Please be careful snorkeling

[Andrea J.]

A tourist drowned at Baby Beach the other day.
Baby Beach snorkel area is fantastic BUT there is a very dangerous area out beyond and between the seawall.
there are currents and sometimes large swells there.

so, please be careful if you choose to snorkel in between the opening or beyond the opening.

i always recommend that folks stay in side the safe area

[Arubalisa]

I have to be perfectly honest here. Rarely if ever do I suggest that people even snorkel at Baby Beach.

This has happened before and it will happen again. Imo it is just too tempting for some people to follow the fish outside the breakwater.

It is very sad to hear of this news in that it has happened before.

http://www.aruba.com/forum/f10/baby-beach-38843/

Originally Posted by Arubalisa

A couple drowned and died snorkeling Baby Beach in October 2006. Tourists staying at the Marriott.

I cannot provide a link to the newspaper article because it was not archived, but you can google it for futther info.

[sunnysmiles]

That's too bad that someone drowned! I know when we snorkeled there I was nervous to be under for too long because I was afraid of getting out too far. I read your warnings enough to instill the fear in me! I could see how it would be easy to get outside that are though!

[DANNYO]

So sad to hear that someone on vacation loses there life trying to have fun.Prayers are with the families.

[lrealnurse]

Originally Posted by Andrea J.

A tourist drowned at Baby Beach the other day.
Baby Beach snorkel area is fantastic BUT there is a very dangerous area out beyond and between the seawall.
there are currents and sometimes large swells there.

so, please be careful if you choose to snorkel in between the opening or beyond the opening.

i always recommend that folks stay in side the safe area

That is so sad to hear. I can understand how people get so "swept away" and forget about danger. Thanks for the warning. I have always said that we need to respect the water.

Lisa

[xobxdoc]

I had an incident my first time snorkeling at Baby Beach. I lost track of where I was in the coral and for a while could not find my way back. I felt a little panic come on but managed to stay calm. I would peek up every few minutes to see where I needed to be and eventually found my way back, exhausted. I consider myself in very good shape but that current wore me out. Definitely not for the beginner snorkeler.

[purestone2004]

This truely is tragic. We have always cringed when seeing people snorkeling up in that area at Baby Beach. And our neighbours (local Aruban's) do the same thing. We are very strong and confident swimmers and snorkelers and have never even come close to snorkeling in that area at Baby Beach. Unfortunately as we know the ocean usually wins the battle. My heart goes out to the family.

[cukiecutr]

This is awful to hear! I gave my niece and nephews snorkel gear for Christmas and they are so excited to go see the fish at baby beach as Tim and I had told them all about our visit there last summer. I may now have to reconsider going to baby beach to snorkel with them. Do you have suggestions on a safer place to snorkel with kids (age 9 -13)?

[Andrea J.]

cukie BABY beach is the best beginner/easy entry snorkel.
as long as the snorkelers stay within the confined area SEAWALL.
do not worry
but BE CAUTIOUS

Originally Posted by cukiecutr

This is awful to hear! I gave my niece and nephews snorkel gear for Christmas and they are so excited to go see the fish at baby beach as Tim and I had told them all about our visit there last summer. I may now have to reconsider going to baby beach to snorkel with them. Do you have suggestions on a safer place to snorkel with kids (age 9 -13)?

[Shnyda]

I've never even gotten close to the seawall - it is pretty far out there. You can just see that the water is wilder past the wall.

Snorkeling at Hanema Bay in Oahu, we saw a tourist get slammed pretty hard against a rock, where people were WARNED not to go!