snorkeling equipment help

Hi all,

My wife and I are heading to Curacao in October and plan on doing a fair
amount of snorkeling while we are there. I am pretty comfortable in the
water but my wife, while she has enjoyed snorkeling on other trips we have
made (Jamaica & Aruba) tends to get a little claustrophobic at times and
just has to get her head up out of the water and rest occasionally.

I think that some type of flotation device would help make her feel much
more comfortable in the water and greatly increase her snorkeling enjoyment.

I was hoping the group here could make some recommendations as to what she
could use.
She has tried a snorkel vest in the past and while it worked well she said
it was a little awkward (and I think she was a little self concious about
wearing it).

Wondering if something like a 3mm neoprene vest would provide enough
additional flotation to allow her to get her head up out of the water and
relax when necessary (she is 5'6" 110lbs)

Thanks in advance for your helpful suggestions

Mark left this mess on Mon, 11 Aug 2003 14:52:57 -0400 for The Way to clean up:
>
>Hi all,
>
>My wife and I are heading to Curacao in October and plan on doing a fair
>amount of snorkeling while we are there. I am pretty comfortable in the
>water but my wife, while she has enjoyed snorkeling on other trips we have
>made (Jamaica & Aruba) tends to get a little claustrophobic at times and
>just has to get her head up out of the water and rest occasionally.
>
>I think that some type of flotation device would help make her feel much
>more comfortable in the water and greatly increase her snorkeling enjoyment.
>
>I was hoping the group here could make some recommendations as to what she
>could use.
>She has tried a snorkel vest in the past and while it worked well she said
>it was a little awkward (and I think she was a little self concious about
>wearing it).
>
>Wondering if something like a 3mm neoprene vest would provide enough
>additional flotation to allow her to get her head up out of the water and
>relax when necessary (she is 5'6" 110lbs)
>

While it would provide additional and sufficient buoyancy, her problem may not
be solved, if you're describing it accurately. If anything, she might tend to
tip into the water more, and miss the advantage of being able to go vertical in
the water (thus putting a strain on her neck).

But give it a try up here, and see what happens. You can rent 3mm anywhere,
practically.

Tao te Carl

"It takes a village to have an idiot." - Carl (c) 2003

>Mark left this mess on Mon, 11 Aug 2003 14:52:57 -0400 for some dork to clean up:
>>She has tried a snorkel vest in the past and while it worked well she said
>>it was a little awkward (and I think she was a little self concious about
>>wearing it).
>>
>>Wondering if something like a 3mm neoprene vest would provide enough
>>additional flotation to allow her to get her head up out of the water and
>>relax when necessary (she is 5'6" 110lbs)

a 3mm vest provides almost no lift. Compare the volume of the snorkel
vest to the 3mm. Lift is all about volume and only one of those 2 inflates.
Worse, if it is too constricting it may make her more nervous. It will
provide warmth, however, which would be very useful for someone of her
build.

--
Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com

Thanks for your help.


"Jason O'Rourke" <jor@soda.csua.berkeley.edu> wrote in message
news:bh91b2$25f3$1@agate.berkeley.edu...
> >Mark left this mess on Mon, 11 Aug 2003 14:52:57 -0400 for some dork to
clean up:
> >>She has tried a snorkel vest in the past and while it worked well she
said
> >>it was a little awkward (and I think she was a little self concious
about
> >>wearing it).
> >>
> >>Wondering if something like a 3mm neoprene vest would provide enough
> >>additional flotation to allow her to get her head up out of the water
and
> >>relax when necessary (she is 5'6" 110lbs)
>
> a 3mm vest provides almost no lift. Compare the volume of the snorkel
> vest to the 3mm. Lift is all about volume and only one of those 2
inflates.
> Worse, if it is too constricting it may make her more nervous. It will
> provide warmth, however, which would be very useful for someone of her
> build.
>
> --
> Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com