Need recommendations for in-depth snorkeling

Hi all,

My parents are in their mid-60s and have been travelling to Tobago for
several years. My mother likes the "in-depth" snorkeling (i.e., she can
walk from her cottage into the water and snorkel, and never worry that
she's in over her head) and my father loves the birdwatching and other
island amenities. Sadly, my mother's health is not great and the
stopovers necessary to get to Tobago have been quite hard on her. Can
anyone recommend a place in the Caribbean that sounds similar? We've
done some great snorkeling in Belize but that involved a one-hour boat
trip to one of the cays, and my mother is not interested in that. My
parents have a mid-range budget, and prefer rustic to something like a
Sandals, a Beaches or the like. Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks, Callen

Callen Molenda wrote:
St. John, USVI. US National Park, great walk-in snorkelling from
several different places.

Julie

Hi all,

My parents are in their mid-60s and have been travelling to Tobago for
several years. My mother likes the "in-depth" snorkeling (i.e., she can
walk from her cottage into the water and snorkel, and never worry that
she's in over her head) and my father loves the birdwatching and other
island amenities. Sadly, my mother's health is not great and the
stopovers necessary to get to Tobago have been quite hard on her. Can
anyone recommend a place in the Caribbean that sounds similar? We've
done some great snorkeling in Belize but that involved a one-hour boat
trip to one of the cays, and my mother is not interested in that. My
parents have a mid-range budget, and prefer rustic to something like a
Sandals, a Beaches or the like. Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks, Callen

--
Julie
**********
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm

"Callen Molenda" wrote My parents are in their
mid-60s and have been travelling to Tobago for
several years. My mother likes the "in-depth" snorkeling (i.e., she can
walk from her cottage into the water and snorkel, and never worry that
she's in over her head) and my father loves the birdwatching and other
island amenities. Sadly, my mother's health is not great and the
stopovers necessary to get to Tobago have been quite hard on her. Can
anyone recommend a place in the Caribbean that sounds similar? We've
done some great snorkeling in Belize but that involved a one-hour boat
trip to one of the cays, and my mother is not interested in that. My
parents have a mid-range budget, and prefer rustic

Nice description of what they need- as my many trips to Tobago were well
described by their needs, but I have endured the air travel- so I do
understand.

Try looking at http://www.seaforyourself.com for well planned
snorkeling/naturalist trips that fit that style.

I recommend St John in the USVI. Several good walkin from beach snorkeling
sites.

Gene

"Callen Molenda" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

My parents are in their mid-60s and have been travelling to Tobago for
several years. My mother likes the "in-depth" snorkeling (i.e., she can
walk from her cottage into the water and snorkel, and never worry that
she's in over her head) and my father loves the birdwatching and other
island amenities. Sadly, my mother's health is not great and the
stopovers necessary to get to Tobago have been quite hard on her. Can
anyone recommend a place in the Caribbean that sounds similar? We've
done some great snorkeling in Belize but that involved a one-hour boat
trip to one of the cays, and my mother is not interested in that. My
parents have a mid-range budget, and prefer rustic to something like a
Sandals, a Beaches or the like. Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks, Callen

Callen, this place in Anguilla has waist deep snorkeling just a few steps
from the porch. The lagoon is sheltered by a barrier reef about 50 yards
offshore. Great views and plenty of peace and quiet. We stay here each
time we visit Anguilla.

http://anguillavilla.com

"Callen Molenda" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

My parents are in their mid-60s and have been travelling to Tobago for
several years. My mother likes the "in-depth" snorkeling (i.e., she can
walk from her cottage into the water and snorkel, and never worry that
she's in over her head) and my father loves the birdwatching and other
island amenities. Sadly, my mother's health is not great and the
stopovers necessary to get to Tobago have been quite hard on her. Can
anyone recommend a place in the Caribbean that sounds similar? We've
done some great snorkeling in Belize but that involved a one-hour boat
trip to one of the cays, and my mother is not interested in that. My
parents have a mid-range budget, and prefer rustic to something like a
Sandals, a Beaches or the like. Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks, Callen

I don't know what your departure city is, but BWIA has begun direct flights
from Toronto, New York, and Washington, DC, to Tobago. Would those flights work
for your parents?

We just returned from Tobago, taking the very lengthy American Airlines route
from Boston, which had us connecting in Miami, arriving late in Port of Spain,
overnighting there, and taking a Tobago express flight the next morning. If we
go back, I'm definitely checking into the BWIA flights.




