Don't Bite the Newb - Intro & Hellos

[California Girl]

ifloat - Those pictures were taken with my little Canon SD 400 digital elph in its underwater housing, and you're right... no flash, all natural light. In fact, had it been a sunnier day, they would probably have been even better/brighter. I'm sure your pictures will be at least as good, if not better! Capt. Phil took us to Lovango Cay for snorkeling and the water was extra clear... not as many people splashing around there as on St. John, although I got some amazing shots on STJ too!

[ifloat]

Would you be concerned if you did not receive an email confirmation from the car rental company 48 hours later?

I don't want to be a PITA and bug them if it's normal to have to wait a few days, but...

[California Girl]

As highly as I recommend Courtesy, I never received a confirmation from them after reserving online. I phoned them and they said everything was fine, so I trusted in their verbal confirmation, and all was well. It's just that they're all on "island time" and it's no big deal to them. Just give them a call and see if they have your reservation in place to ease your mind. Things just aren't too formal when it comes to "business as usual" on STJ!

[ifloat]

California Girl, if my snapshots turn out as well as your images, I will be thrilled.

I did think of a (semi) clever way to figure out if my setup would work before I went on vacation myself. I purchased the exact same camera for my daughter and SIL and loaned them the underwater housing. They went to visit my family in Hawaii and came back with some nice feeshy pictures and night time stingray pictures and scary shark pictures. Now that this daughter is coming along to STJ I have a built in photo consultant to show me how the whole darn thing works.

REI is having a shoe clearance sale! Yesterday I scored a pair of Teva Open Toachi sandals original retail price $85, for $20. I really wanted the $25 pair of Keens, for the better toe protection, but they just rubbed one toe the wrong way.

I do have some regular pull on water shoes but they're a little hard to get onto wet feet.

I will give St John Car Rental a call to confirm my reservation, but not this morning because it's Saturday and probably their busiest day so I'll try another time.

I Apologize for my noob blather, but it makes me feel better and helps me organize to put things in writing.

I LOVE Forums. A couple of years ago I planned an Alaska cruise/family reunion, a DIY kitchen remodel and a wedding all online at the same time!

How did I ever do things before online connections?

Our vacation has been officially dubbed "Beached and Baked 2009"

[ifloat]

I had two nice surprises when I woke up this morning. An email confirmation from St John Car Rental, and one from Captain Phil for our half day snorkel sail. The trip is shaping up nicely.

I think that's all I'm going to book ahead of time. Mr. Ifloat wants to make this a lazy laid back vacation without an itinerary. ::twitch::

Well I suppose this would be a good place to test out the photo function. Let me see if I can insert an image. The view out my back door yesterday.



I'm getting very excited by the underwater photos people are posting from their little snappy cameras.

[California Girl]

Yippeeee! Confirmations! Go with the flow, your husband has the right idea. The best plan is a plan that's flexible! Tell Capt. Phil you heard about him on this forum, I've mentioned it to him often, so it would be nice if he knew he got some business from this end! You are going to have such an awesome time. Now that we know you can post a picture, a trip report will be expected! LOL!

[mindehankins]

As you can see, I'm still studying diligently! This post brings up two questions, and they'll both sound tremendously stupid to those of you in the know. Please be kind
In order to see cool stuff while snorkeling, do you have to dive down under the water? I completely tore out my eardrum a couple of years ago and have been sternly warned not to ever put my head more than a foot underwater.
Is there a way to take underwater pics without investing alot of money in a special camera? This is so last minute that the list of stuff to buy is growing rapidly.
Thanks all!

[shoemak38]

no you see floating over top of water. The throwaway camera work okay. Why spend money on good camera copy pic's for the forum and say they are your's

[hoosierdaddy]

As you can see, I'm still studying diligently! This post brings up two questions, and they'll both sound tremendously stupid to those of you in the know. Please be kind
In order to see cool stuff while snorkeling, do you have to dive down under the water? I completely tore out my eardrum a couple of years ago and have been sternly warned not to ever put my head more than a foot underwater.
Is there a way to take underwater pics without investing alot of money in a special camera? This is so last minute that the list of stuff to buy is growing rapidly.
Thanks all!

1.You do not have to dive at all. I like to, but it is not necessary.
2.I think the camera is up to you. I travel once a year to a destination that allows me to snorkel. I always buy an underwater disposable camera. My pictures are not close to the ones you see on the forum but they are fine for me.
Hope this helps

[mindehankins]

Briilliant! Thank you!

[ifloat]

I purchased a little Canon A590IS for $100 and a waterproof bag with a lens opening for $30. It will do fine for protection from the elements and snorkeling.

My other camera is a Canon A720IS in an hard type underwater housing, for about $350-400 total.

Will post the photos after we get home March 21 09.

[Agent99]

So ifloat, are you packed yet???

Please do a trip report for us. I know it will be very entertaining!

[ifloat]

I was packed a month ago.

Since I will have a laptop with me, I was thinking about doing a Your Virtual Vacation daily trip report so you can all pretend you are newbs again!

[Agent99]

Oh, please do that! I did that last year and it was as much fun to read people's comments as it was to write. I thought I'd do it again this April but we aren't very exciting and it would probably read very much the same as the last one.