My husband and I are planning a trip to the Caribbean this May. We would like to stay somewhere where we can snorkel either striaght from the beach, or close by on the island. Any recommendations?

So far we have stayed at Jumby Bay and Carlisle Bay in Antigua, and we are ideally looking for something of similar service and style to these two.

Recommendations gratefully received!

Jumby's "sister" properties on both Virgin Gorda and St John have much better snorkeling than Jumby. Of the two, the snorkeling at Caneel is better. Do a search on "snorkeling" and you'll probably come up with a number of other suggestions. (E.g. Eleuthera/Harbor Island has good snorkeling and some good resorts. Or you could look into the Ritz or the Westin on Cayman.)

St. John
Bonaire
Caymans
Turks and Caicos

Grand Cayman, especially the east end.

Kindula; While you will compromise on food, only average, it will be made up in the quality of snorkeling off 7 beaches most offering different underwater sights. A half day outing with Sally arranged thru the resort is very informative and you see underwater life you tend to miss on your own. A day sail with 2-3 stops on a 40ft. boat is also worth doing if the maximum number of guests is 12 or less. In early May it could be only on any given day except Fri.-Sun. Stay at Hawks Nest or Turtle Bay complex area in a second floor room and put in a request for an end room. Hope this helps.

We were just in St. John in January and you could snorkel from just about any beach. It was beautiful. Going back in May!

StanKase's suggestion is excellent for you. However, h/she forgot to mention that the post was about Caneel Bay on St. John. Happens to the best of us!

This is a good site for Cayman - when you click on each individual property it rates the snorkeling.
http://tinyurl.com/aw6sr

Sorry for not clarifying I was talking about Caneel Bay on St. John a resort we have spent 7-9 days 7-8 times over the past 15 years.
Personally the snorkeling now is not as good in Grand Cayman based on a visit in 2005. we were on the East End and West End.

Caneel Bay is incomparable for wade-in snorkeling from any of their 7 tree-shaded white sand beaches. This is paradise on earth for beach/snorkeling lovers, as well as being a classy upscale resort with extensive grounds in the National Park with no development to be seen anywhere.

St John--any beach at all. Some more obscure are great--Waterlemon, Newfound. Also Sandy Cay.

Kindula, there are two or three villas/cottages for rent just a few minutes' walk from Francis Bay (good snorkeling) on St John, in case you might consider a villa over a resort. Admittedly, I don't know the two places you mentioned, so apologies if I'm waaayy off in terms of what you want.
In any case, St John and its beaches are beautiful!!