Love Shoes Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 My OH loves snorkling and reef´s but someone very close to him can´t swim. When we went to the Maldives a few years ago I donned a life jacket and swam from the short (or perhaps floated is a better word) and managed to get myself to the edge of the deep reef, and lodge onto the steps. I am OK in fairly shallow water, I.e, up to my neck, but when I look into the abyss I panic. I remember this happening in the Maldives when my OH and another kind guy took me to the edge of a reef (different Island) and I looked into that great big cavern and &%$% myself .... panic took over and I spent the rest of the day sun bathing. We are looking for somewhere with a reef where we can walk to / in ..... we had fancied a Island fairly local to us but the prices are silly, we are not mean but this is rip off prices. Like $300 + a night for a hotel of 3 star standard ....... Someone mentioned the Hamilton Islands is it possible for me to walk into a reef there, or is it a jump of a boat, if so I won´t be able to go snorkling. I know some of you might say ´learn to swim´, I have tried plenty of times my OH was a life guard when he was at UNI and has tried to teach me, plus my MIL was a swim instructor and she too has failed, and even a friend from NZ who also claims to have taught loads of people to swim failed too last summer, I am frightened and it will never go away, I was thrown in a pool when I was a child, school swimming lessons. Backwards too and I never got over it. I fancy Thailand, never been there, but would love to go, are there any reefs off say Phuket ?? The brochures show reefs and things but I prefer to ask people who have actually been and have first hand knowledge. It is a long way to go to find out that the beach is tidal and I can´t go in the water, and relax. Any suggestions are as ever greatly appreciated. It doesn´t have to be Thailand just somewhere fairly reasonable distance from Brisbane airport .... I.e., I mean not a 24 hour flight :jiggy: Thanks guys :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surflen22 Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 If I remember correctly, Long Island, Daydream Island and Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays all have beaches where you can hire your flippers and walk straight into the water to do a bit of snorkelling. Also, if you do any of the boat trips, they have their own pontoons with platforms & steps etc and lots of inflatables & life jackets if you do feel able to go in and not be able to touch the bottom. I think I also read that Heron Island is another great spot and you can actually walk out to it at low tide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PositivePixie Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 You want Nigaloo Reef, about 1/2 a metre off the beach at Exmouth, in WA babes. SO SO amazing - its like floating over a giant aquarium, that isn't very deep, but has all the most amazing fish and coral you've ever seen, all literally within spitting distance of the beach. There are a few sites you can snorkel there, and a lovely gorge to either walk up or get a boat ride up as well as the beach and snorkelling. There's no boat rides involved, you can either stay at the super swish (and imho over priced, but that's just me possibly) posh camp thing - Sal Salis -, or there is camping sites all in the Park (cape range), alternatively you can stay in Exmouth itself, which has a range of sleeping etc stuff, from budget to super swish again. Slightly less to see, but super for the non-swimmer would be Coral Bay - the snorkelling isn't as good (I don't think anywhere else is, other than the Great Barrier Reef, which is similar to Nigaloo imho), but its a super shallow for metres and metres beach, and is a lovely sleepy little place to relax and get away from it all. Its just down the coast from Exmouth, in WA again. We can't wait to go back, it was complete paradise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockDr Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 I think I also read that Heron Island is another great spot and you can actually walk out to it at low tide. I can vouch for Heron Island, you can walk out at low tide or snorkel in shallow water at high tide, all around the Island. but I rather suspect this was the 3* island Loveshoes was talking about in the OP (If that's the case, I can say that I'd definitely give it at least 4*, and yes it's expensive, but that price is full board, and the food was excellent) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckleface Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 I'd vote for Heron Island as well especially for a non-swimmer. I actually don't think it is overpriced for what you get but maybe that's just me. You should consider learning to swim LS. They probably have adult classes near you but if not ask your neighbours - one of them would probably be happy to teach you. It would open up so many more opportunities to you - both now and into the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyviolet Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 We went to Lady Elliot Island on the barrier reef a few years ago and loved it. There's a sheltered lagoon off the beach, perfect for less confident swimmers, or when you just feel like floating lazily! It was fairly expensive too though, but not sure of current prices. I really want to go back, fantastic relaxed atmosphere and no mobile phone signal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love Shoes Posted July 27, 2012 Author Share Posted July 27, 2012 Thanks guys, just sent the link to this thread for my OH to do some research, I.e, prices / availability that sort of thing. I like the sound of the one Positive Pixie mentioned, sounds like a good place for a non swimmer. I am OK with a life jacket it is just when I get into deep water that I panic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckleface Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 Thanks guys, just sent the link to this thread for my OH to do some research, I.e, prices / availability that sort of thing. I like the sound of the one Positive Pixie mentioned, sounds like a good place for a non swimmer. I am OK with a life jacket it is just when I get into deep water that I panic. Just think - if you learnt to swim there would be nothing to panic about. You are lucky we don't live near each other otherwise I would be dragging you to the pool to teach you :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NowPerth Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 We've just booked to go to Ningaloo/Coral Bay in the Summer for some amazing snorkelling for beginners. We will be at the wrong