tips for snorkeling newbies please~

[penglee]

hi, if your child has not been in open water before, I suggest you bring him to a beach and get used to waves first.


Some kids are afraid of the \"swarming\" fish.

Beware some operators do not have kids life-jacket, highly recommended to get one for your kid.

We had fun feeding fishes at Redang and Krabi
http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2010/05/krabi-day-3-hong-island.html

[godiva]

Anyone can advise how to get to Redang in June? Understand the seletar airport no longer an option.

[carebear]

godiva:

Anyone can advise how to get to Redang in June? Understand the seletar airport no longer an option.

Berjaya Air will take you to Redang.
It departs from the budget terminal now.

[bryannn]

Yes, the smell of fuel can set of sensitive stomachs, so always stay upwind of the exhaust.


Also, don't eat any really rich foods the day before, as these can make you queasy too.

If and when you feel yourself get a bit green around the gills, go outside and stay focused on the horizon. Strangely, a gently swaying boat on a glassy ocean can elicit sea sickness as readily as nasty rolling chop. But so long as you've got the horizon in view and your visual input is in synch with your equilibrium input, the sea sickness shouldn't get worse.

Other chestnut tips are breathing deeply and steadily and yawning and swallowing. They tend to lessen the feeling of an impending bout of vomiting.

Lastly, if all else fails, just get rid of the offending matter, because in all likelihood, you'll feel better.

Incidentally, I feel 3 years old is a bit young to be snorkeling. Perhaps it's ok to be doing it in the shallows, where the kid can still stand. But to have a 3 year old floating up and down over a reef in deeper water is pushing it a tad I feel, especially since there may be pretty strong currents. Unless it's got lots and lots of water experience and is totally comfy in deeper water and wearing a mask, and comfy with breathing through a tube of course.

FYI, http://www.malaysiaseasports.com/ have had plenty of families on snorkeling trips, but the kids that were that age tend to stay on the boat with a parent.

[sharonkhoo]

Reviving this thread to ask: what are the options for a short-sighted person who wants to snorkel? My daughter normally wears glasses, not contacts, and is going to snorkel once on a school trip. Her degree is around 600 degrees per eye, so without any aids she will see very little. It seems that there are no powered snorkel masks provided, and we don’t intend to buy one for just this one occasion. We are considering getting disposable contacts for that day, but it will require her to get fitted, practise inserting and removing, and we will have to buy a box of 30! The school says that she can’t use powered swimming goggles instead of the mask - any idea why not? Any other suggestions? Thanks!


There will be a school briefing next week, but I thought I’d get some info from here too!

[Sursum]

slmkhoo:

Reviving this thread to ask: what are the options for a short-sighted person who wants to snorkel? My daughter normally wears glasses, not contacts, and is going to snorkel once on a school trip. Her degree is around 600 degrees per eye, so without any aids she will see very little. It seems that there are no powered snorkel masks provided, and we don't intend to buy one for just this one occasion. We are considering getting disposable contacts for that day, but it will require her to get fitted, practise inserting and removing, and we will have to buy a box of 30! The school says that she can't use powered swimming goggles instead of the mask - any idea why not? Any other suggestions? Thanks!


There will be a school briefing next week, but I thought I'd get some info from here too!

It seems that some dive centres rent out masks with prescriptive lens. Maybe can google and call them.

[bryannn]

Sursum:

It seems that some dive centres rent out masks with prescriptive lens. Maybe can google and call them.

Yes, that's correct. In fact, I happen to know that B&J in Tioman has prescription dive masks available, free of charge I believe, for those who can't wear contacts.

[sharonkhoo]

bryannn:

Sursum:

It seems that some dive centres rent out masks with prescriptive lens. Maybe can google and call them.

Yes, that's correct. In fact, I happen to know that B&J in Tioman has prescription dive masks available, free of charge I believe, for those who can't wear contacts.

Thanks for the info. I'm not sure which place the school has arranged to get equipment from, but I'll ask if they can arrange something for my daughter.