I was underwhelmed by the Grand Central Station atmosphere, $$ boat cost (and not so great, frankly) to snorkel Belize; Costa Rica is known for not such great snorkeling. Your best bet for close in snorkeling is probably Roatan: mhttp://www.roatanisland.net/roatandiveguide.htm

Yea, I probably wouldn't go to Costa Rica for snorkeling. Have always heard Roatan is nice. Have you thought about Hawaii at all? It also has everything you're looking for or St. John?

We recently returned from Bonaire. Wonderful walk in snorkeling. Not much for beaches though, although the beach at Lac Bay was lovely.

Wonderful restaurants. Nice people.

We really enjoyed our stay, hope to return.

As for Belize, we live there part of the year, so, I'm biased. The snorkeling out at the reef is incredible. Unfortunately, Hol Chan is terribly busy and can be really crowded. Get a guide to take you a few miles away, and the snorkeling is awesome.

There are places in Belize with walk in snorkeling. South Water Caye and the atolls. No towns though. I think you would have to have your meals where you're staying. Not sure if self catering is an option.

Roatán seems perfect for you and the VRBO rentals with a large group can be a great value. Although it's cool in Belize to see the big stuff (nurse sharks and rays), the reef there gets much more pressure and isn't as vibrant and colorful in my experience plus having to take a tour isn't near as much fun as being able to just walk out and swim to the reef whenever you want. When we were on Roatán last summer I dove a tank or 2 in the mornings and some days spent an additional 3 or 4 hours snorkeling.

I'd look for something in the Sandy Bay area which is east of West End. The beach isn't quite as postcard perfect as West Bay but it's quieter and the snorkeling from shore is outstanding. Most of the restaurants and dive shops that tourists seek are in West End; if you're planning to eat out a lot you might want something there or on the near end of Sandy Bay which would be west of Anthony's Key Resort (Sandy Bay is long - 10 miles, maybe?).

We stayed for a week in that area in 2006 in a little rental that is no longer available. Last summer we stayed for a week in an apartment at Hobbies Hideaway which is on the far end. The location wasn't as convenient in some ways but the snorkeling was terrific. There was a school of 4' rainbow parrot fish that fed on the shallowest part of the reef that we saw nearly every day - absolutely incredible!

You can check out my photos with blog, travelogue, and review links on the main page of each collection here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

You could also check for rentals here:
www.airbnb.com
www.flipkey.com

Sounds like a wonderful time!

Thanks for all your messages. After some hours on the web I'm looking at VRBOs on Half Moon Cay. They state there is snorkeling from shore. Has anyone snorkeled in that bay? The houses look nice. With children, we would like some place where some of the adults can snorkel out on reefs but other stay closer in. It gets too expensive to take 10 people out every day in boats. .
How about snorkeling from West Bay beach? Is that always filled with tourists? There are nice looking and reasonable VRBO houses there too.

I think you mean Half Moon Bay which is in the town of West End - here's a map that might help:
http://www.roatanisland.net/west_end_locator.htm

West Bay beach gets clobbered on cruise ship days and December is a busy month. It may not be complete yet but you can keep track here:
http://cruisett.com/ports.php?PortID=606&date=52

(Maybe check out December 2011, too, for a better idea of #s.)

The snorkeling will be good either place, I think, but it hasn't knocked my socks off, partly because most people who visit Roatán visit one of those 2 places so it's a different experience than Sandy Bay or further east where we've never had anyone else snorkeling at the same time we were. Just my 2 lempiras' worth....

Have you considered a Bahama Out Island? Take a look at Savanah Sunset house on Eleuthera. Fabulous house, great island to snorkel from beach, day trip to Harbor Island. If there were two other people on the beach we considered it crowded. Quiet, safe, beautiful! I am planning a trip to Mexico right now but I am worried that we have been so spoiled by Eleuthera that nothing will ever compare!i