I am a snorkeling fanatic. I find it more relaxing and entertaining than just about anything else that I am willing to discuss publicly. I have snorkeled around the Virgin Islands. What is your favorite/best snorkeling experience? What snorkeling sites do you recommend? I want to compile a "must snorkel" list. Thanks for your input.

Here are just a few of my favorites. My personal favorite is Haunama - mostly because of personal memories of trips there.

Hanauma Bay on Oahu, HI
Dog Islands (part of the BVI, I think)
Key Largo
Cayman Islands
Baby Beach (or Antilla), Aruba
Cozumel

Curracao! Snorkeling right off the beaches. Going to try St John next month though because I heard snorkeling is great there too.

My favorite thing to do on vacation is also snorkeling...here are some of my favorite spots.

St John
Salt Pond Bay,Trunk Bay,Caneel Bay,
Cinnamon Bay,and Hawksnest Bay

Kaua'i
Kee' Beach (early in the morning),Queen's Bath,and Lydgate Park.

and hopefully after next week...I will be adding to the list for St John!

Virgin Gorda's Baths is a fun snorkeling spot. I don't just enjoy seeing fish, I love the interesting underwater terrain. With those huge boulders it's like swimming around the ruins of a sunken civilization. For that reason, I really want to try Bimini to snorkel the so-called "Bimini Road." Has anyone done that?

for St John:

Watermelon Cay which I think is in leinster Bay.
The Indians, which are a bunch of rocks on the way to Willie T's

Cozumel is great for snorkeling but I love it best in the Turks & Caicos Islands. There is nothing like being out on a boat trip, dropping anchor in the middle of no where and snorkeling there. So many different fish, all sizes, colors and shapes. I especially like snorkeling in fairly deep water - you feel like you are flying.

I agree with you snorkeling is very relaxing. It feels like you are flying and observing the world below you and puts you in a another world for a few moments.

Cozumel and the Barcelo Maya Beach resort in the Mayan Riviera where you can snorkel from shore or their pier. Both excellent.

I have heard that Grand Cayman is good as well, but haven't been there yet.

christiegr, how do you get those little symbols in your messages? I only know how to dow a couple, but would like how to do more. Thanks.

Onzgo,
Put your cursor over the icons that you see that you like and it will tell you what the person typed to get it.

BTW..I learned them on an accident.I had typed a : too close to a D and got

christiegr, I have done that and that is how I have collected a few, but didn't you once post a link to them? If if was you that posted that link and have it handy could you please post it again. Thanks.

Sorry for the small break folks, now back to the topic of best snorkeling.

gt;
lt;

ONZGO,

I'll take pity on you,

http://www.fodors.com/forums/smileys/

have fun!

To answer the snorkeling question

So far my favorite has been Grace Bay - we stayed at the Coral Gardens and snorkeled as much as possible.

Waterlemon Cay & Salt Pond Bay on St. John are my favorites.

Snorkeling is my favorite travel activity also. Enjoyed St. John,Grand Cayman, Cozumel.Best snorkeling right in front of hotel was in Coz at the Coral Princess. Most recent trip was Ambergris Caye, Belize. Great snorkeling, lot of "coral canyons" to swim around. However, you need to go out on a boat to get to the reef. That was fun, but I think I prefer to snorkel from the beach, where I can go in and out of the water as I please.

Sorry Onzgo that I did not answer your question...I was busy with kids,homework,dinner,and watering flowers(we have not had rain in a while in NC).

alya,
Thanks for answering for me.

Thanks everyone for trying to help me. A big thanks to alya for providing me with the site and christiegr, it wasn't a panic thing and your kids, homework, dinner and the rest of it that comes with have a home and family should come first. I totally understand. 8-)

Now back to snorkeling. \/

MuyLinda, I'm with you. I love the deeper waters. I've become a pretty decent free diver and I love diving down and really getting into the environment. I once swam with a large eagle ray in about 20 feet of water and it was one of the most amazing experiences to look this "alien" in the eye. Snorkeling is in some ways better than diving because you're not dependent upon a tank. Don't have to worry about embolisms and mixture not being right, etc.