 Clear
green, azure and blue water, white sand, living coral reefs, tropical fish, sometimes
dolphins
and pilot
whales. What more could you ask from on a snorkeling
trip?
Well, how about someone who can make sure that you understand what you're
seeing, and can lead you to the best snorkeling spots?
And how about guides familiar with whale shark habits - giving you a great
opportunity to interact with these "gentle giants" of the deep during springtime
in Placencia? (See Whale Sharks
for more
information about whale sharks tours.)
We think a snorkeling trip should be more
than just gazing underwater
through a piece of plastic. That's why we will
schedule your snorkeling trip only with guides with a breadth of local
knowledge that will help you better understand the southern Belize marine
environment.
Fortunately, that's not
difficult. Snorkeling and free-diving for lobster are a
way-of-life in Placencia, and most guides have been exploring the ocean's
depths since they were small children. As a result, they know
where to go to give you a truly memorable snorkeling adventure.
 We
can also arrange custom charter snorkeling and fishing trips, and snorkeling
from a private caye.
To make the most
of your snorkeling experience, we suggest that you bring along the following
gear and supplies:
-
Sunscreen
(SPF 15 - - see our Sun Protection Page
for hints on tropical sun protection)
-
Polarized
sunglasses rated "Special Purpose Intense Sunlight"
if possible.
Sunglasses should fit tightly to block UVR from the sides
and have lenses large enough to cover the entire eye area, including eye lids.
Amber is the best color if you're only bringing one
pair - color is irrelevant in terms of UV ratings.
-
Spare
sunglasses
(Not
a bad idea to pick up a several pairs of the inexpensive
polarized sunglasses usually available at tackle shops.
You'll be able to purchase sunglasses in Placencia, but they
won't be polarized, and they definitely won't be cheap.)
-
Hat.
Best is one with at least a 3" brim (check the sun protection hats offered by
Watership Trading Company)
-
Snorkeling
gear.
Snorkeling gear can be rented in
Placencia, but for a good fit bring your own - we strongly suggest
custom fitted gear for children. Several of the group
snorkeling shops will buy slightly used gear from you for about half
of the retail cost. If packing space is tight, consider
bringing custom fitted snorkel and masks, and renting fins here.
-
Snorkeling
vest.
Less experienced
swimmers may want to investigate purchasing a snorkeling vest.
These vests are small, comfortable and unobtrusive, and will
really improve the snorkeling experience.
-
Prescription
mask.
If you need
glasses or contact lenses for distance vision, you need a
prescription snorkeling mask if you are going to take many
snorkeling trips. Saltwater can make contact wearers
extremely uncomfortable, and glasses are almost impossible to
wear under a mask.
-
Swimming suit
-
Beach
towel
-
Change
of clothes
-
Dark
t-shirts.
We recommend wearing a dark colored T-shirt when snorkeling.
Light-colored t-shirts offer little sun protection and may actually increase the intensity
of a burn. If you plan to spend a lot of time snorkeling, you might also consider
nylon bicycle shorts to protect the "hinterside."
-
Underwater
camera.
Water-tight cases are available for SLRs and digital cameras.
However, remember that once the seal on the case is broken (if you
want to download pictures, for example) you won't be able to have it
resealed in Belize.
-
Lightweight
long-sleeved shirt and long pants.
These are
to cover up when you start getting too much sun (which happens to most
everybody, especially on the first few trips) -- strongly
recommended for children. Quick-drying
nylon fabrics are best - bicycle shorts aren't a bad idea either for
the first few days of snorkeling.
-
Prescription
and non-prescription medicines.
Medicines
you might want to put in your bag include
motion-sickness medication, aspirin, etc.
Placencia does not have a pharmacy, so these items aren't in as
scarce of supply as they were just a few years ago. However,
the stores do occasionally run out, so it's a good idea to bring
your own.
-
Insect
repellent.
Waterproof
is best and Deep Woods Off seems to work well in the Placencia area.
-
SeaSafe.
You
may have to order this, but it will protect you against rashes caused
by pica pica (jellyfish larva) when snorkeling in the late spring
(late April and May). Not everyone is susceptible to pica pica,
but again, better safe than sorry.
-
Rain
gear.
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