what would you recommend to beginning swimmers?

Frequent Flyer Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 26

Would these activities be too tough or too much for a beginning/to a non swimmer (i guess if you know how to paddle? does that count?)

Activities list:

1) rent a waverunner

2) parasailing with parasailing professionals

3) light snorkeling?

4) sea-trek

5) horse riding with pampered ponies

6) see blow holes

7) pirate's caves

8) pedro's castle

9) rum point beach to relax and jet ski (perhaps)

p.s. we're flexible. we're staying there for a week

1) which company offers the cheapest waverunner rentals? i know red sail sports is available at rum point beach. how about at 7-mile beach? and how much?

2) do you think light snorkeling would be too harsh of an activity for beginning-practically non swimmers? again, which company should i look into?

3) do you know the operation days/hours for sea-trek?

4) are the blow holes nearby rum point beach? if so, how far are they from each other?

5) where is cemetery beach? how is it?

6) are there any diners/deli's that open before or at 5AM? my flight home is at 7:15AM, therefore, i'm looking ahead to purchase breakfast before getting to the airport.

thanks, sorry, so many questions!

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:59 am Post subject:

ktsang319,

If you're there for a week you can certainly take care of all of these things. I'll comment on what I can

1. I haven't ever done that - someone else will know - We had a non-swimmer with us, but he is fairly water-phobic. He would not have ever gotten on a waverunner

2.Parasailing - looks like fun. I would try it. I think a nonswimmer would be OK

3.Snorkeling - You should really give snorkeling a try. I would suggest starting at Rum Point. It can be very shallow there. That way you could build up your confidence. The first time I snorkeled I was prone to hyperventilating. Didn't trust that tube! But after the initial couple of minutes I was fine. I would get a reasonably priced set and bring it along. You can snorkel from almost anywhere. Just walk out on the beach and get in. Look at the snorkel sites - rated post in the snorkeling section. It will give you an idea of what everywhere is like. Some places require quite a swim to get to the reef. Cemetery Beach would be one of those spots, but I love it there. You can still see things up close to the shore while you're standing! They just won't be nearly as plentiful as if you get out to the reefs.

4. No clue

5. I'm not big on horse riding.

6. You can combine this with a trip to Rum Point. I wouldn't suggest walking it. I posted a link to the maps on another one of your questions.

7.The kids like it. I don't think I would go back if it was just my husband and I.

8. Haven't been to Pedro's.

9. Rum Point is nice. We like to get going early. It will be less crowded then. I think I saw you were going in May? Shouldn't be too crowded then, but avoid the weekends.

6. I don't know of anything open that early, but that's just because I wasn't up that early! You may just want to stop by the grocery the night before to pick something up.

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 2:42 pm Post subject:

I just saw one of your other posts re:no car. I would also suggest doing a Stingray City trip. It is really worth doing. Plus, I think most companies will pick you up where you are staying if you need a ride.

I would utilize the bus system to get you up and down Seven Mile Beach and Georgetown. Just search for bus info. It's around here somewhere. I think that will be your cheapest option.

I think Macabuca/Cracked Conch has a bus service one night of the week. I would definitely go up there. Macabuca is beautifully set on the water. You can even snorkel there, but it is quite deep - you might want to save it until you are more at ease with snorkeling. It is really neat to be able to see that far down. It is very close to Boatswain's Beach if that is on your "to do" list.

Rum Point/East Side will be trickier without a car, but someone else may be able to give you some advice on getting over that far. As far as I know the ferry to Rum Point is not operational.

If I think of something else, I'll let you know.

Frequent Flyer Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 26

I forgot to mention SRC. i'm stuck between Soto's and Oh Boy Charters. Oh Boy Charters has three activities: SRC, Coral Garden, and Barrier Reef for an extra $5 (1 extra hr) over Soto's two activities: SRC & Barrier Reef. I'm very uncertain about snorkeling. I would love to give it a try, but I can't see myself physically capable of completing it. (although i have no health problems) Is it long? do i get oxygen with snorkeling or is that with scuba diving? can you please explain the difference? do you know if the rum point ferry is running? i read in a lot of forums that north side/east side are close to each other. i'm thinking of doing blow holes in the early morning, pedro's st. james castle, and then rum point/cayman kai? how does that sound? thanks. appreciate your time and suggestions

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 3:48 pm Post subject:

Would these activities be too tough or too much for a beginning/to a non swimmer (i guess if you know how to paddle? does that count?)

1) rent a waverunner

Swimming not required; life jackets are mandatory

2) parasailing with parasailing professionals

No swimming required

3) light snorkeling?

With life jacket or no deeper than you can stand up

4) sea-trek

No Swimming required

5) horse riding with pampered ponies

Swimming required

6) see blow holes

No Swimming required

7) pirate's caves

No swimming required

8) pedro's castle

No swimming required

9) rum point beach to relax and jet ski (perhaps)

No swimming required if you stay inside the shallow lagoon

1) which company offers the cheapest waverunner rentals? i know red sail sports is available at rum point beach. how about at 7-mile beach? and how much?

Wave Runners at the resorts average $200/hr for doubles. You can get one for doubles for the whole day from Moore Marine for about $300 and you are not limited to a small area in front of a resort. Wear your life jacket at all times.

2) do you think light snorkeling would be too harsh of an activity for beginning-practically non swimmers? again, which company should i look into?

Soto?s Cruises or Oh Boy for Stingray City because of the small groups and easy supervision.

Boatswain?s Beach is perfect for beginner snorkelers because you can stand up in most areas and they have lifeguards on duty everywhere. You can snorkel nose to nose with shark, turtle, eels and much more, protected by a glass safety partition.

3) do you know the operation days/hours for sea-trek?

7 days from 8am to 5pm.

4) are the blow holes nearby rum point beach? if so, how far are they from each other?

1.4 miles east of Frank Sound Rd. See our island map in the map section of our main site.

5) where is cemetery beach? how is it?

See our Seven Mile Beach map. It?s too deep to snorkel without a life jacket if you are a non swimmer.

6) are there any diners/deli's that open before or at 5AM? my flight home is at 7:15AM, therefore, i'm looking ahead to purchase breakfast before getting to the airport.

Use the coupon in Activity Guide and pick up some sandwiches at Subway the night before.

thanks, sorry, so many questions!

That?s why we?re here. Have a great vacation! Very Happy

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject:

ktsang319 wrote:

I forgot to mention SRC. i'm stuck between Soto's and Oh Boy Charters. Oh Boy Charters has three activities: SRC, Coral Garden, and Barrier Reef for an extra $5 (1 extra hr) over Soto's two activities: SRC & Barrier Reef. I'm very uncertain about snorkeling. I would love to give it a try, but I can't see myself physically capable of completing it. (although i have no health problems) Is it long? do i get oxygen with snorkeling or is that with scuba diving? can you please explain the difference? do you know if the rum point ferry is running? i read in a lot of forums that north side/east side are close to each other. i'm thinking of doing blow holes in the early morning, pedro's st. james castle, and then rum point/cayman kai? how does that sound? thanks. appreciate your time and suggestions

I haven't gone with either, so I can't recommend one over the other. I'm sure they are both great. I like more snorkeling stops, so I would pick the one that's longer. Laughing

Where are you planning to stay? I would definitely try it out before you go, but you should have no worries. Stingray City will not require snorkeling. You can just stand and enjoy the rays. The water is about waist /chest high. My father-in-law is not a swimmer, and he is extremely water phobic, but he did get out at Stingray City.

You have an oxygen tank when you scuba dive. When you dive you are completely submerged. You have to become certified to dive or take a one day resort course. Certification takes a bit of time.

With snorkeling you are floating on top of the water. Your head will be looking down through your mask, and you will breathe through your snorkel. The end of it will be sticking out of the water. You can get a reasonably priced set and try it out in the pool (or the bathtub) to see if you think you will be comfortable. If you think you will, you may want to look into a snorkeling life vest as well.

Rum Point Ferry is not running. Hopefully someone has some good advice for getting there without a car. Sorry I can't help. Your plan to make a day of the East End and Rum Point is great, but I'm not sure how to get it done without a car.

Another place to try out your snorkeling might be Smith Cove. Or any other sandy beach would work. You won't see all the good stuff right at the edge, but you can still see some things!

Native Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 2035 Location: Illinois

What about the possibility of renting a car for one day, if you want to go to east end and rum point.....then you would have the freedom to come and go during the day as you please.

Shelly :-)

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:18 pm Post subject:

shelly wrote:

What about the possibility of renting a car for one day, if you want to go to east end and rum point.....then you would have the freedom to come and go during the day as you please.

Shelly :-)

I was thinking that you had to be 25 to rent - I just double checked Andy's website, and minimum age is 21. The only restriction is "Full Coverage Loss Damage Waiver is not available for renters between the age of 21 and 25 years old. "

I would have to second Shelly's recommendation to do the car for one day. It will probably be cheaper/easier than arranging other transportation.

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