| About twelve years ago, my wife and I were on our | | | | swimmer and started to freak out. Despite all of |
| honeymoon in Maui. Maui was beautiful and we | | | | my swimming, I wasn’t getting anywhere. The |
| had a blast touring the island. During our trip, we | | | | riptide was too strong. Fortunately I saw a rock |
| chartered a sailing cruise and tried snorkeling for the | | | | jetty about 25 yards to my left so I decided to |
| first time. The cruise operator gave us the option | | | | make a run for it. After about ten minutes of hard |
| of using a life jacket to snorkel, but the majority of | | | | swimming I made it to the jetty and was able to pull |
| us (including me) chose to snorkel without a life | | | | myself out of the ocean. |
| jacket. At first I was a little freaked out when I | | | | I think back to that date and I realize I was lucky. |
| jumped in the water - I thought I was going to have | | | | If that jetty hadn’t been there, my wife would |
| to tread water the whole time. But after I relaxed, | | | | have been a widow. Or, if I had worn a life |
| I realized I could float pretty easily in the salt | | | | jacket, I would have had a better chance to be |
| water. Plus, we were snorkeling in a protected | | | | rescued. I think the problem sometimes is that we |
| reef and the water was pretty calm. We loved | | | | think wearing a life jacket isn’t cool. But we |
| it. After hours of snorkeling we were hooked. We | | | | have to realize that water safety is more important |
| were ready for our next snorkeling adventure. | | | | than being cool. We think life jackets are just for |
| The following day my wife and I were anxious to try | | | | kids, but they are for adults, too. Plus, it makes |
| snorkeling again. While walking on the beach, we | | | | sense to set an example for our children. We now |
| found a vendor who was renting snorkeling gear. | | | | have two boys and we feel it is important to show |
| Again, we had the option of renting a life jacket, | | | | them that wearing a life jacket is the right thing to |
| but we passed. We were only planning on | | | | do. Just like wearing a safety belt in a car or a |
| snorkeling on the beach in front of our hotel. We | | | | biking helmet, life jackets shouldn’t be “just |
| weren’t planning on swimming out very far so | | | | for kids”. They are for everyone. |
| we felt we were pretty safe. | | | | If you want more information on life jackets there |
| We started snorkeling and it was great. But we | | | | are a couple of great websites out there. The first |
| weren’t seeing many fish so we decided to go | | | | is the US Coast Guard boating safety website or |
| out a little further. All of a sudden we realized | | | | USCGBoating.org. This site will help you chose the |
| something was wrong. My wife stuck her head out | | | | correct life jacket for your boating, fishing, sailing or |
| of the water and saw that we were being pulled out | | | | kayaking trip. Also, another site is the National Safe |
| to the channel by the riptide. We were already 50 | | | | Boating Council and its website, |
| yards from the beach and we were getting farther | | | | SafeBoatingCouncil.org. This site also can give you |
| and farther from land. My wife started swimming | | | | tips about recreation boat education and safety. |
| back to the beach but I wasn’t that good of a | | | | |