time of year for humpbacks and whale sharks, but we hope to see the turtles. Love shoes, you can practise at 'Mattam's pool' off Perth. It's North of Scarborough. Has its own showers. The 'pool' looks just like the coast above and below it, but it's protected by a reef in an arc. Makes it calmer then elsewhere, also keeps the sharks out. Shallow enough to wade out to an area good for snorkelling. It's only small. Its not bright coloured coral reef like Ningaloo, but still lovely. Ask the locals/ regulars for advice on when its calmest. If you go, you can take some wet bread in a little bag. when you are over reef, let a little bit go and all the fish come to get it. We are all beginners and I'm inclined to put the kids and/or me in life jackets if I'm in doubt. Also, you'll need a wetsuit now cos it's way too cold for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love Shoes Posted July 27, 2012 Author Share Posted July 27, 2012 Just think - if you learnt to swim there would be nothing to panic about. You are lucky we don't live near each other otherwise I would be dragging you to the pool to teach you :wink: I have tried so many times, but I just panic when I am out of my depth ...... next door have a pool and we are looking after it when they are away, so I may crack it then, but I can´t see it, just too frightened ..... I know how much I miss out on ...... I did make sure though that my children were swimming more or less as soon as they were walking .... certainly before they started school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckleface Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 I have tried so many times, but I just panic when I am out of my depth ...... next door have a pool and we are looking after it when they are away, so I may crack it then, but I can´t see it, just too frightened ..... I know how much I miss out on ...... I did make sure though that my children were swimming more or less as soon as they were walking .... certainly before they started school. Can you at least tread water and float properly on your back? (I worry about people that can't swim - left over from my days in the junior life savers lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love Shoes Posted July 27, 2012 Author Share Posted July 27, 2012 Can you at least tread water and float properly on your back? (I worry about people that can't swim - left over from my days in the junior life savers lol) Yes and no, I can tread water and float in salty water ... actually I can float on my back I was doing it last year in Spain and enjoyed it ... this is sounding a bit rude :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PositivePixie Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 We've just booked to go to Ningaloo/Coral Bay in the Summer for some amazing snorkelling for beginners. We will be at the wrong time of year for humpbacks and whale sharks, but we hope to see the turtles.. Don't know if you know, or if it effects you in any way anyway, but if you are camping, The People's Caravan Park is the only one in Coral Bay that has freshwater showers - the other caravan parks only have salt water showers. Could have stayed in Coral Bay forever (even thought about applying for a job whilst we were there lol), it was bliss Hope you love it as much as we did Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kapri Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 I've been snorkeling on the barrier reef, and the non swimmers were able to come out in a glass bottomed boat Have you tried your local pool for adult swimming classes? They will teach you in shallow water until you're confident Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jove Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 maybe a body board and a set of flippers if you are nervous? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaIan Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Love Shoes, You sound like a lady after my own heart! I too can not swim very well and am also pretty scared in deep water...deep meaning can't stand up. I too also went to the Maldives :biggrin: The Island we were on had this amazing lagoon around it which we walked into and there was no need to go into the deep area as most things could be seen from the shallows. On the one occasion the OH called me over to see a particularly bright school of fish, I was out of my depth, my snorkel filled with water and as I 'stood' to correct it I realised I could not actually stand and started flailing like a mad person making a b-line for the shore....cue other half to come and rescue me. Needless to say this did nothing for my confidence. However, last year after being in Oz for over 3 years we decided it was high time we went to the barrier reef, to say I was a little concerned was an understatement. We decided on an overnight boat stay so I knew we'd be snorkeling the reef in the really deep water....or the abyss as we like to call it but I was reassured that flotation devices were plentiful and non swimmers would be fine. All turned out fine (well, I threw up more times than I can remember but that's another story :embarrassed:) Firstly, I wore a wet suit which makes you buoyant anyway, secondly I wore flippers which make treading water much easier and lastly and most embarrassingly...I had a NOODLE! yes I did! and actually so did most people there. I did try it without the noodle at first...I swam a few metres from the boat...looked into the nothingness of the abyss and turned straight back for the noodle. The confidence it gave me being able to hold on to a float was immeasurable and I wouldn't snorkel again without one. We even went out on a boat with divers and when they got out to dive we jumped in(noodle in hand) and snorkeled our way back to the main boat. Much better than a life jacket or pfd in my opinion as not restrictive and as it's in your hands you feel safe.....all psychological but hey of it works then I don't care. Where ever you go, give the noodle a try!! Good Luck! :wubclub: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaIan Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Yes and no, I can tread water and float in salty water ... actually I can float on my back I was doing it last year in Spain and enjoyed it ... this is sounding a bit rude :laugh: Me too! I can float on my back for ages......not real helping for seeing the fish though!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 This thread is great for me because im not a very good swimmer either but id like to try snorkling if i move out so its good seeing a few names! I dont have much confidence in the water at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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