"Right from the Beach" Snorkeling for those that fear.....?

[Dr.Corona]

So I'd like to REALLY get into snorkeling & see the amazing under water world (at least until the BP Oil leak screws it up) there is about us in the Caribbean. I've been on a snorkeling excursion before but experienced a "phobia" about jumping off the boat & immediately being in 20 foot of water & did not enjoy the experience.

I'm thinking if I could snorkel a great place wherein I could walk in from shore & gradually make my way to deeper water I could possibly get over my phobia.

Suggestions?

[lime rickie]

Just last night on House Hunters International they featured a piece on Roatan, Honduras and said you can snorkel right off the beach. I'm not very good at posting links or pictures but I bet you could find the piece on their website.

[bravedave]

Maybe the Fla. Keys.
Key Largo has some wonderful snorkeling, and I remember wading out from Bahia Honda and seeing cool stuff while still knee-deep.

[PHAW Webmistress]

Hawaii

Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo

I had the same fear - wanted to be able to quickly get back to shore should something spook me under there

[rmissbrook]

Me three. Booked a snorkeling trip in Bermuda. Got in all the gear. Got in the water and had a total panic attack sort of like claustrophobia. Climbed right back up on the boat and spent the time talking to the crew. Some of the people who did stay in the whole hour were sea sick when they got back on the boat. That was pleasant on the trip back.

[IrishPirate]

Hawaii

Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo

I had the same fear - wanted to be able to quickly get back to shore should something spook me under there

Hanauma Bay on Oahu is wonderful!

[C-Dawg]

As a divemaster, I've seen this from snorklers and divers. You might consider starting locally, in an area you are familiar with, whether its a river, lake or ocean, and get used to snorkling. I've sent people home and had them practice mask clearing in their bathtubs, just to get over their phobia. You can do the same, get to the point where snorkling is second nature by doing it where you're comfortable. Then, move onto a shire dive where you can go into the water from the beach. Or, book your next excursion on a boat, but talk to the operation, let them know you're a beginner and you want to be the last one in the water so you can get comfortable. Have the Capt or Divemaster hold your gear while you slip into the water and hang onto the platform. Take your time, get comfortable and put on your gear. When you're ready, let go of the platform and float close by. A good operation will help you, and give you all the time you need to get in the water .
Take it step by step, and you can learn to enjoy it. Good Luck!!!
Two thirds of the earth is underwater....why limit yourself to land?

[gunthermoose]

As a divemaster, I've seen this from snorklers and divers. You might consider starting locally, in an area you are familiar with, whether its a river, lake or ocean, and get used to snorkling. I've sent people home and had them practice mask clearing in their bathtubs, just to get over their phobia. You can do the same, get to the point where snorkling is second nature by doing it where you're comfortable. Then, move onto a shire dive where you can go into the water from the beach. Or, book your next excursion on a boat, but talk to the operation, let them know you're a beginner and you want to be the last one in the water so you can get comfortable. Have the Capt or Divemaster hold your gear while you slip into the water and hang onto the platform. Take your time, get comfortable and put on your gear. When you're ready, let go of the platform and float close by. A good operation will help you, and give you all the time you need to get in the water .
Take it step by step, and you can learn to enjoy it. Good Luck!!!
Two thirds of the earth is underwater....why limit yourself to land?

I'll limit myself to land or the beach.... No Rum underwater.....

[sunseeker]

LOL...I didn't realize there was any other way to snorkel other than jumping off the boat. I'm naive like that.....Went snorkeling for the first time three years ago in the Bahamas in the Thunderball Grotto (where the James Bond Movie of the same name was filmed). I had an ill fitting mask, had to swim against the current, drank more salt water than I probably should have, came face to face with a baracuda, had some one throw crumble crackers in my face underwater (trick to make ALL the fish swim right at you). I loved every minute of it....

[CTParrothead763]

Just last night on House Hunters International they featured a piece on Roatan, Honduras and said you can snorkel right off the beach. I'm not very good at posting links or pictures but I bet you could find the piece on their website.

Roatan has good snorkeling from the beach, but I'm not sure I would want to stay there. We were on a cruise that stopped there and simply took a taxi to the beach.

Trunk Bay on St. John's is great snorkeling from the beach, but the best we have had in recent years is Chankanaab National Park in Cozumel.

[Coconuts]

Akumal Bay in Mexico- it's about a half hour south of Playa del Carmen. If you go between the boat areas, there are turtles. If you go to the right of the boat areas, there's a reef.

