Best snorkeling
 

Planning a short trip to the Caribbean. We are looking for the best easily reachable snorkeling spot. Turtles and stingrays would be a plus. No restriction on accommodations; but would prefer to rent a house for a week, with private pool. All ideas welcome.

When you say “easily reachable” do you mean you are just interested in walk-in snorkeling or would you also consider site that are access by short boat rides as being “ easily reachable?

Regardless of your answe many “experts” will tell you the best snorkeling (both walk-in and boat access) in the Caribbean is found on Bonaire.

Orher islands with very very good snorkeling are Grand Cayman (has the stingrays you crave), much of the US and British Virgin Islands, certain areas in the Grenadines and throughout the Turks & Caicos. You’ll also find some very good snorkeling around many of the Bahamas out-islands.

Agreed on Bonaire, if snorkeling is your top priority. Walk in snorkeling and the best snorkeling I've seen just off shore around Klein Bonaire, reachable by a very short boat ride. Beaches are not super however.

When I was in the USVI/BVI in late February the waters were still a little cloudy from the hurricanes last fall. There is a silt that they call "snow" that was still around. Not sure if it will still be there for your trip -- you might check on the tripadvisor forums. St John is still beautiful and they could use your tourist dollars.

If you want Turtles, then you need to go to Akumal Mexico. There are two AI resorts right on the bay, along with some condos in the area.

Grand Cayman would also be a great choice. Plenty of condo choices up and down 7 Mile Beach and very good walk in snorkeling.

Grand cayman had good snorkeling and we definitely swam with the sting rays.

Akumal is famous for the sea turtles. You can snorkel right off the beach there.

Can you recommend a good hotel with good snorkeling off the beach?

We stayed at the Marriott which has a very small beach area. There were other hotels, like the Westin, Ritz, not sure if the Hyatt is still there, but they had wider beaches. Wear water shoes as the entry to the water is rocky.We did a snorkel cruise to swim with the sting rays.

None of the hotels in Grand Cayman have snorkeling off the beach. What is called the East End and the Northside of the island have the best snorkeling, but they are relatively isolated. You could stay at a condo in that area. Most people stay on Seven Mile Beach. The condos in the north part of SMB have snorkeling off the beach and are close to a popular snorkeling spot, Cemetery Reef.

Actually, there is a very nice reef close to the Marriot. Just a couples properties south of the Marriot is Sunset Cove Condos (formerly Treasure Island). There are two rock jetties in front of the condos....if you swim straight out from there about 75 yards, there is a reef teaming with life. There are also some great snorkeling sites right off the piers of Georgetown.