Glad to see everyone is getting along now!!!I wish we had the temps that Washington does now ;)Too hot unless you are near a pool where I am.

Despite the listings in CT&L, our personal opinion is that Grand Cayman has better snorkeling than St. John. Also like 7 Mile Beach better than Trunk Bay or Coki Beach. Actually, we thought Cozumel was better than St. John.

I have that issue of CT&L and just like everybody else, it's an opinion based on whomever voted. It's not a right or wrong answer. If the same poll was re-done, depending on who responded the choices may be very different.

We stayed at the Reef Resort on Grand Cayman and I must tell you. While it is away from the "action" that was a plus to us and we had a car so we were able to snorkel locally and drive to marina's 30-35 minutes away for other snorkel outings.

NOW HERE THIS!!




I will blow some peoples minds. We have been to all the places mentioned plus Belize-several atolls, Roatan,Honduras ,Granada,Abacos, Turks, Bonaire and probably 4-5 other Caribbian counties in our 38 years of vacationing in the Caibbean. While Roatan, St. John, Belize are high on my list as well.....
It is Curacao. But on the WEST END.The area we found from the locals that many on this site have panned as an island having no good snorkeling.One place is Playa Kenui. Another is just beyond Playa Piskado about 2 miles. They are public beaches with no one there on weekdays ex ept probably the summer when school is out.It is true they are a 40 minutes drive from Willemstad the capital you will want to make the trip twice. We stayed at the Sea Aquarium Resort. a hotel and timeshare combined but as a hotel guest they approched me once for 5 minutes and when i told them we were not interested they only gave us a few fliers when we left.

But the way to see some amazing sites is go to Sta. Cruz Beach #1 just before Playa Kenui and see Capt. Good Life. His local # is 864-0438 or 520-1147. For $10-$12 you will be taken to 3 amazing areas and dropped of for up to 1 hour if you want at each. But, I suggest 35-40 minutes is best. He will then come back to pick you up and take you to the next spot. One is the Blue Room which on a sunny day is amazing cave to snorkel in. No diving necessary. You should go at 2-3 in the afternoon and you will see a fellow Cook Koei. He works there as a short-order cook for lunch and dinner but a soda or beer ($2) is all they expect you to buy. Tell him Stan and Linda who were there in May told you to come. He is about 40 year old and a native with a shinny black bold head and fun to talk with.
We are returning in January 2006.

Belize has unbelievable snorkeling.

Caribbeansoul, I have read your posts and have always enjoyed your insights, especially since you seem to be a St. John fan. I hope you'll go again soon because you sound like you belong on a bar stool at Skinny's. Lauren, the snorkeling in the Virgin Islands is great! I am a big snorkeler/diver and love it there. There are so many different places to snorkel, it's really up to you to seek them out. Virgin Gorda is fun. St. John is great and the many small islands interspersed. The wonderful thing about the Virgin Islands is that it is all close by. Almost everything can be done in a daytrip. I don't know where you're staying and for how long, but please do tell, and this board will be able to advise you better.

Thanks StanKase for great information on where to snorkel. I am really excited now. We were going to go to Bonaire, but Air Jamaica no longer flies there from Montego Bay. I didn't find that out util after I had our tickets to MB. Since AJ flies to Curacao, we decided to go there because we wanted to snorklel. Thanks again, Owa

Best was Bonaire and Norman Island (BVI)

We are staying one night in St. Thomas at the Marriott Morningstar. Really the only reason we decided to stay there at all was because the Peter Island ferry only comes to St. Thomas on Tuesdays and Saturdays and we really wanted to leave on Monday and not waste a vacation day at home (this is our honeymoon, we're getting married the saturday before!). I doubt we'll have much time to see St Thomas, as we plan to just relax at the hotel and the beach there. Then we take the ferry to Peter Island. Right now the only thing we have planned is a snorkel trip to either the caves at Norman Island or the Indians. We want to spend as much time on Peter Island as possible since we aren't there for that long. We want to relax and enjoy the resort because it's so expensive! Then we are staying a week on St. John in a villa. We plan to visit as many of the beaches as possible. We also want to take the ferry one day to Virgin Gorda, and one other day do a boat trip to see Jost Van Dyke and Sandy Spit. We are looking for a private charter for that, but haven't decided on one yet. I can't wait! Thanks for all the advice on snorkeling--we're thinking about going to either the Grenadines or Grand Cayman next.

Question about Cozumel snorkeling: Is there any resort comparable to Caneel on St John in the sense that the snorkeling is very good and varied right off the beach? We enjoy the whole island of St John for that reason-- dozens of places to snorkel, many quite different from the other, all fairly easy access (much easier than Bonaire e.g.), no need whatsoever to take boat out, etc. Plus of course at Caneel, each of the beaches right there has very good snorkeling. Would love to try cozumel IF it's comparable to St John in the sense of having lots and lots of snorkeling handy to a good resort. we didn't so much enjoy Cayman, by the way. rented a fine condo near the cemetery, where the snorkeling was pretty good, but thought the island basically unattractive and there weren't nearly as many snorkeling spots as on St John. Did love Eden rocks tho! Thank you!

The snorkeling was pretty good from our hotel in Cozumel, on the north side of the island (Sol Cabanas Del Caribe, but this is a budget hotel, does not at all compare to Caneel) But, it definitely wasn't the best on the island. I think the nicest hotel on Cozumel that would have good snorkeling would be the Intercontinental. I haven't actually stayed there, but it was pretty close to where we had the best snorkeling, which was at Dzul Ha. There is a nice all inclusive resort (Occidental Grand) on the far south side of the island but I don't think they have very good snorkeling. We also took a boat trip to three different reefs. The reefs were very much alive with many fish--but for the most part it was so deep that it was hard to see much. I was very disappointed in the trip because of that, except for that I saw my first turtle. The free snorkeling we did from shore was so much better!

I'll be able to compare Cozumel with St. John when I get back in November!

Lauren, definitely take the opportunity to go to Virgin Gorda if you can. You will love the snorkeling around the Baths.