great snorkeling?
 

We love to snorkel (have been loving it for many decades), but fear we're running out of new places to try. We don't like having to take a boat out-- just great snorkeling right aff-shore. We think that St. John is terrific and also Cayman and Bonaire and Tobago. Have done some of the BVI's from a sailboat a couple of times. Also sailed in the Grenadines. And St. John a number of times. And Cancun. I know that snorkeling is never the same, even if you go back to the same spot an hour later-- but we are getting a little tired of the same islands. (luxurious "problem"!) Is there something in the Caribbean that we're missing? (We loved Jamaica and a couple of other islands-- but not very good snorkeling except where I've mentioned.) I'd love to hear from avid and well-traveled snorkelers that there are some islands out there that have really really great snorkeling right off the beach. (We like up-scale accommodations also-- but snorkeling is the main thing. E.g. I'd love to visit Anguilla, but everything I've read in guide books says the snorkeling is fair at best.) Anything really terrific on Virgin Gorda? (I didn't think Little Dix snorkeling was very good: stopped there for a day when we were sailing the area. Similarly Peter Island-- a couple of very fine reefs at PI-- but not a whole lot; not "endless" as, e.g. on St John) Thanks very much to all responders!

- The best off beach snorkeling on Virgin Gorda is Mountain Truck. It's just up the coast from Little Dix Bay. May be the best in BVI.
- For something different, try snorkeling cenotes in the Maya Riviera. These are freshwater underground pools that are magnificent.
- We did not care for snorkeling in Cozumel, except for right of the beach at The Intercontinental Hotel. It was the best snorkeling on the island.
- Belize is all off boat snorkeling.
- I have read that St Lucia has some great snorkeling, but have not been there. That will be our next research project.

Poss:

How did shore snorkeling on Tobago compare to St. John? It's a place we're considering for the future, just not the easiest to get to.

Slk 230: Thanks for responding. Is there a resort (or whatever) at the beach at Mountain Truck? Also: what I'd most like to find is an island where there's lots and lots of snorkeling at many different spots-- sort of like at Caneel Bay, where one can spend the whole day doing many different areas-- and then spend many more days driving around the island from reef-beach to reef-beach. Are there lots of spots on VG that are good? (I mean where you don't need the boat.) Where did you stay on VG? I've heard that St Lucia isn't great, by the way-- too windy.

Although we haven't been (yet), we have heard that Roatan is supposed to be fantastic for snorkeling. I'm sure with a little research, you can find more info on this small island.

We stayed at Little Dix Bay. What we loved about LDB is that they run a water taxi service to 9 different beaches around the island. If you wanted to go to Mountain Truck, they would drop you off and pick you up at a designated time. We took advantage of this to go out to George Dog and Great Dog Islands as well for snorkeling.

Nail Bay Resort and Mahoe Bay Resort are two we have heard the most about. Nail Bay is situated up on a hill, and you walk down to Mountain Trunk, as well as a few other nice snorkel spots. This entire section of Virgin Gorda coast is a string of nice bays, Savannah, Pond, Mahoe, Mountain Truck, Nail and Long Bay to name a few. Further to the south, Devil's Bay is were The Baths (giant boulders) is located and has good snorkeling. Just don't go on Cruise ship day.
We were on a day cruise last time with a couple who stayed at Nail Bay, they loved it. You will need a car to stay up in that area. Due to the water taxis and distance to town, we did not rent a car for our any of our stays at LDB.