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Snorkeling

Author: Amit (148.177.1.---)
Date: 11-11-11 11:55

Hi,

I am planning a trip to Culebra towards the end of this month. I planned to do a bit of snorkeling while I am there, and as I am a total newbie, was looking for some advice.

I read through posts on this forum and it seems that the Carlos Rosario beach is one of the best places to snorkel on the island.. I was planning to cycle to Flamenco beach, and then trek over to Carlos Rosario from there.

We are a group of five people, and none of us have snorkeled before. None of us are excellent swimmers, and two of us barely swim at all. Can we snorkel there on our own ? Can we walk/ swim not too far from the shore and still get to see anything good ? Or will there be currents that could be dangerous ?
Would it be possible and advisable to rent life jackets from somewhere ?

Or, does it make sense to go snorkeling with some diving company? I made a few inquiries, it seems that we need to spend ~ 45-65 $ per person in order to hire a boat for about 4 hours to go snorkeling.. which is a bit high for us. ( I am not saying its not what the trip should cost, its just that we may not be so much into it)

Any advice is greatly appreciated :)

~as

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Re: Snorkeling

Author: Arroz (---.73.60.69.cpe.seasidehighspeed.com)
Date: 11-11-11 16:14

I haven't tried the diving companies so I can't comment on that. However, for a "Newby" I would suggest that Melones Beach is a better place to start that Rosario. Although the shoreline is rocky, rather than sandy, you are never far from shore. IMHO the coral is better at Carlos Rosario but the sea life is just as good, if not better, at Melones. Another area I have seen recommended, but never been there, is Punto Soldado but that is a bit further from town.

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Re: Snorkeling

Author: Geronimo (---.customer.broadstripe.net)
Date: 11-11-11 16:21

Oh the road to Soldado is so washed out. And I'm sure with all of the rain acacia tree grown over. As noted, Melones is the easiest to get to.

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Re: Snorkeling

Author: Herb (67.65.139.---)
Date: 11-11-11 16:45

You said "two of us barely swim at all" I would recommend you stay with a guide that does some kind of "resort snorkeling" in which newbies are required to use a life vest during their time in the water. Going it alone, especially CR, might be too far out from the shore in the event of trouble. Be safe and have great stories to tell when you get back home....safely.

Herb

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Re: Snorkeling

Author: Arroz (---.73.60.69.cpe.seasidehighspeed.com)
Date: 11-11-11 16:50

I second Herb's motion about the "resort snorkeling" with a guide.

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Re: Snorkeling

Author: Amit (148.177.1.---)
Date: 11-11-11 18:29

Hi,

thanks for your comments !

Will it be possible to just walk along Melones beach, in lets say chest deep water, and observe the sea life ? Or is it needed to swim out to some distance in order to do this ?

What is "resort snorkeling" - do some resorts have private pools to snorkel in ? I don't think we can afford to stay in a resort :(

Do you have any phone no/ email/ web address for a "guide" ? Or do we have to find someone once we reach there ?

~as

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Re: Snorkeling

Author: Arroz (---.73.60.69.cpe.seasidehighspeed.com)
Date: 11-11-11 19:14

I don't think walking would work at Melones because the interesting areas are surrounded by in deeper water. There are rocks on which you could stand but since this is a protected area you are not supposed to do anything which might damage coral. Also, there are a fair few sea urchins in the shallow water at Melones so if you did walk, you would want to wear some kind of foot protection, e.g., running shoes.

I'm not sure about a "resort snorkel". A "resort dive" (note dive, not snorkel) is where a person goes out for a one time scuba dive with a dive instructor. Normally one has to have quite a bit of training before scuba diving. Not sure where to suggest you look for someone with experience who could accompany you.

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Re: Snorkeling

Author: Donn Cave (---.pool.cnw.net)
Date: 11-13-11 14:47

Don't walk!

New to PR, but we've been to the Hawaiian Islands a couple times, and what they suggest there is to look for other people. If people are staying out of the water, then so should you. If you see snorkels all over the place, then it's probably the right spot. Don't worry if it looks crowded, it won't feel that way underwater.

The sea can kill you and it isn't to be taken lightly, major cause of accidental death, but with that in mind, I would just jump in and exercise reasonable caution. Get out if you get tired or cold. You may think you can stand the cold, but problem is that you lose mental acuity, which you need. You won't need anything for flotation, but it might be good to wear a t-shirt or something for sunburn. I get various stories about water temperature, but I'm bringing a thin wetsuit.

