Snuba or snorkel for non swimmer?
Would like to book an excursion to the reef from Key West, FL. Husband is a weak swimmer but has snorkeled twice in sandy bottom beaches, with no more than 5′ of water. Has also snorkeled twice in cenotes of the same depth. He feels safe with a life vest, and either excursion I’m looking at provides that with instruction and hands-on guides.
Bottom line, which a safer, easier, experience for a non swimmer, Snorkel or snuba? This will be in open water which will be a different experience for him.
Note: I’m referring to sNuba - where you breathe through a scuba regulator that is connected to an air tank which floats on the surface - not scuba.
Neither are truly safe for a non-swimmer. Most excursions/tours will take for granted that you can swim when setting up snorkeling tours. They usually go to safe enough places, but really snorkeling over a tropical reef requires far more swimming skill than you seem to be describing.
I don’t want to disappoint you, but even the most tourist oriented dive trips will require that you complete their training to become a "certified" diver. That would include trips where you use a fixed air supply instead of an air tank.
I hate to sound too negative, but I am a realistic (and an ex-life guard, who has been an ocean swimmer for over 50 years), and I don’t believe that any open water trips are appropriate for people who would class themselves as non-swimmers. A life vest is a help, but believe me, not guaranteed to keep someone who is a non-swimmer safe. There are lots of other fun things to do in Key West. beers at Sloppy Joe’s are sort of a water sport, right?
I need a list of things that i need to go scuba diving, and the price.?
March 28th, 2010 at 8:42 am
snorkel!! scuba will scare you
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March 28th, 2010 at 9:18 am
stick to what he knows. it is better to be safe than sorry.
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March 28th, 2010 at 9:58 am
Neither are truly safe for a non-swimmer. Most excursions/tours will take for granted that you can swim when setting up snorkeling tours. They usually go to safe enough places, but really snorkeling over a tropical reef requires far more swimming skill than you seem to be describing.
I don’t want to disappoint you, but even the most tourist oriented dive trips will require that you complete their training to become a "certified" diver. That would include trips where you use a fixed air supply instead of an air tank.
I hate to sound too negative, but I am a realistic (and an ex-life guard, who has been an ocean swimmer for over 50 years), and I don’t believe that any open water trips are appropriate for people who would class themselves as non-swimmers. A life vest is a help, but believe me, not guaranteed to keep someone who is a non-swimmer safe. There are lots of other fun things to do in Key West. beers at Sloppy Joe’s are sort of a water sport, right?
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March 28th, 2010 at 10:07 am
I think snorkeling would be the better choice. If he isn’t comfortable snorkeling on the surface without a life vest, I doubt that he would be at all comfortable breathing from a regulator at depths that could reach 20-30 feet on snuba. Not only do I think snorkeling would be safer for him, but it will probably be more enjoyable as well…it is hard to have a good time if you are scared silly.
Being comfortable in the water is necessary when breathing compressed air underwater because a panicked response to a problem at depth could have potentially fatal consequences, and even people who like being in the water can be a bit twitchy the first time they try breathing through a regulator in an open water environment. My advice would be to forgo the snuba experience until his comfort level improves.
Have a fun and safe time in the Keys!
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NAUI Scuba Instructor
March 28th, 2010 at 10:33 am
if hes a non swimmer he probly isn’t too comfortable with going under the water so stick to snorkelling
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March 28th, 2010 at 11:15 am
If you cannot swim then neither are safe! Before you go, have some swimming lessons at your closest pool, or just go and swim laps.
Once you are able to get a handle on the whole swimming idea, then you should feel comfortable doing anything in the water. But when it comes to choosing between snorkel or snuba, snorkeling would be much for comfortable to swim in.
So once you are water ready, have a great time in the water!
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