I still can't get over that peeing thing. I find it hard to go while snorkeling and swimming anyway. Isn't doing that bad for the coral?

Terri - - too funny. I can't imagine urine is bad for the coral! Wouldn't that be great if the scientists determined this as the reason for the degradation of the coral in the VI - - what a simple solution! No, seriously it is related to the warmer ocean temps (some say global warming, personally, I'm not convinced. There is a natural cycle to the ocean water temps). At any rate, all the fish and other marine animals "pee" in the ocean, so I seriously doubt it is harmful to the coral as it is SO diluted. Really the pH difference would be the only harmful thing about it, but again, it is so diluted that it would take billions of gallons of it to adjust the overall pH.

I know that urine wouldn't be bad for the coral. I just wanted to discourage others from doing it. I have been reading about coral reefs, the ocean, etc. since I was a kid. It really hurts to see the reefs go down hill. In the Florida Keys in the early 80's I remember the reefs being so fantastic and now they are dying. I have heard about global warming too, but I can't help but think that the increase in the number of people snorkeling and diving and the increase in the number of boat charters that go out having something to do with the degradation also. I have also heard that the sunscreen that people wear that washes off causes deterioration of the reefs too. I would think that would be pretty diluted too. Sitter, you aren't contributing to the sunscreen thing.

...and let's not EVEN get into the danger of "adult play" in the ocean! If urinating in the ocean (or freshwater) could give you an infection.....

Sorry guys - - all those Kegels for nothing 🙂

GET A ROOM!

I never knew that about peeing in the ocean. I always try to avoid it but there are some times when you just cannot wait and there are no bathrooms close by. But I am prone to those darn infections-I just thought it was from being in a wet bathing suit all day. The last two I had were nightmares to say the least. Taking those cranberry pills with me on our upcoming trip to paradise and I promise "no peeing in the ocean"!

This thread is just hysterical.

Personally, I'll take all these thoughts with me and never pee in the ocean again. Even if I have no porta potty around, or no bathroom facilities...i'll just have to go behind a bush and have somebody be a look out for me.

So I'm thinking that maybe I'll get my doctor to give me a prescription of an antibiotic B4 I leave....just in case!!

Well, the way I see it, we have an advantage over you women, because we don't necessarily have to be IN the ocean to pee in it. So, I guess there may be another reason to keep up the kegel exercises..........distance.......(insert smiley face here)........

Some people never burn, others, like me fry. I was just warning on the t shirt as sun protection idea.

Now that everyone is so paranoid about going into the ocean (kind of reminds me of the whole "Jaws" thing...)
How about this - live fast, use no sun screen, drink and snorkel, pee in the ocean, get funky infections, die young and leave a pretty corpse. And for those with stronger constitutions - live fast, live to a ripe old age after beating the infections, having skin cancer but having great stories to tell about snorkeling in the VI to everyone you meet and still go snorkeling well into your 90's!

I like plan B myself.

PS: Sitter - where in WI are you? I'm in Madison.

Lisa

Hey Lisa...I'm on your way over to Milwaukee from Madison....kinda in between to the north a tad.

Land lock- you just ruined my husband's favorite STJ visiting fantasy! Lucky for him and our bladders you have to cross the sand at night where the no-seeums are so that kills that as far as I'm concerned.

Someone above expressed some concern over the state of the coral. As a long time, former bio teacher and 25 plus year member of the Sierra Club- trust me , you can make a difference even if you're currently sitting in Teaneck , Boston, Seattle, Helena, Kansas City, Miami, or Lubbock. Global warming isn't appreciated as a true threat by everyone since the long range data isn't in place as well as it will be in a few years but instead of duking it out over whether the harm is done strictly via Mother Nature or our consumption of fuel, we can address the consumption of fuel, hence the omissions, hence the changes in the atmosphere that effect long-term ocean temps- and ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY. So what can you do- use non-gas guzzling cars only, lobby through letters to your elected officials to support alternative energy sources other than oil, do your very best to reduce your consumption overall of energy, tell ALL your friends to do the same, nag them for gods sake, and (although this will not make me popular) tell your friends with motor boats to stay well away from the shorelines to avoid damaging the coral when they jump in, drop anchors, etc.
Every little bit usually helps but "coral" is actually a living community of marine organisms who can't watch out for themselves. Be a consciencous tourist/visitor and take care of the Coral while you're in the VIs and elsewhere. YOU have to care or we lose the coral formations altogether. Now I better go work or I'll be on this post for hours!

A lot of people from Wisconsin on here! I am in Twin Lakes (sort of near Lake Geneva) on the IL border.
I work in Elkhorn.
This thread is quite humorous. A lot of topics are covered. I like your attitude Lisamay.
I am still not scared of the ocean and I will pee if I need to if there are no facilities!
(We won't mention the Packers.....)

Us girls don't necessarily have to be IN the ocean to pee, either. I think wading in to just the right depth would do the trick. 🙂

Thanks for the great tips on snorkelling. This June will be our 1st trip and 1st time to try snorkelling.
We both wear glasses all the time to see things far away. Do we need prescription masks? If we are used to floating with a noodle in a pool would a noodle be good enough to use while snorkelling? Do we absolutely need flippers??? Since we are not really active swiimmers, we are not sure how much time onthe island we will actually be snorkelling. Would it be better to wait and rent the epuipment rather than spend lots of money on gear?

It's all a matter of taste about prescription face masks, but i'm nearsighted AND farsighted and I don't have any. I can still see great.

Noodles are great, but what if you want to dive down to see something? And, not as safe as a vest which I fell in love with this year.

Flippers? Hate them, but i understand that they can get you out of swift currents. I just can't wear them anymore with the cramps I get in my legs and feet.

If you think that you are going to snorkel again, I'd buy the gear. Nothing like having your own mask and snorkel with your own spit on it. Just feel more comfortable with my own, then renting.

My husband can snorkel just fine with out his glasses - actually he says that the mask and water distortion corrects his vision better than snorkeling wearing his contact lenses. I cannot see without my contacts so I snorkel wearing mine. I invested in my own mask and snorkel and made sure it was well fitted to my face. I also recheck the fitting before I go on a trip (the fit changes depending on the length of my hair) in my bath tub, so if I lose a contact due to a poor seal I can find the lens. Needless to say my husband thinks I look very silly when I do this. Then again - just to be on the safe side, I bring extra contacts.

Since I am very nearsighted I was told that they are not able to make the prescription lenses I need for a mask, so I can never learn scuba. But the day i found out I could snorkel with my contacts in was heaven.

Fins - I'll use them for strong currents, otherwise I just use aqua socks.

Lisa

Kazmor,
My husband uses a prescription mask and loves it. He cannot wear contacts and has pretty poor vision without his glasses. He brought his prescription to a dive shop and they made it for him. It was so long ago I don't remember where it was.
We like having our own gear. We don't go very often, but still like having our own.
I have tried snorkeling without flippers and find that I really like them. Stick with smaller, snorkeling fins and not giant ones. I like the full foot kind.
I haven't used a noodle, but it sounds like a good idea.
Have fun. You are going to love it.
I will be in STJ in June. Where are you going?
Terri

I'm from Green Bay Leave for STJ in 100 days tomorrow I'll be in double digits

Wow....I think all us ~Wisconsin People~ should have a reunion on St. Thomas!! There are enough of us!!

But...NO Packer's party!!

Yes a Wisconsin reunion would be great! I don't think we will all be there at once. Maybe we should have one in Wisconsin!