Snorkel Vest - which kind?

Mette wrote

>I have searched the group for answers to my question, but I am just more
>confused :o) So here goes: I am a woman, 5 ft., 115
>lbs. and I am going snorkeling in the South Indian Ocean next summer. :o)
>I can swim - just not like an athlete, and I do have
>some snorkeling experience - both in low water and in open sea. However, I
>feel that in order to really enjoy the experience I need
>some sort of flotation device, that will keep my body floating in the
>water. I have no desire whatsoever to dive into the water etc,
>so the vest should only keep me floating, so that I feel secure at all
>times - also when I need to empty my mask and snorkel. Last
>summer I went snorkeling without any vest, and I could not truly enjoy it
>because I was too focused on trying to stay afloat, and
>also I could not relax while emptying my mask, and actually started to
>panic a bit. The perfect vest should be comfortable, and
>easy to snorkel with and keep me floating without too much effort - and
>tightfitting would be a plus. Any ideas and links to what
>vest I should invest in:o) would be greatly appreciated.

You didn't find an answer on the group because this is a scuba diving forum
and we don't spend much time talking about things unique to snorkeling, or
even freediving. On the other hand, most of us have spent more than a few
hours doing both.

All the snorkeling vests I've seen are pretty much the same. Most I know of
are one size fits all. Here's one for a very reasonable price.
http://www.joediveramerica.com/page/...norkpk/Snklvst This one is
international orange, which is one of the easiest colors to see floating on
the surface. It doesn't hurt to provide for the possibility of getting to
far from the boat to be seen easily. There are others available from the
same site. If you need a small one, here's one blue
http://www.joediveramerica.com/page/...elvest/40_0010 .

Lee

Mette wrote

>I have searched the group for answers to my question, but I am just more
>confused :o) So here goes: I am a woman, 5 ft., 115
>lbs. and I am going snorkeling in the South Indian Ocean next summer. :o)
>I can swim - just not like an athlete, and I do have
>some snorkeling experience - both in low water and in open sea. However, I
>feel that in order to really enjoy the experience I need
>some sort of flotation device, that will keep my body floating in the
>water. I have no desire whatsoever to dive into the water etc,
>so the vest should only keep me floating, so that I feel secure at all
>times - also when I need to empty my mask and snorkel. Last
>summer I went snorkeling without any vest, and I could not truly enjoy it
>because I was too focused on trying to stay afloat, and
>also I could not relax while emptying my mask, and actually started to
>panic a bit. The perfect vest should be comfortable, and
>easy to snorkel with and keep me floating without too much effort - and
>tightfitting would be a plus. Any ideas and links to what
>vest I should invest in:o) would be greatly appreciated.

You didn't find an answer on the group because this is a scuba diving forum
and we don't spend much time talking about things unique to snorkeling, or
even freediving. On the other hand, most of us have spent more than a few
hours doing both.

All the snorkeling vests I've seen are pretty much the same. Most I know of
are one size fits all. Here's one for a very reasonable price.
http://www.joediveramerica.com/page/...norkpk/Snklvst This one is
international orange, which is one of the easiest colors to see floating on
the surface. It doesn't hurt to provide for the possibility of getting to
far from the boat to be seen easily. There are others available from the
same site. If you need a small one, here's one blue
http://www.joediveramerica.com/page/...elvest/40_0010 .

Lee

"Mette" <mette@.dk> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in:
:I have searched the group for answers to my question, but I am just more
o)

:However, I feel that in order to really enjoy the experience I need some
:sort of flotation device, that will keep my body floating in the water. I
:have no desire whatsoever to dive into the water etc, so the vest should
:only keep me floating, so that I feel secure at all times - also when I need
:to empty my mask and snorkel.
:
:Last summer I went snorkeling without any vest, and I could not truly enjoy
:it because I was too focused on trying to stay afloat, and also I could not
:relax while emptying my mask, and actually started to panic a bit.
:
:The perfect vest should be comfortable, and easy to snorkel with and keep me
:floating without too much effort - and tightfitting would be a plus.
:
:Any ideas and links to what vest I should invest in:o) would be greatly
:appreciated.

I suggest a wetsuit. It will increase your buoyancy to help keep you
afloat. Also, it will cover up more skin to help prevent sunburn.

Finally, it will distribute the buoyancy over your entire body as
opposed to concentrating it around your thorax. This will make it
easier for you to stay horizontal on the surface.

Dan Bracuk
If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.

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"Mette" <mette@.dk> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in:
:I have searched the group for answers to my question, but I am just more
o)

:However, I feel that in order to really enjoy the experience I need some
:sort of flotation device, that will keep my body floating in the water. I
:have no desire whatsoever to dive into the water etc, so the vest should
:only keep me floating, so that I feel secure at all times - also when I need
:to empty my mask and snorkel.
:
:Last summer I went snorkeling without any vest, and I could not truly enjoy
:it because I was too focused on trying to stay afloat, and also I could not
:relax while emptying my mask, and actually started to panic a bit.
:
:The perfect vest should be comfortable, and easy to snorkel with and keep me
:floating without too much effort - and tightfitting would be a plus.
:
:Any ideas and links to what vest I should invest in:o) would be greatly
:appreciated.

