I would suggest checking with who ever you are renting from. Most private villas have beach equipment that you just throw in the car and use during your stay. At my hotel on STX, a guest can sign out snorkel equipment and use it whereever they go during their stay.

I find that I and plenty bouyant and never use a vest. But they are available if you need them.

generally you can not take the gear from one beach to another except if you are renting it from say Dive in on Sapphire Beach. If you are renting from a villa, condo or a resort that will loan you the gear then you can take it anywhere. So I would suggest that you contact the place you are renting from and ask! Or I would suggest that you just buy some stuff at home and bring it. It will be a better quality and a better price. Or you can go to Kmart, cost you less or Price Mart and get it when you come here.

billd

We bring our own masks and snorkels. We used to bring fins, but they are too big, bulky to transport, so now leave them home. I rarely use fins anyhow. Having a mask that fits well and a snorkel that I know is clean is important to me. I never use a vest. I think a snorkeler who is uncomfortable in the water, especially if it is deeper than he/she can stand, would do well to use a vest just for comfort level. I always say, and have stated so here, that snorkeling in those waters is like floating on clear jello. Some of the snorkeling excursions require you to wear a vest for insurance reasons, but I keep mine deflated so I can dive.

An issue to bringing your own snorkel gear is the current baggage charge being imposed by some airlines. This year I won't have to pay, but it may have an impact on what I carry with me in the future. I certainly hope those charges are a temporary measure during the "high price of fuel" crisis.

After living in the Caribbean and traveling back and forth for 30 years we have found this type of kit really works well

They are the small fins but give you the little extra kick. The snorkel and mask are very good. No they are not the Rolls Royce of water equipment, but they are good buick.

The case has lots of extra space so it becomes our carry on with the stuff that counts... contacts, goops and goobs, etc...

Tom's got it right. I'd prefer the open-heeled fins, so you can wear water shoes at the same time if you want to.
Smiles-
MJ

The Caribbean waters are salty and thus buoyancy is far better than what you may have experienced elsewhere. It's the rare visitor who wears a vest but, as Gerie said, the majority of tour operators require that the snorkelers in their care do wear them for insurance purposes.

A good snorkel fit is important. Although the majority manage quite well with either rented or bought-here or villa-provided masks, there are a few who need to invest in a better fit than the average offers. Moustaches can be a hindrance to a good fit, for instance...

And, just two words of advice. (1) don't get suckered into buying a vial of snorkel gunk to spray on the lenses. When you're ready to snorkel, spit on the inside of the lenses, rub it around and then rinse the mask off in the water and pop it on your head. (2) Wait until you get INTO the water before you put on your fins. There is nothing more silly than watching a tourist wearing big fins walking backwards into the sea. Walk in from the beach with your fins in hand and when you get to waist level it's very easy to slip them on and then take off.

Oh, maybe a third word of advice. Fins are a natural extension of your legs and you don't have to churn up the water flopping them around. Think of riding a bicycle on a lazy afternoon in the country. No effort involved, just a steady motion akin to riding that bike. If you've never done a leisurely country bike ride then of course this admonition will make no sense whatsoever. But you'll get the hang of it.

Also, when you reach a neat spot which has little colorful fish doing their thing, rest awhile. Hang up there in the water and watch the interaction of the species as they go about their daily routine with the more aggressive species chasing away the rest - and all else which goes in on what is a little underwater community with different 'hoods and different species living together in mostly harmony but with the occasional upset. Just like your community and mine. Cheers and enjoy!

STT-
You're so right about the ' walking backwards in fins ' point.
Thanks for the laugh, -seen it too many times!
Smiles-
MJ

STT:

Are you talking about me? I have a moustache......and if you have a good mask fit it doesn't leak.

Also, a drop (a very small amount) of dish detergent is a good solution for mask fogging. Most condos/villas provide a bottle of dish detergent for their guests. Just moisten a paper towel with a little detergent, place it in a plastic bag, rinse your mask first and wipe your mask lens with the detergent before putting it on.

F.I.

Tom, who makes that kit? Can't tell by the photo. Where can I buy one?

TIA.

