Snorkelling in Lakshadweep: Gear question

Greetings all!, This is my first post!

I am headed for Lakshadweep in December (22nd to 27th). I wonder whether they rent out snorkelling gear (Mask and tube) at the islands. If any one of you have rented it in the past, please share your experiences.

Also, anyone headed there during the same period?

hey
no advice here but a smaal request
please make some pictures from trip to/and in laksha
upload them to your gallery on this site.
i love to see some pictures from there!
you'll be the first to share here i guess

Kshastry,

Three questions for you:

Their web site says that equipment will be provided at Kadmat.
http://www.lakshadweeptourism.com/html/l0600frm.htm.
Is that where you are going?

How are you going there? By ship or by air. Correct me if I am wrong, but only MV Tipu Sultan provides sleeping facilities (the others don't) and the aircraft used by Indian Airlines is a Dornier; the proverbial Hobson's choice :=)

Did you consider the cruise from Bombay to Lakshadweep? Just curious.
I may go there in the first/second week of January 2006.
TIA.

Hi bearable,

I am going there by the ship M/V Tipu Sultan in tourist class. I have heard nice thing about it. I could have flown. But I wanted to really sail as I have not yet done this.

I have enrolled for a package called "Coral Reef" which is mentioned in the website you quoted. It covers three Islands (Kadamat, Minicoy and Kavaratti).

I am trying to import a snorkel gear from UK. Unfortunately, the shipment is "lost" after it arrived in India and seems will not reach me. Therefore I need to depend on some rented stuff (if its available) in the Islands.

December / January is the best season to visit the Islands, so I have heard. Let me see how it materializes.

How are you reaching there?

Hi Kshastry,

I considered swimming :=) but decided against it. If I do go, I will take the package tour by ship. Getting there seems to be a hassle but worth the trouble. Have a nice trip and keep us posted. If I may ask, how much does the snorkeling gear cost?

A good quality snorkelling gear can set you back by INR 1500 - 2000. I had bought it for GBP 20 from an online scuba shop in UK.

Sad part is, he sent it over airmail (normal post). It has not yet reached me even after 15 days. The shop owner says that it has surely landed in India. You can imagine what would have happened.

Make sure you get it couriered through FedEx or UPS if you make an online purchase.