We always take our own stuff. We went to a diving store and purchased all our gear, so, like another poster said, we know it all fits well. I prefer not to use someone else's snorkel, too. We stayed at Xtabi a few days last year, and we did not find the snorkeling there to be very good. We usually go up to Rockhouse and snorkel for a couple of hours and then eat lunch. There's' much more to see there, even though it is just a short distance farther up the cliffs. I imagine the farther you go up, the better the snorkeling. Obviously, the fish and other animals like the rocky areas better than the sand. We saw a huge stingray at Rockhouse last time. We've also never had that successful of a snorkeling trip out on a boat to the reef. You either have to get up really early, or its just hit or miss (I don't know which). We've gone out at 8a and 9a, and 9a is way too late. There's more people out in the water, and I'm sure that spooks whatever may be around. Maybe if you get out by 7a, it would be good. I'm not sure if you can find someone to take you out that early, though.