Mr. X does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

[Mr. X]

Mr. X Does Negril (2010) with No Reservations

Chapter 7 - Snorkeling and Floating

Snorkeling Equipment
Snorkeling gear check buying at home verse renting in Negril. Would be great to have our own set so we can just go in the water any time we want. Since we are going to be near the water most of vacation. Check at sports places and wholesale clubs. About $39 for full set of fins, mask and snorkel. When I tried to put my foot in the fins it was like hard plastic and painful so knew cheap sets were not going to work. I went in local dive shop and got the scoop on what I needed. Fins, mask and snorkel.
With these I got pair of rubber booties ($10) which is good so I will have something to wear on the walk to the water. The thing I liked the most about these were they were very light weight fins which will be great for travel. Masks with snorkel fit good and felt fine. Black mesh bag big enough to carry 2 sets.

Excited about being able to go snorkeling anytime I want on vacation. I know I could have got them a little cheaper online but I wanted to feel them myself plus local businesses need my money and the guy was nice and helpful. Little over $100 total for mask, snorkel, fins and footies. Times 2. but looks like stuff that could really last. Not super heavy duty for everyday use but hopefully work for our purposes.

Even more excited about combining snorkeling and my other main vacation pastime of laying on my float. That reminds me I got to do some float research.

Floats
Got float for $4 at Marshalls. Only had one. Wife got. It’s exactly what I want. Just so happens Marshalls is on her regular circuit of shopping. Wifey is in the shop everyday mode for vacation only x days to go. Gee how many more beach covers, bathing suits do you really need?

Richards Variety Store
Got all kinds of cool stuff but more importantly they had cheap floats for $4 cool. Bunch of floats. Got 3 and had 1. Got other float ($7) that rolls up? So you are bringing 5 floats to Jamaica? If I have room in my suitcase I might. Floats are light enough to carry easy in suitcases and at $4 won’t care about leaving anywhere. Why do u need float? I notice especially on the cliffs some kind of float is very helpful. If u are cliff jumping you don’t need a float. Just jump. Swim to ladder climb out and repeat. But if u are in the water relaxing or swimming. I notice many people swimming and treading water and start to get tired. Not me I am just hanging on my float expending no energy. In fact you could smoke or drink or whatever it is you do all while relaxing on ur float.

August 28th, 2010 - Saturday
1 week baby we will be on Jamaica time. Tested my fins out today. Black water socks that slide right into fins. Worked great. Feet little sore but not bad. Mask and Snorkel seemed fine but water was so muddy (it’s a lake) could not see 3 inches. Did not leak so that’s a plus. Few minor adjustments but will do fine. Try it again on Sunday.

August 29th, 2010 - Sunday
Tested flippers again. Water visibility same zero. Normal. No wonder I don’t like lakes. Feet not sore this time.

Jamaica Table
Have had a Jamaica table since we got the airline tickets. Just put anything we are thinking about taking on the Jamaica table. Got snorkel gear, floats, sun screen. Negril is the easiest place in the world for me to pack for. Let me see it’s going to be warm 100% of the time. Shorts. Bathing Suit. Shorts. Bathing Suit. Keens and flip flops. No dress shoes. Comfort and practicality all the way. Could take a backpack and easy have all my stuff. Nowadays with iPods and kindles don’t have to lug a bunch of music or books on vacation with me.

Professional Floaters League
Last year I mentioned maybe some kind of professional floaters league might be interesting. On further thought I realized there would be no way to eliminate floaters to have a “winner”. It would have to be some kind of competition such as really cold water or shark infested water. There would be some Chinese guy who could go without food for a month or some Russian guy that the cold water did not bother or some Jamaican Floater that was really fast. I would have to specialize in warm non shark infested waters. Best for me maybe to keep my amateur floater status I guess.