Akumal Bay Resort is in horrible, horrible shape- I would put it on par with a Days Inn, so be aware of that.

If we ever go back to the area, we would stay on the bay so we could snorkel first thing in the morning, then go to ruins, then snorkel afterward. The only reason there's an "if" is that we're just not inclined to keep going back to the same places on big trips.

[spartan1979]

I've been snorkeling off the beach in Grand Cayman (Smith's Cove), Lanai, Cozumel, And Saint Johns. I also sort of did it in Cabo, except I went from the boat to the beach and then back in. It was a pain getting back through the surf there. I'll stay in the water next time.

[ScarletB]

Many beaches on St Barts offer "walk out" snorkeling. It's on my list for the next time I go!

[lilsalty]

Definitely St. John! The beaches at Caneel Bay have great snorkeling...you're supposed to only go there if you're a registered guest...but I've never seen anyone question whether or not you're a guest when strolling the grounds and chilling on the beach!

[C-Dawg]

As a divemaster, I've seen this from snorklers and divers. You might consider starting locally, in an area you are familiar with, whether its a river, lake or ocean, and get used to snorkling. I've sent people home and had them practice mask clearing in their bathtubs, just to get over their phobia. You can do the same, get to the point where snorkling is second nature by doing it where you're comfortable. Then, move onto a shire dive where you can go into the water from the beach. Or, book your next excursion on a boat, but talk to the operation, let them know you're a beginner and you want to be the last one in the water so you can get comfortable. Have the Capt or Divemaster hold your gear while you slip into the water and hang onto the platform. Take your time, get comfortable and put on your gear. When you're ready, let go of the platform and float close by. A good operation will help you, and give you all the time you need to get in the water .
Take it step by step, and you can learn to enjoy it. Good Luck!!!
Two thirds of the earth is underwater....why limit yourself to land?

I'll limit myself to land or the beach.... No Rum underwater.....

Dave, beaches are nice, but as a Sea Dog I prefer liquids.......... I either sail it, dive it or drink it

[nutmeg]

St John is a great choice. Beautiful Island, easy to get to. Most places there are kinda expensive though. Trunk Bay is great. They have an underwater trail that gives descriptions of what you are looking at. Great for beginners.

And Cocoview resort on Roatan advertises a 400 ft wall a snorkel away from the bar. It is probably the best snorkeling I have EVER done. It's been a lot of years since we were there, but the reef was amazing. I've never seen so many fish/corals/critters....and it was literally just a walk into the water put on fins and mask and you were there.

I LOVED Roatan....but then again, I love out of the way places with quirky places to stay. We stayed in a room built out over the water. I'll look for a link to post here in a moment. Ahh here it is http://www.cocoviewresort.com/ This place is definitely not a luxurious place...but I considered it to be a wonderful one.

We have been to Hawaii a lot, but I haven't found a really good place to snorkel there yet...the water has always been rough (and cold) and the coral there hasn't been spectacular. If any of you know of great places to snorkel in Hawaii, I'd be interested.

Oh and whoever said they'd stay on the beach because there was no rum underwater....NOT TRUE. We stayed at a resort where one of the activities was a snorkeling treasure hunt. They hid six bottles of rum underwater in front of the resort and you got to keep whatever you found. (Tom and I each found one)

[bixxx]

Definitely St. John! The beaches at Caneel Bay have great snorkeling...you're supposed to only go there if you're a registered guest...but I've never seen anyone question whether or not you're a guest when strolling the grounds and chilling on the beach!

have been to many many caribbean islands, st john the best snorkeling we stayed at maho bay can get a treehouse type palce for 75 or a apt type unit for 125 walk 2 feet inot the water place head under water see 5 foot tarpon hanging out with a zillion littel silver fish like a cloud around it go a few feet further and see the turtles seargent fish etc. cinnamon bay great and reasonable as well

[nutmeg]

Ohhh! That's right! I forgot about the tent places. I've always wanted to stay there.

We stayed at Caneel Bay for our honeymoon 25 years ago. It's paradise!

[ContinentalDrifterIII]

St John - Caneel Bay Resort - Scott Beach. You can see the turtles swimming even while you are just standing on the beach. Its the BEST!

[alaura1974]

Turks and Caicos is awesome too. There is a roped off underwater
preserve that you can snorkel around. It is amazing what you
will see just 10 feet off of the shore.

There are reviews of snorkeling places on trip advisor.

Here is a link for where I am talking about.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_R ... aicos.html