USVI-On-Line

I don't like things tied to me that is why i suggested the raft but i totally forgot about the noodles! They would be perfect because you can cut them to any size too. if you laid across one cut in half you would be floating quite nicely!

When we went to the baths one of the girls didn't didn't snorkel so the crew of NH 2 put a noodle under her butt and another one under her arms gave her a rope off the back of the boat and called it the noodle bar. They kept her drink full and she had a great time.

tashtego:

I bet you'd look great in a bright colored vest! Better than looking green in the gills after swallowing too much saltwater.

If you're so inclined, you could get artistic or just have some fun with fabric paints. We spend time on Lake Michigan every summer, and when my kids were smaller I'd put life vests on them for the days with big waves. I could only find boring grey vests, so I livened them up with fabric paints -- tropical flowers for my daughter and just crazy psychedelic shapes for my son. Then they added their own embellishments, to make the vests truly personal. The puff paints eventually peeled off, but the regular fabric paints stayed fine. (Depends on what the vests are made of, too.)

Just a thought, if you feel like getting creative!

Despite being a very strong swimmer, I nearly drown off Waterlemon Cay several years ago when I too gulped a mouthful of salt water while clearing my mask. I was loosing my peripheral vision and seeing spots by the time I managed to stop coughing and catch my breath. I decided on the spot I don't care how good a swimmer I might be or how admittedly stupid I look in the vest, I'd rather be a living dork than a great-looking corpse.

Can you rent the vests on St. John?

Yes at mongoose or low key water sports

DELETED

Everyone is too busy looking at the fish to notice what you are wearing! Get a vest and use it, you will feel so much better not having to worry about getting a cramp or running out of steam.

Just don't use the vest as an excuse to push yourself further than you think you can handle. You still have to swim all the way back to where you came from eventually.

Also, it is easy to just walk over to Little Cinnamon rather than swimming--that way you can avoid the current and the coral. That's what John and I did. We found the plane right off shore. It's not really that exciting--just a propellor is left.

I never though twice about people wearing a vest. I just thought that they were probably smarter than I was because I don't wear one.

hi tashtego
where in MI do you live and where are you flying out of I have 2 if you are coming this way you could use them

Any color is fine however I would probably stay away from silver

I have never worn one of the vests while snorkeling because I have always been a good swimmer. But after reading these stories I think I might. I don't snorkel alone but what if I did get a cramp or swallow too much water. I put one on my kids when they were younger but even they have stopped using them. Of course one is a lifeguard and one has passed all the tests up to senior lifeguard and he is only 11)There is no way they would put one on but if I had one maybe I could save them. Thanks for making me think about this.

No, you will not look foolish.
No one will even notice.
The people who look foolish are the people who put their fins on and THEN walk all the way to the other end of the beach.
Just don't do that and you'll be fine.
Have fun and enjoy yourself!
-Ruth

I guess a lot more people than I realized feel the same way I do. Already bought the vests. Bright Green ones too. Just can't wait to feel the sand and listen to the underwater quiet. No phones, clients or employees.
And that swim last year to Little Cinnamon was tricky. I had pushed myself to catch up to some friends that had started over earlier. Thing is, that they had no idea I had gotten myself into trouble. I thought I was right about in the middle of the coral when the "head to shore" alarm went off. I still don't know how I found a path in around it, but I found sand to stand on, and air to breathe.
Again, thanks to all. This forum sure helps..

You just rock that green vest - i have learned the hard way it is better to be safe than sorry - and bgright green is beautiful!!!