For me, a good fitting mask is the most important ingredient in a good snorkeling experience. Every head and face is different and what fits me well, is a lousy fit for my wife. One size doesn't fit all very well. And price or brand doesn't necessarily guarantee a good fit. We get our masks at a dive shop. I'd recommend a dive shop rather than a general sporting goods store. They'll usually have greater variety to choose from and the salesclerks will probably be a lot more experienced and knowledgeable. We try on every mask they have and decide which is the best fit. A knowledgeable salesclerk can help with the decision.

You might be able to find a mask to rent that fits well, but I certainly had a lot of leaky ones when we were still renting them. I didn't realize how good they could fit. It makes a huge difference. And they weren't defective masks, they just weren't a good fit for my face. Some folks are freaked out by the thought of using gear that someone else has used. That never bothered me. Reliable places sterilize them well. I'm able to handle using the same spoons and forks that others have used in restaurants without concern and the same was true for me with snorkel gear.

We bring our masks and snorkels, but rent fins, largely to avoid dealing with them in luggage. Also, I'm always able to find a pair of fins that I'm satisfied with. I hadn't realized just how effective fins were until one trip a few years ago. I'd always used them, but one year I was developing blisters on my instep. I did some snorkeling without the fins and was surprised how much more work I was having to do without them. Most people float quite easily without a flotation aid. I've snorkeled for years without one, but have given some thought to trying one recently. I'm getting older and don't have the endurance that I once did. What I used to do effortlessly is becoming much more taxing. I'm less confident and rather than cut back on activity, I may use a belt one of these years. If I do decide to do that, I would definitely use a flotation belt rather than a vest. You may want to try it first without a flotation aid, then rent one if it would make you feel safer and more confident.

I always suggest that new snorkelers start slowly. Go out waist deep in calm water and float around for a while just to get a feel for the mechanics of snorkeling. Maybe don't even put the fins at first. Just work at getting a good seal on the mask and getting comfortable with the breathing and floating at a depth where you can stand. Build your comfort/confidence. Once you do get going, remember to come up periodically to see where you are. And learn a bit about the ecosystem. Coral is made up of tiny, fragile, living organisms. Standing on it kills it.

There are watersports shops that will rent you gear for a daily or weekly rate, then you're free to use it where you choose.

I have a mustache and do trim it to get a tighter seal. What I realized was that I didn't need to shave the whole mustache off. I put my mask on, looked in a mirror, and saw that the mask doesn't cover the whole upper lip. It actually covers only a small area under the nose. I wasn't ready to shave the mustache, but am quite willing to trim it up a bit for a better seal.

U.S. Divers Admiral 2 Mask, Bikar Snorkel, Trek Travel Fins & Travelite Snorkeling Bag

The Trek Fins are the key

I agree with STT grace in the water - don't get in a hurry
AND ALWAYS LOOK DOWN before putting your feet down... Do not step on a sea fan or coral

I am got this kit using a Amazon.com provider and it ran about 60 bucks
If you have a snokel and mask you like - the fins and bag sell for about $30 (i think)

They are not the best, but for going to the island 2 or 3 times a year they are fine. If I lived backed in the caribbean - I would buy better, but I don't.

Some good sharing -- thanks. This forum really helps sort things out some better than trying to figure things out for yourself.

We're still considering, but did find this website for one rental shop in STT:

http://www.admiraltydive.com/diveshop.html

Guess there are probably others, which would allow for renting gear for a day/week and being able to take it to different beaches.

Cost and personal fit benefits obviously favor buying, but the packing space it would take up and infrequent use we'd make of it -- we gotta think about it some more.

Really appreciate all your replies -- as well as reading all the other posts on this forum for getting ready for our week's stay there.

Probably one of the few benefits that I can think of about the 15 or so extra pounds that I've earned through the years is when I snorkel, I practically float in the saltwater.

Molly

Do you mean that people sink in the water around here? I float like a cork! It is the only place I have ever been to that I can almost sit upright while floating as if I were in a floating chair. I almost resorted to putting rocks in my pocket when I snorkel so I can get closer to the action but I took up diving instead so I don't look foolish carrying rocks around.