Anybody have a suggestion for the best diving and snorkeling in the Caribbean? We've never been to any of the islands; we've geen snorkeling and scuba diving in Mexico a few times (the water wasn't that clear or the marine life very impressive.) Any tips would be appreciated!

We enjoyed snorkeling in Curacao. I've heard Bonaire is good as well.

Peace, Greenie

Caribbean destinations with very good to excellent diving:

Grand Cayman
Little Cayman
Grand Turk
Saba
Bonaire
USVI's
British Virgin Islands
Belize (not actually an island)

Islands noted for good to excellent "off beach" snorkeling:

St. John
Virgin Gorda
Anegada
Anguilla
Many of the the Bahamas Out-Islands
Turks & Caicos
Bonaire
Tobago Cays

No doubt about it - Bonaire! I have gone to Bonaire for the last 11 years at Christmas. Diving is fantastic - great visibility and marine life. Turtles and eels easily seen. If you're lucky you'll see a frog fish or sea horse. Easy shore dives if you want to explore on your own. Lots of places to snorkle.

I've been diving all over the Caribbean. My favorites in order are:

Cozumel (general marine life quality, diversity and economical)

Bonaire (macro life and visibility)

Turks & Caicos (walls and sharks - this was my number 1 but I just returned there from my third trip and it seemed to fall off a bit - though there's a lot of luck with diving and I may have just been there at an off time)

Belize - Outer atolls (variety, the blue hole, one of the few places in the Caribbean where you may be able to see a whale shark if you time it right)

Grand Cayman (walls, stingray city)

Bahama out islands (sharks and wrecks)

Others that I haven't been to that have good reputation and are on my short list:

Honduras (Roatan/Utila)
Dominica
Saba
Silver Banks (to snorkle with the humpback whales)

And some that were okay but just not great (in order of diving preference):

Cancun
St. Lucia
St. John (great for the snorkeling, though)
Jamaica
Puerto Rico