Subject: Need recommendations for in-depth snorkeling
From: Callen Molenda


Hi all,

My parents are in their mid-60s and have been travelling to Tobago for
several years. My mother likes the "in-depth" snorkeling (i.e., she can
walk from her cottage into the water and snorkel, and never worry that
she's in over her head) and my father loves the birdwatching and other
island amenities. Sadly, my mother's health is not great and the
stopovers necessary to get to Tobago have been quite hard on her. Can
anyone recommend a place in the Caribbean that sounds similar? We've
done some great snorkeling in Belize but that involved a one-hour boat
trip to one of the cays, and my mother is not interested in that. My
parents have a mid-range budget, and prefer rustic to something like a
Sandals, a Beaches or the like. Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks, Callen

"Juliana L Holm" wrote in message
...
Callen Molenda wrote:
St. John, USVI. US National Park, great walk-in snorkelling from
several different places.

Julie

Absolutely Julie, Just got back from St Thomas and St Johns. Trunk bay also
has a great snorkeling trail with plaques under the water to read.

Jane

Check out the opening page at www.coconutpalms.com. The roof shot shows the
reef that's 100' from shore and less than 6' deep on the inside..

Mark
"Callen Molenda" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

My parents are in their mid-60s and have been travelling to Tobago for
several years. My mother likes the "in-depth" snorkeling (i.e., she can
walk from her cottage into the water and snorkel, and never worry that
she's in over her head) and my father loves the birdwatching and other
island amenities. Sadly, my mother's health is not great and the
stopovers necessary to get to Tobago have been quite hard on her. Can
anyone recommend a place in the Caribbean that sounds similar? We've
done some great snorkeling in Belize but that involved a one-hour boat
trip to one of the cays, and my mother is not interested in that. My
parents have a mid-range budget, and prefer rustic to something like a
Sandals, a Beaches or the like. Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks, Callen

x-no-archive:yes


Ken Tough wrote:


My parents are in their mid-60s and have been travelling to Tobago for
several years. My mother likes the "in-depth" snorkeling (i.e., she can
walk from her cottage into the water and snorkel, and never worry that
she's in over her head) and my father loves the birdwatching and other
island amenities. Sadly, my mother's health is not great and the
stopovers necessary to get to Tobago have been quite hard on her. Can
anyone recommend a place in the Caribbean that sounds similar? We've
done some great snorkeling in Belize but that involved a one-hour boat
trip to one of the cays, and my mother is not interested in that. My
parents have a mid-range budget, and prefer rustic to something like a
Sandals, a Beaches or the like. Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks, Callen

Where are you travelling from?

By the way, I don't know if your mother has an inflatable
snorkelling vest, but it is an absolute necessity for her now.

HEY - what's this NOW business. I'm 66 and I'm still actively scuba
diving and snorkeling without a vest thank you very much in water over
my head.

For the OP's mom who doesn't swim well - she should have had a vest
all along. For those of us that swim well, a snorkeling vest isn't
something that we need by the 'mid 60s'. Now my mom who is 94 would
need something like that if she was snorkeling off a beach as she
doesn't have the balance in the water that she once had - due partly
to dowagers hump and probably partly to different fat distribution.
But she does water aerobics without one.

They aren't very expensive, and may well save her life if she
does get 'over her head'.

grandma Rosalie

"Rosalie B." wrote:

x-no-archive:yes

Ken Tough wrote:


My parents are in their mid-60s and have been travelling to Tobago for
several years. My mother likes the "in-depth" snorkeling (i.e., she can
walk from her cottage into the water and snorkel, and never worry that
she's in over her head) and my father loves the birdwatching and other
island amenities. Sadly, my mother's health is not great and the
stopovers necessary to get to Tobago have been quite hard on her. Can
anyone recommend a place in the Caribbean that sounds similar? We've
done some great snorkeling in Belize but that involved a one-hour boat
trip to one of the cays, and my mother is not interested in that. My
parents have a mid-range budget, and prefer rustic to something like a
Sandals, a Beaches or the like. Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks, Callen

Where are you travelling from?

By the way, I don't know if your mother has an inflatable
snorkelling vest, but it is an absolute necessity for her now.

HEY - what's this NOW business. I'm 66 and I'm still actively scuba
diving and snorkeling without a vest thank you very much in water over
my head.

For the OP's mom who doesn't swim well - she should have had a vest
all along. For those of us that swim well, a snorkeling vest isn't
something that we need by the 'mid 60s'. Now my mom who is 94 would
need something like that if she was snorkeling off a beach as she
doesn't have the balance in the water that she once had - due partly
to dowagers hump and probably partly to different fat distribution.
But she does water aerobics without one.

They aren't very expensive, and may well save her life if she
does get 'over her head'.

Hi all,

I should explain - my mother is an excellent swimmer but suffers from
vertigo and panic attacks if she gets too far over her head - similar to
claustrophobia. That's why she snorkels and my dad does the scuba and
caving trips.

I am intrigued about the vests, do they offer the ability to snorkel
with the security of not "getting over your head"?

Thanks much for everybody's imput.

Callen (in Virginia)