myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

We're off to B.W.I next month and i understand from all i've read that it's a good place for snorkelling[one of the reasons B.W.I. was chosen ] Well, perhaps someone can help me here. My husband has a birthday the day after we arrive and he is notoriously difficult to buy for--not an aquirer or wanter of anything--. Up till now he has always borrowed our sons' snorkel mask. My husband, although a strong swimmer,is only a once or twice a year amateur snorkeller but that said,he enjoys it greatly. So--would it be feasable for me to buy him a mask as a surprise present? I ask because i've read about the importance of "fit"etc.The one he borrows apparently does the job o.k but i can't ask him in case he twigs! Dont particularly want him to drown as i haven't upped his insurance lately!Thanks , Stella

Hi Stella

The fit is vital. It would be extremely risky to buy a mask that he hasn't tried. The BWI has an excellent dive shop, Aquamarine Dive, within their grounds. We bought our snorkelling gear there recently. My suggestion would be to take him along and buy him one there. If you really wanted the element of surprise, nip along on your own the first morning, explain the situation to Alice, the owner, who is generally there. I'm confident they will let you take a suitable mask which you can take back to your husband, but change if it's the wrong type/fit, etc. Don't forget to take some wrapping paper.

Hallo Steve,
Thanks for your reply,what you suggest makes sense.I'll give Aquamarine a visit. Hope they open early because i'm up at the crack of dawn for a few days after a body-clock altering flight! Stella.

at the hilton tobago you find the "world of watersports" diving school. they sold fins and masks too when i went there last time. could go for a special drink in one of the hotl bars and buy the mask with him on his birthday....
by the way: like the idea. he'll love it!
see you (or you snorkel) at castara reef???
all the best
steph&brian

Brian ,Thanks for the idea[especially the Hilton bar bit!] trouble is ,we all arrive quite latish on the day before 'B' day and we only intend having a car for 5 or 6 days in the centre part of our fortnight,so, unless i can persuade husband and friends to take the long journey back down south again by taxi--the Hilton is quite a way away---.we'll have to force ourselves to partake of the 'Happy Birthday' drink at B.W.I Don't think that'll be much of a hardship somehow!! Stella.
p.s You may espy Graham and Andy snorkelling but not me i think, i'm a bit of a water coward,i ejnoy a 'little'swim ,about 20 strokes is my limit and need to know i can touch bottom with my feet at any given moment . Yes i know, pathetic!!! Didn't learn to swim till i was 15 and that's a lot of years ago.

oups...seems i overread the BWI part. have a great time there and don't forget castara reef when you have the car. snorkelling is great at english man's bay, too. but a bit work to swim out to the reef (definetely nothing for you )...easier to acces by boat...
good that they have glass bottom boats for you in speyside, so you would not miss the reef totaly....
have a save trip
steph&ali(brian)

Hi Stella,
I can confirm Steve's comments about the Dive shop at BWI. They should be able to find a mask that will fit. The other thing is once he gets the mask make sure the inside of the glass is cleaned well with tooth paste other wise the coating will make it keep steaming up.

If you really want to make his day see if they are doing PADI try dives.

BWI was pretty good for snorkeling you should have no problems, if your not that confident in the water, like my wife, you can always use one of the buoyancy mats then you can paddle around all day.

No Worries
Kevin

Hallo Kevin, I read your input with interest. As an innocent 'professional non-snorkeller' i'm assuming the 'Toothpaste Tip' was for real and not a legpull? Sorry if that sounds a bit cheeky but the ONLY thing i know about snorkelling is that you lie face down in the water with a tube sticking out of the sea at the top end and a large pair of flippers stick out of the sea at the other end!! Then---after a long time at sea ,said snorkeller strolls up the beach towards you and tells about all the great things he's seen. BUT, i shan't miss out ,i'm taking up Brian 'Alibaba' suggestion and taking to sea via glass bottom boat AND though, water wimp that i am, i shall try your tip of the 'floater' Stella.

Just a quick one , i checked on my last message and realised i'd become a 'guru' Thanks,[ i think!] Incidentally Steve, i dropped a line to Aquamarine re choice of masks and had a kind reply telling me that they stock a good variety, so, all seems well .Stella.

