to check the anchor) I would make
arrangements to be tied to the boat. Plus my husband is normally NOT
in the water with me, but is watching to be sure I don't get into
trouble. He doesn't like to snorkel or swim as much as I do
(especially in water cooler than about 80 deg F), but he won't let me
go off on my own.

A lot of time when I say snorkeling, what I am really doing is free
diving (as above on the anchor), and a snorkeling vest would make that
more difficult. I'm often cleaning the prop or the hull of the boat,
and I just don't think I could do that with a snorkeling vest. As a
matter of fact, I'm so buoyant that it is very difficult for me to
free dive, and impossible if I wear a wet suit unless I also wear
weights.



grandma Rosalie