I suggest a wetsuit. It will increase your buoyancy to help keep you
afloat. Also, it will cover up more skin to help prevent sunburn.

Finally, it will distribute the buoyancy over your entire body as
opposed to concentrating it around your thorax. This will make it
easier for you to stay horizontal on the surface.

Dan Bracuk
If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.

----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

Mette wrote:
> I have searched the group for answers to my question, but I am just more
> confused:o)
>
> So here goes:
> I am a woman, 5 ft., 115 lbs. and I am going snorkeling in the South Indian
> Ocean next summer. :o)
> I can swim - just not like an athlete, and I do have some snorkeling
> experience - both in low water and in open sea.
>
> However, I feel that in order to really enjoy the experience I need some
> sort of flotation device, that will keep my body floating in the water. I
> have no desire whatsoever to dive into the water etc, so the vest should
> only keep me floating, so that I feel secure at all times - also when I need
> to empty my mask and snorkel.
>
> Last summer I went snorkeling without any vest, and I could not truly enjoy
> it because I was too focused on trying to stay afloat, and also I could not
> relax while emptying my mask, and actually started to panic a bit.
>
> The perfect vest should be comfortable, and easy to snorkel with and keep me
> floating without too much effort - and tightfitting would be a plus.
>
> Any ideas and links to what vest I should invest in:o) would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Mette
>
>

You might want to consider using a noodle. This is a closed cell foam
tube about 1.5m long. You basically lie over it so it is tucked under
your arms. They are quite comfortable, not too restrictive and come in
bright colours so you can be seen. Many places that offer snorkelling
excursions have these in their equipment store so you might want to
contact whoever you are going to be snorkelling with to see what gear
they have. Here is a link so you get a better idea of what I'm on about
http://www.gb-sports.co.uk/swimmingf...ater%20Woggles

jon

Mette wrote:
> I have searched the group for answers to my question, but I am just more
> confused:o)
>
> So here goes:
> I am a woman, 5 ft., 115 lbs. and I am going snorkeling in the South Indian
> Ocean next summer. :o)
> I can swim - just not like an athlete, and I do have some snorkeling
> experience - both in low water and in open sea.
>
> However, I feel that in order to really enjoy the experience I need some
> sort of flotation device, that will keep my body floating in the water. I
> have no desire whatsoever to dive into the water etc, so the vest should
> only keep me floating, so that I feel secure at all times - also when I need
> to empty my mask and snorkel.
>
> Last summer I went snorkeling without any vest, and I could not truly enjoy
> it because I was too focused on trying to stay afloat, and also I could not
> relax while emptying my mask, and actually started to panic a bit.
>
> The perfect vest should be comfortable, and easy to snorkel with and keep me
> floating without too much effort - and tightfitting would be a plus.
>
> Any ideas and links to what vest I should invest in:o) would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Mette
>
>

You might want to consider using a noodle. This is a closed cell foam
tube about 1.5m long. You basically lie over it so it is tucked under
your arms. They are quite comfortable, not too restrictive and come in
bright colours so you can be seen. Many places that offer snorkelling
excursions have these in their equipment store so you might want to
contact whoever you are going to be snorkelling with to see what gear
they have. Here is a link so you get a better idea of what I'm on about
http://www.gb-sports.co.uk/swimmingf...ater%20Woggles

jon

Thanks for the answers:o)

Mette

Thanks for the answers:o)

Mette

Mette wrote:
> I have searched the group for answers to my question, but I am just more
> confused:o)
>
> So here goes:
> I am a woman, 5 ft., 115 lbs. and I am going snorkeling in the South Indian
> Ocean next summer. :o)
> I can swim - just not like an athlete, and I do have some snorkeling
> experience - both in low water and in open sea.
>
> However, I feel that in order to really enjoy the experience I need some
> sort of flotation device, that will keep my body floating in the water. I
> have no desire whatsoever to dive into the water etc, so the vest should
> only keep me floating, so that I feel secure at all times - also when I need
> to empty my mask and snorkel.
>
> Last summer I went snorkeling without any vest, and I could not truly enjoy
> it because I was too focused on trying to stay afloat, and also I could not
> relax while emptying my mask, and actually started to panic a bit.
>
> The perfect vest should be comfortable, and easy to snorkel with and keep me
> floating without too much effort - and tightfitting would be a plus.
>
> Any ideas and links to what vest I should invest in:o) would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Mette
>
>

You might want to consider using a noodle. This is a closed cell foam
tube about 1.5m long. You basically lie over it so it is tucked under
your arms. They are quite comfortable, not too restrictive and come in
bright colours so you can be seen. Many places that offer snorkelling
excursions have these in their equipment store so you might want to
contact whoever you are going to be snorkelling with to see what gear
they have. Here is a link so you get a better idea of what I'm on about
http://www.gb-sports.co.uk/swimmingf...ater%20Woggles

jon

Thanks for the answers:o)

Mette