Hi Guru Stella

A "good variety" might be stretching it a little far, but I'm sure they'll find you something to suit.

Kevin was not joking about the toothpaste. Snorkel masks fog up - its a bit like diving in fog (no pun intended). Brand new masks can have chemicals/coatings from the manufacturing process, so need a really good clean before use and on a regular basis thereafter. Smear a little toothpaste around the lens then rinse off. You can buy commercial defoggers but why pay the extra?

Another "old" pre-snorkelling/diving tip is to spit in the mask and then rinse it out. It works well, particularly if you leave the spit to dry for about ten minutes before rinse and use. Sorry if this upsets the more sensitive reader, but it can be done very discreetly (we won't go into the ethics of peeing in a borrowed wetsuit).

Hi Stella and Steve,

One tip on the toothpaste it may take a it more than a smear. My last mask took about half an hour and my fingertips were red raw at the end. Don't bother trying with the clear gel type pastes, you need something with a bit if bite (no pun intended).

One other thing if your husband has a beard or moustache a thin smear of Vaseline should stop the mask leaking because of the poor seal you get because of the hair.




Regards
Kevin

I was told by a Greek friend to wipe the inside of the goggles with a piece of seaweed to stop fogging. I have used it for many years with great success. You may find it easier than carrying a tube of Sterident with you on snorkeling trips!

.........or alternatively, if you fly with Virgin Atlantic to Tobago, make sure you keep the goody bag they give you as it contains a very small tube of white toothpaste which is abrasive and did the trick with my new goggles!
Wanda

hello again
all the companies doing snorkelling that we know (including us) use a little drop of dish washing liquid, no smear no stick, just clear sight...and it don't cost much. maybe the people from the glass bottom boats (franks glass bottom boat) who start right at BWI would help you out...
have fun
steph&ali

Thanks Steph - I bet that's a really good tip, but I bet it works best with that wonderful cure-all of the 20th century - the orginal Fairy Liquid. So many dishwashing liquids contain cheap detergents, but Fairy has a thousand and one genuine good uses. A little goes a long way, so I think I'm going to find a tiny bottle and fill it with Fairy for my next trip.

As one who snorkels alot, I would hesitate in using abrasive toothpaste on your mask. Maybe masks are cheaper elsewhere, but I paid quite a sum for mine to get a good fit and the few dollars that a container of defogging drops cost is worth keeping my mask in good order. I want to get a really good view, not run the risk of an "abrasive haze". A small 2-3ounce container of defogging drops will last a long time. we use less than that for a 10 day vacation snorkeling several times daily. If you run out the spittle method is sufficient-just doesnt last as long. It isnt that gross once you've done it a couple times. The soap is ok too, just dont use too much. The object of all these methods is simply to put a very light oil-based coating on the mask to prevent fogging. Remember the more you pop out of the water for any length of time the more it will happen.

A big Thank You for all the replies about the 'soon to be bought mask'. I'm going to print them out and take them with us when we go,[3 weeks next Monday] Graham can choose one, or all of the methods suggested. Toothpaste, Fairy liquid,Good old fashioned'Spit' or even the recommended drops.I'm also trying to get him a book on Tobago birds for his birthday. He and Andy will be bird spotting too.Poor old chap, he's going to be so busy at B.W.I he'll need another holiday to get over his holiday!!! Stella.

Hi Stella

Birding is easy as there's only one decent Tobago birding still in print - "Birds of Trinidad & Tobago" by Richard ffrench. I've just checked on Amazon.co.uk and they have it in stock, together with two other ffrench books on the subject.

they use "squeeze" here. green bottle and not the cheapest, but still worth doing...is you want to see all these fishes or even stingrays...
steph

Look on the web you can get the book second hand, Mind you Mr and Mrs Ffrench will not like me for saying that, they are a lovley couple we meet them at the Asa Wright Complex in Trinidad last year then again at the Rutland Bird Fair. Do go Birding with Newton George when in Tobago hes a super chap and knows his birds and the rain forest is great birding.
Hope you enjoy as I am sure you will.