If you read all of the posts at least one of us asked questions that the OP hasn't responded to. There was several things I WAS going to suggest. But without knowing the persons abilities to the fullest you can't suggest gear that may or may not work.
Yes, LoboMX asked good sensible questions just 32 minutes after the OP's
one and only post. Days later the OP still hasn't answered, or even filled in his profile. Until the OP tells us more we can only give generalised advice, and the best snorkeling advice for a non-swimmer is to learn to swim.
RalphinOrmond - This is a public forum and the OP isn't the only non-swimmer who'll read our words. We'll be perceived as "experts" on snorkeling, so we're trying to give responsible answers. This conversation is currently the #1 result in Google for "non-swimmer snorkeling vest" - yes, the first result out of the whole Interweb - and people will be reading our words for many years. There's a reasonable chance that several people will buy any "best" vest that we recommend, and some of those people will be buying them for their friends and family. I'm trying to avoid this scene: "
Wife, stop being a silly scared idiot. The expert snorkelers on the most active snorkeling forum in the world [-]say[/-] [DON'T SAY]
that it's safe for non-swimmers to snorkel. [IT ISN'T]
Here - I even bought you this vest they recommend for non-swimmers - you just have to float around. [AND YOU'LL PROBABLY BE OK, BUT YOU MIGHT DROWN.]"
the contempt and fear-mongering of the Aussie's "traditional Australian shock&sarcasm form of education."
Where do you get the idea of me feeling contempt for anyone?! I felt extreme distress (?panic?) at seeing the OP encouraged that waist-deep water is safe, just months after I dealt with a
strong, healthy man who drowned from wading-snorkeling in hip-deep, waveless, warm water. (Very strong current, though.) I gave useful advice on owning your own gear so it fits, and becoming confident in a swimming pool - not sure how you got contempt our of that.
MOVING ON...
I think the man who died on my vacation was uninformed and unwise, but not stupid. By all accounts he was a really wonderful, charismatic, intelligent bloke who put a lot of effort into researching other aspects of his trip. That's what makes this so sad.
Unlike JimLap I don't think that adults who can't swim are lazy or dumb. There are many places in the world in which adult swimming is uncommon past the stage of beginner, especially for women. (Temperature, inland location, cultural). When people from these countries go on vacation they see lovely warm, calm idyllic bays with other people snorkeling. It looks so safe!
But even confident swimmers from land-locked countries get a shock when they enter the ocean for the first time. They can't believe how salty it is! (that screwed up face is always funny to watch). The waves and currents are very disconcerting, and the bottom's covered in trenches and miniature sand-dunes. It's nothing like the swimming pools and rivers that they're used to.
In my opinion
* a non-swimmer + the ocean or even pool/lake/river is like russian roulette. Most of the time it'll be fine. But if something goes wrong - even a little thing - then suddenly it becomes a life and death situation. A panicked person no-longer makes rational decisions and can die even if they're a strong swimmer. As a general rule a non-swimmer is more likely to panic because more things are unfamiliar,
and they're less equipped to solve their problem.
Step on a sharp rock or shell? Inhale some water? Stung by a jellyfish? Drifting closer to that scary clump of seaweed? Notice a piece of glass and don't want to step on it, but current is pushing you that way? See a scary critter? Suddenly step into one of those troughs in the sand and end up in deep water? Any of these tiny little things can spiral out of control. Snorkeling can add
extra problems, like a fogged-up mask, a leaky snorkel, or clumsy fins making people trip over when they stand up.
The muscle contractions of coughing / choking often make people bend forwards. Once you breathe in water you're doubled over coughing - either your feet come up or your head goes down. In waist deep water there's a good chance your head is now right at the surface,
and you're splashing around. Maybe you can't keep your balance and fall over. Maybe your mask comes off and you panic and can't necessarily tell which is up.
Along with most of the snorkelers on here I just don't think snorkeling is safe enough for non-swimmers. Like I said in my previous post - learn to swim, buy gear that fits and become confident using it in a controlled environment.
* "My opinion". I'm speaking as an ex-lifesaving instructor, a strong swimmer, an enthusiastic snorkeler who wants to share the fun... and also as someone who unexpectedly found themselves giving mouth-to-mouth to a drowned corpse on vacation.