I might fit the description "barely swim at all." That's without snorkel and fins, though. If we were meant to swim ... we'd have fins!

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Re: Snorkeling

Author: Herb (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net)
Date: 11-13-11 17:28

Amit, "resort snorkel" is a term that I made up. Its a common practice at resort destinations such as Cozumel, etc, to put non-swimmers in a life jacket and strap a mask and snorkel to their face and put them in the water so they can "snorkel".

Please be careful in Culebra, there are no life guards at CR (I know) or Melones (I think). There are no crowds where some one might be present and capable of rescuing you (we go in January and a crowd is 5 people). You are alone for the most part (unless you go in July or August) and for safety sake be careful and capable.....there are limited backup options.

Search this website for guides....there are a number listed. Contact them directly, tell them what you need and ask them if they are capable of serving the needs of your group.

Herb

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Re: Snorkeling

Author: James C. Williams (---.gastoneye.com)
Date: 11-14-11 15:41

We were newbies and went in at Tamarindo. I would recommend it over Melones, since there is such a tiny area there to swim in and out of. We did not make it to Carlos Rosario, but at Flamenco, if you go to the right of the main strand, you will come to the old shark cages. This is a very good place for a weak swimmer to get acclimated since the structure there acts as a wave-brake.

I am also a weak swimmer, but took to snorkeling VERY quickly! Get good fins and mask (mine came from Dick's, Aqua Lung Sport Proflex $50) and get some anti-fog treatment stuff for the mask. The trick is to breath easy and just float on the water and let the fins work. EASY!!!

Tamarindo is also the first and only place we saw sea turtles! The waves there are easy since it is a chanel between Culebra and Luis Pena. Just park by the picnic tables and go on in. It is a nice sandy beach.

If peace of mind is more important, I did see a teacher at Tamarindo giving instructions. Don't know about contacting him, but he is there.

I hope your experience snorkeling at Culebra is nearly as satisfying as mine. I'm hooked!

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Re: Snorkeling

Author: Vicki moore (---.dhcp.jcsn.tn.charter.com)
Date: 11-14-11 23:45

Fins, mask and snorkel as well as a noodle under your arms makes for fairly safe snorkeling if you are close to the shore. We dive while on Culebra, but when not diving, you will find us snorkeling. We loved Melones. Enter at the picnic tables and swim to the right. It front of a lg white house is fantastic snorkeling. Saw about as much there as I did diving. Depth is probably 15 ft.
We also dove Tamarindo a couple of times in the two weeks we were there. We saw several turtles. Just go in by the picnic tables and swim to the left. You will begin to see turtle grass. The smaller turtles like to munch on the grass just beginning to peak out of the sand and the larger ones the more mature grasses. We also loved Soldado. You do have to be very cautious of the acacia thorns. We were following a guy who lived back that way and was cutting the acacia bushes and throwing them to the side as we followed him. We entered the water and swam to the left. Lots of neat things to see including squads of squid!!

Vicki in Tennessee

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Re: Snorkeling

Author: Herb (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net)
Date: 11-15-11 21:16

I am sure the swimmers in your group and everyone else will have and have had a really good time. Newbies have to start out somewhere and where else but in Culebra. I have had more enjoyable snorkeling in Culebra than anywhere else I have been. There are more fish and more color and definatlely more bang for the travel buck than anywhere else. Newbies will have a good time just as seasoned veterans do.

The original post included the following statement, "two of us barely swim at all". Nonswimmers and newbies are not the same thing. Caution should be exercised.

Herb

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Re: Snorkeling

Author: Amit (148.177.1.---)
Date: 11-30-11 15:33

ouch. I wrote a long account and forgot to put in the verification code before posting, now its lost

thanks all for all the great tips ! :) We had the most awesome time in culebra, even if it was for one day.

Based on all the advice we went snorkeling with Capt Sebastian - half day snorkeling trip to culebrita, he does provide snorkel gear and life preservers, 50$ pp; and he was great !

Culebrita is a very good place to start, we could see a lot even without going into deep water - maximum depth I swam in was probably 5 ft. Also, there are some pools inland on the other side, joined to the sea by a narrow channel, there too we saw a lot of beautiful fish, just remember to wear proper footwear as the rocks are sharp. again; very shallow water - less than 5 ft.

It was a magical experience, hope can do it again soon !

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Re: Snorkeling

Author: Herb (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net)
Date: 11-30-11 23:18

Amit, thanks for the update and we are glad everyone had a great time and did it safely. (You're right, she is kind of magical.)

Herb

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