TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Snorkel gear

Do anyone have any experience with snorkel gear provided on Sunsail boats? They say it's provided, I'm just not sure the quality.

In the past we brought our own mask and snorkel and used Sunsail's snorkel fins. The fins are ok, but they did not always do a good job weeding out the fins with cracked foot boxes, torn straps or missing buckles. More than once I've been annoyed having to dig through a box of mostly defective fins. I usually take an extra pair too, because you never know if that strap you pull on will break due to dry rot. Eventually we switched to using our own, but mainly because we have an owner's box to keep them in.

Thank you. I thought that might be the case.

The gear is usually fine. Just make sure everyone finds a set of gear that is functional before you leave the base. They will swap out anything broken often with new stuff.

For what you spend on this holiday, buy a proper mask from a dive shop. A leaking mask really kills the snorkel experience.

Oh, and your mask will fog up. Some folk's say spit into the mask and rub it around and it's ok. Hmm, we used to do that but then found Sea Drops in a dive shop, and they work ten times better. So, if you find yourself anywhere ashore near a dive shop try the sea drops to keep the fogging up away. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />

defoggers work pretty good, also try not breathing through your nose which does not help the fog

If anyone has not snorkeled before, recommend they try it in pool at home and with assistance., Even getting with SCUBA instructor for a lesson or 2 to learn how to use snorkel and how to clear mask.

And taking own mask and snorkel is so worth it. Fins okay to take if you have room in you bags

Have been diving most of my life. Best antifog around is dishwashing soap. A couple of drops and you're good to go at about 1 cent to the dollar for the various antifogs.
G

funny George, I like toothpaste and your mask is minty too.

A grit type toothpaste like crest is something I always use on a new mask lense. I rub it briskly to get the manufacturing film off the mask. After that a drop of soap and a good rinse works great!

Thank you all for your input!!

You will want your own mask and snorkle. It just feels cleaner. Sunsail's fins were adequate. If you have exceptionally big feet you may need to bring your own fins. I am a size 12 and had no problems finding fins in their bin.
Johnson's baby shampoo worked great as a defogger.

We always bring our own snorkel, mask & fins. It takes up space, but we snorkel every day and I like knowing my equipment works. This last trip, my snorkel stopped working (ball float kept getting stuck). Picked up a new one at Leverick (Cooper has some snorkel items for sale as well).
Best anti-fog: baby shampoo ("no more tears")

Just to follow up. Sunsail had 4 sets of snorkel masks and fins aboard that were like new. But still probably a crap shoot with each trip. Thank you for the responses. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />