KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

hi,

I am planning a beach getaway and have been excited about the idea of taking my kids snorkeling BUT...

while researching on the web, I have come across some reviews about seasickness and vomiting, and no jetty experiences so jump off the boat etc.

my questions are

1. is it safe to take a 3 year old on a boat to snorkel?
2. when done snorkeling, and child wants to rest, where do we stay?
3. do we need to take kid sized life jackets with us for the kids?
4. if no jetty, how to get back on?
5. is seasickness a general problem or just some people? (friend told me she was told that the fish were always hungry and to just * off the boat in Tioman)

could those who have had experience with small children in snorkeling excursions, please give me a detailed review and tips if any..

thanks~

No1 with kids went snorkelling before??

Hi Sagow,
I took my kids to Pulau Redang 4 years ago when they were in lower primary then. They enjoyed themselves tremendously.

Here are some suggested answers to your questions:

1. is it safe to take a 3 year old on a boat to snorkel?
Should be ok if the water is calm and kid is not afraid of water.
Your kid should have at least a bronze in swimming, ie water safe.

2. when done snorkeling, and child wants to rest, where do we stay?
The boat was waiting for us while we snorkelled, so anytime we feel like it, we just climb back onto the boat.

3. do we need to take kid sized life jackets with us for the kids?
Before we board the boat, we had to try on the life jackets according to size which you can rent.

4. if no jetty, how to get back on?
Not applicable as we went by boat.

5. is seasickness a general problem or just some people? (friend told me she was told that the fish were always hungry and to just * off the boat in Tioman)
Some peole are more prone to sea sickness than others.
As the water was calm, it was fine except the emission of fuel from the boat may cause you to feel sick. It may be advisable to get some sea sickness medication from your doctor before the trip and take it before you go snorkelling. I like to bring some orange juice , lime juice, ribena or some oranges and green apples to eat to reduce the sea sick feeling.

Hope you enjoy your trip!

hi, if your child has not been in open water before, I suggest you bring him to a beach and get used to waves first.

Some kids are afraid of the "swarming" fish.

Beware some operators do not have kids life-jacket, highly recommended to get one for your kid.

We had fun feeding fishes at Redang and Krabi
http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2010 ... sland.html

Anyone can advise how to get to Redang in June? Understand the seletar airport no longer an option.

godiva wrote:Anyone can advise how to get to Redang in June? Understand the seletar airport no longer an option.

Berjaya Air will take you to Redang.
It departs from the budget terminal now.

Yes, the smell of fuel can set of sensitive stomachs, so always stay upwind of the exhaust.

Also, don't eat any really rich foods the day before, as these can make you queasy too.

If and when you feel yourself get a bit green around the gills, go outside and stay focused on the horizon. Strangely, a gently swaying boat on a glassy ocean can elicit sea sickness as readily as nasty rolling chop. But so long as you've got the horizon in view and your visual input is in synch with your equilibrium input, the sea sickness shouldn't get worse.

Other chestnut tips are breathing deeply and steadily and yawning and swallowing. They tend to lessen the feeling of an impending bout of vomiting.

Lastly, if all else fails, just get rid of the offending matter, because in all likelihood, you'll feel better.

Incidentally, I feel 3 years old is a bit young to be snorkeling. Perhaps it's ok to be doing it in the shallows, where the kid can still stand. But to have a 3 year old floating up and down over a reef in deeper water is pushing it a tad I feel, especially since there may be pretty strong currents. Unless it's got lots and lots of water experience and is totally comfy in deeper water and wearing a mask, and comfy with breathing through a tube of course.

FYI, we have had plenty of families on snorkeling trips, but the kids that were that age tend to stay on the boat with a parent.

Reviving this thread to ask: what are the options for a short-sighted person who wants to snorkel? My daughter normally wears glasses, not contacts, and is going to snorkel once on a school trip. Her degree is around 600 degrees per eye, so without any aids she will see very little. It seems that there are no powered snorkel masks provided, and we don't intend to buy one for just this one occasion. We are considering getting disposable contacts for that day, but it will require her to get fitted, practise inserting and removing, and we will have to buy a box of 30! The school says that she can't use powered swimming goggles instead of the mask - any idea why not? Any other suggestions? Thanks!

There will be a school briefing next week, but I thought I'd get some info from here too!

slmkhoo wrote:Reviving this thread to ask: what are the options for a short-sighted person who wants to snorkel? My daughter normally wears glasses, not contacts, and is going to snorkel once on a school trip. Her degree is around 600 degrees per eye, so without any aids she will see very little. It seems that there are no powered snorkel masks provided, and we don't intend to buy one for just this one occasion. We are considering getting disposable contacts for that day, but it will require her to get fitted, practise inserting and removing, and we will have to buy a box of 30! The school says that she can't use powered swimming goggles instead of the mask - any idea why not? Any other suggestions? Thanks!

There will be a school briefing next week, but I thought I'd get some info from here too!

It seems that some dive centres rent out masks with prescriptive lens. Maybe can google and call them.

Sursum wrote:

It seems that some dive centres rent out masks with prescriptive lens. Maybe can google and call them.

Yes, that's correct. In fact, I happen to know that B&J in Tioman has prescription dive masks available, free of charge I believe, for those who can't wear contacts.