Snorkeling with kids and non-swimmers

A surprising number of people snorkel without being able to swim. With a life jacket and a float ring it is genuinely fine — but it works much better if you plan for it rather than discover it on the boat.

Tell us in advance

When you book, say who is nervous and who cannot swim. It changes which stops we recommend and it means a guide stays with them from the first entry rather than noticing halfway through the day.

Pick shallow, sheltered stops

Koh Ma, Koh Ngai and the Koh Haa lagoon are all shallow and calm. Koh Chueak and the outer reefs have current and are better left to confident swimmers.

Equipment that helps

Life jackets are on every boat and are not optional for weak swimmers. Float rings let someone put their face in the water with no effort at all. Small masks matter — an adult mask on a child’s face leaks constantly and ruins the experience.

• Ask for a child-sized mask, not a small adult one
• A float ring beats a life jacket for actually seeing the reef
• Full-face snorkel masks are not permitted on our boats
• Rash vests beat sunscreen for children on a long day

Consider a private boat

For a family with young children, a private longtail is usually the better answer. You leave when you like, skip stops that are not working, and go home early without asking twenty other people to agree.