Things You Wish You'd Known While Snorkeling

[soxfan22]

GHM...what are we, in third grade here? You made a mistake, I am sure even those who reside on St. John have made mistakes in the past - this holier than thou attitude is kind of silly.

I too, would like to know where all the coral in the villas and stone walls comes from? If they import it from someplace else, isn't that just as wrong?

I forgive you.

[nothintolose]

I was gonna say the same as luv2fish with regards to walking in flippers. Don't do it if you can avoid it. I learned the hard way

I have also decided that next time around, not only am I gonna wear my rash guard but I am gonna wear my Under Armor slide shorts when snorkeling because I am tired of the burns I get where I normally have clothes no matter how much sunscreen I have on.

[cptnkirk]

Jeez I can smell the burning flesh. Never underestimate what can go wrong out there, no matter how strong of swimmer ya are. Went out to that little rock out in the middle of Salt Pond and got seasick. Was really scared that if I started to throw up it might be all over. Never thought I was going to make it back to shore. If your going to go far out wear a flotation device.

[KTinTX]

Yet another proponent of the rash guard here. I learned the hard way on our first trip in June. I was in the water at Maho, snorkeling for about 1.5-2 hrs straight and my back was nearly the color of a stop sign! Luckily, no blistering, so I bought a rash guard that evening at Low Key and wore it the rest of the week.

Another tip is to make "your spot" on the beach stand out somehow so that a quick glance back at the beach will direct your efforts in swimming back to the right place! The last thing you probably want to do after a long snorkel is walk all the way down the beach dragging your gear.

Oh..and if you use an underwater camera...ALWAYS take it with you because Murphy says the <insert> will only appear when you don't take the camera!

[LysaC]

Snorkel with a buddy.

Never underestimate the current. The further out you are from the beach, the stronger it can get. Be careful!

Slather SPF on your bum- right where the suit meets your bum cheeks. That is a bad place for a one-horned butt fish to be burned.

[djmom]

While we are at it, I guess have a question. I hope it isn't a confession because I think I am ok.... Taking seaglass? Is that all right, since it isn't natural and it is really just trash? I would never take anything else. (I do throw away lots of sharp glass too and protect everyone's feet!)

I am wincing now to see if I am in trouble. I do take the rules extremely seriously; one, because we love St. John, and two, because our children are watching. I never want them to think it is ok to break the rules.

[lprof]

Sea glass is not, and has not been, a natural or living resource. I brought some home with me too.

The following html link (and even better, the pdf linked there) explains what is not legal to remove from the Virgin Islands.

"DON’T - Remove natural resources
from our shorelines. Sand, shells, sea
fans, live rocks, coral pieces and beach
rocks are all natural resources."

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:qRx ... =firefox-a