Diane

Bonaire or Tauviani, Fiji? Would appreciate any input. Thank you.

TC

This is a very broad question. Have you already settled on one or the other of these locations? They are so different. My vote would be for Fiji if you can stand the flight. The soft corals and fish are much more interesting in the Pacific than anywhere in the Atlantic. That said, we love the Carribbean. My choices for best shore snorkeling is Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras. The snorkeling and diving right from West Bay Beach is spectacular. If you like a little more action when you're not in the water, try Cozumel, Mexico. Great snorkeling from shore and lots to do out of the water. Hope this helps.

Diane

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. Looking for prime snorkel from shore vacation, lots of fish, colorful corals. Don't care for Mexico, but never have been to Cozumel. Flight would sure be shorter and cheaper, but will we be as happy with the snorkeling? Visited NZ and Aust. last year, did the GBR. Had hoped to see more fish than we did. We also enjoy getting out hiking and exploring the islands. Thank you again.

liz

Hi,<BR>I am sorry to hear that your experience at the GBR wasn't satisfactory, for me it was the dive of a lifetime. You must have had bad weather or currents. I have done alot of diving in Carib and one place you might like is the Westin Carambola in St. Croix. You can swim out from shore to corals and diving, or you could snorkel as well. I did some amazing day and night dives there, leaving right from the beach. Plus this is easy to get to! This was about 5 years ago, the resort used to be a Rockresort and I am not sure what it is like today, you will have to ask other Fodorites but when we went it was lush with plantings and has all individual bungalows with indoor-outdoor showers, very sugar planter feeling. The one thing I will say is that weather can mess up the works anywhere. If you hit a period of stormy weather, then straight diving is the only option. I have heard amazing things from Australian friends about the Solomon Islands and I have read good things here about snorkeling in Turks and Caicos. I did a live-aboard dive trip there 5 years ago and it was amazing but that was deep water, open ocean. You see the huge pelagics. From all my dive buddies I know that nothing in the Caribbean equals GBR, Phillipines, Solomon Islands. Haven't heard anything specific about Fiji. Heard that Saba is overrated. Good luck.

liz

PS to the above. I did some research, the place I recommended is now called the Carambola Beach Resort, see www.sunterra.com. I was reminded that it is just a swim from their beach to the largest wall dive in the Caribbean (which I loved) that drops off thousands of feet less, and has a huge barrier reef surrounding that. Also access to Buck Island, a private reserve, Salt River and several wrecks. Actually you will never need to leave the hotel if you don't want to with that wall diving right there. We rented a car to have lunch and dinner around the island, tour a bit, etc.