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Snorkeling Bonaire: Best options for aiding buoyancy when snorkeling?
Bonaire Talk: Snorkeling Bonaire: Archives: Archive 2001- 2007: Archives - 2005-06-01 to 2006-03-01: Best options for aiding buoyancy when snorkeling?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By PHS1 (BonaireTalker - Post #13) on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 11:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

My girlfriend enjoys snorkeling but is not a confident or experienced swimmer. What are the best options to aid with buoyancy when snorkeling? A wet suit, even a shorty, seems a bit much and inflatable vests can be awkward. Do any of the spandex tops that are designed to be fast-drying and protecting of sun rays, such as the ones Susan Martin makes and has talked about on this site (http://www.cococheznaynay.com/coco/products.html), aid with buoyancy? Thanks for any suggestions.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Belinda Z (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #286) on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 12:58 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi PHS1,

I personally prefer the vest - it can be easily deflated when you want to shed buoyancy (like if you want to dive down) but just a breath or two inflates it enough for no effort floating. I wear a full lycra suit for sun protection and barely notice I have the vest on. Another fringe benefit is it makes you more visible to others which can be comforting if you are in an area with any boat traffic (such as close to the buoys at dive sites).

Just my $.02

Belinda

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Webb (BonaireTalker - Post #48) on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 3:04 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Phs1:

My wife has little experience and almost no confidence and is actually afraid of water, but when she puts on her kayaking vest(no kidding,thats the type of shop we bought it from) she has zero fear and will spend hours snorkeling in deep water. She has so much confidence with that on, its a joy for her to be in the water. So i agree with Belinda , she should wear an inflatable vest minimum. Confidence along with a healthy respect for the ocean can't be overrated for maximum enjoyment.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By PHS1 (BonaireTalker - Post #14) on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 9:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks to Belinda and Dennis for their thoughts. In revisiting the possibility of having my girlfriend purchase a snorkeling vest as a result of this thread, I have stumbled upon the fact that Scubapro makes a very nice inflatable model with a neoprene back and shoulder harness, the Cruiser Vest (http://www.scubapro.com/products/bcs/cruiser_and_currents_vests/cruiser_and_currents_vests.asp), that seems very well made and not bad looking for a flotation device.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Carter (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #107) on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 10:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

My 2 cents. I float without anything to start with but with a shorty wetsuit I am like a cork. When we were there in August we found the water to be a bit chilly. I have found a wetsuit shorty or otherwise that it was very comfortable and then I really was like a cork in the water. Almost fell asleep a few times just drifting.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Abraham (BonaireTalker - Post #26) on Thursday, March 24, 2005 - 7:15 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Besides our shorty wet suits, my wife and I wear bright yellow inflatable vests as a safety issue. The wetsuis are dark color and the vests provide a high degree of visability - "just in case" - caught in a rip, cramps etc. They provide extra bouyancy and do not take up much room or weight in the luggage. I'd recommend you also get one, so she doesn't "feel funny" about only she wearing one. Make some points :-)

... abe and gail
Concord, NC

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Neil Hoehle (BonaireTalker - Post #17) on Thursday, March 24, 2005 - 7:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

A swimming pool noodle under your arms works pretty well. The ends stick up and give you some visibility.

NeilH

 


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