I would cross off the DR and St. Lucia from your list. No good snorkeling or nightlife at either.

Grand Cayman would probably give you the best of your citeria. If you thought the snorkeling was great in Jamaica, I did not, you will be blown away by Grand Cayman. Rent a car and get the off shore snorker's map and spend the day going to each site.

The boat snorkeling will be better though. Do the sting ray excursion with the 3 snorkle stops. Wish I new how to download the video we got. Amazing. Also, snorkle the Wreck of Cali.

The nightlife will be OK. Definatly, nothing crazy. There is Margaritaville and a restuarant sorta like it across the way called Breezes. Also, little restuarants and bars. Just stay away from town when the cruise ships are in.

Akumal has good snorkeling, but it's very seclued. Nothing much around. The infamous 5th Avenue in Playa is about 45 away by car. We took as tour the Sain Ka'an Biosphere about 1 1/2 putside of Tulum. The best snorkeling we ever done in Mexico hands down and have been going over the past 10 years. Grand Cayman is still number one in snorkeling for us.

I don't know anything about Belize. haven't been there, but on our list of "someday".

If your interested, check out our picture site. I have tons of underwater snorkel pictures from various destinations.

http://community.webshots.com/user/kvrlvn

Not Punta Cana!! It is one of those "built environment" where there was nothing until they put up a bunch of mega resorts for tourists. Most people who visit there can't/don't/won't leave their resort property!

I vote for Akumal, but then I love Mexico. Or the Grand Caymans if you want to stick with the Caribbean.

Grand Cayman will get you covered for your needs, more so than you other options. Just be advised that the best snorkeling is NOT off the popular & Mile Beach. You'll need to rent a car and visit the different shore snorkeling areas, it ranks up there with the very best in the Caribbean

Other places to consider is West Bay Beach in Roatan, Honduras or St. John in the USVI.

Problem with St Lucia is the nightlife is in the north of the island around Rodney Bay village but the good snorkelling is in the south, around the Anse Chastanet reef and Anse Cochon. The scuba diving is quite good around the Pitons and there are other activities.

I'd argue that Ambergris Caye has ugly beaches. They aren't world class, but, the sand is soft and white and the water is clear and Caribbean blue. There is sea grass, and the water is shallow, but, not ugly.

In high season at least, there is live music somewhere every night. Most nights several options for music. Also a couple of late night clubs, though, I've never been.

Lots of lodging and restaurant choices. Day trips to the mainland for cavings and Mayan ruins are available.

In all honesty, though, with just five days, I'd go to the place with the best flight times.

I agree about flight times. With such a very short trip, that would be my first consideration actually.

From your list, Grand Cayman is going to be your best choice. Rent a car so you can do your own private thing as it sounds like you want a sense of personal, close-up discovery on your vacation. A car that will get you around will make your trip so much more rewarding than an ordinary stay at a hotel. Try to go to Stingray city at a time when there are not a lot of cruise ships in port.