Check with where you are staying and see if they provide snorkel gear. I bought a Liquid Image snorkel mask that has the underwater camera built right in to it, love it! Otherwise K Mart has snorkel gear that you can buy once you get on island.

If she has real concerns I suggest just buying just a high quality snorkel either from a dive shop, sporting goods store or online -- very easy to pack - small, inexpensive and relieves all worry for her!!

Where in Michigan are you? I know there's a pretty good dive shop in Grand Rapids where I've bought gear. If you decide to rent in STJ and don't want to use a 'shared' snorkle tube you can always buy a tube down there or even buy your gear down there. The prices are pretty comparable to what you'd pay here.

you don't have a sports authority/Dick's or similar store nearby. They should have stuff out all year round. I'm in CT and they have it out here.

I was staying the weekend at Maho a few weeks ago, and rented snorkel equipment. This was the first time ever that I got a chance to try prescription mask for nearsightedness. What a difference! For the first time ever, I didn't feel insecure in the water, because I could see. Snorkeled the Trunk Bay trail, and could read the signs!

Now I want a prescription mask, and Maho's are cheaper than Low Key. They're about $100, and they'll fit you with lens and mask while you wait. That's the beauty of renting - you can try several until you find one you fall in love with. The way I look at it, if you don't trust whatever they're using to kill the germs, you shouldn't go anywhere, eat or drink anything unless you prepare it yourself, shake hands with people, etc. I have never heard of any major disease or plague spread by rented snorkel equipment.

If you have perfect vision, and an average face, buy from a general merchandise or sporting goods store. But if you have any concerns at all, nothing beats professional advice.

Dicks Sporting goods has really decent snorkel gear for around $30 to $40 dollars. I would purchase my own especially if you plan on snorkeling in many areas. It will actually be cheaper to have your own. That way you can also actually get a little use to putting your mask on and off before you go and put your face in the bath tub. Silly I know but it worked doing that for my kids. I was actually impressed with the snorkel gear I bought for my kids 7 &11. I have expensive gear and to be honest I actually used my 11 year olds gear more than mine. No leaks or any problems with it. I think Body Gear makes them. It comes in a blue carrying bag and has your fins, mask, and tube. The only thing I would purchase also is anti fog even if it comes with a anti fog mask. Being new to snorkeling you will probably fog your mask often. Just don't breath out your nose once your mask is on. Spit does not always work as a anti fog and plus it is kinda gross. LOL
Good luck to you. I would suggest you go to maho bay campground and snorkel around little maho to francis bay. Good snorkeling in between and all through francis. If you get comfortable and are a pretty good swimmer, definately try waterlemon. Great place to see sea turtles and so so much more if you snorkel around the little cay. Read up on it before you go. There is a great book on this site call Feet, Fins, and Four Wheel Drive. Definately worth the purchase 🙂 Have fun

Snorkel gear rental will cost about $40-$50 a week from most dive shops on island. But remember, it's RENTAL gear. It's been used by many different people, so you aren't going to get the best fit. Personally it would probably be more cost effective to buy something that fits good, your comfortable in, and your the only one who's used it. Your gonna spend around $50 to rent it, might as well put that money towards buying something. Best bet is to stay away from the big chain stores. You can't tell how well somethings gonna fit looking through a clam shell package. Go to your local dive shop at home, and get advice from a pro. It's a purchase you'll be able to use for many years to come.

I don't mean to sound cheap but the US Divers snorkel gear that I bought at KMart for $50 a set works just fine for me and my family.

even costco sells the us diver mask/snorkel/fins set for about 30 or 40. the one by me has them out all year

Before I went the first time, I bought a cheap set for $30 because I didn't know if I'd like snorkeling or not. Once I tried it, I was hooked and upgraded my mask and snorkel at a dive shop. I often don't bring my fins with me if I'm traveling light, but if you do a lot of snorkeling, it saves on fatigue to swim with them. They do sell snorkel sets at Costco and K-Mart on STT, but if you are staying on STJ, it will be a hassle to have the taxi driver drop you off to shop and then continue on to the ferry. If you buy a cheap set and find that snorkeling is not for you, make someone's day and give it to them before you leave. We always bring float rings in our luggage to lounge on in the water at the beach as they take up no room in the luggage, then when we're leaving the beach on the last day, we give them to one of the local kids. It's a nice gift to give before going back to the cold!