StanKase or anyone else: have you snorkeled the Red Sea and how does it compare to Belize etc.? That was my best snorkeling ever and best diving as well. My other favorites were Grand Cayman wall and the Great Barrier reef.

ncountry; The Red Sea is different than than the Barrier Reef near Lizard or Hayman Island which as you know are far more spectacular than Grand Cayman but you have a 18 hour trip to get there (door to door)vs. 8-9.
Sharm El Sheik is equal but quite different than Australia. Dehab and firther up Nuweiba are better with Nuweiba being the best.
But the best snorkeling and the little diving we do was in the Redang Islands on the Malatsian Peninsula. It was better and different than any of the others including the good spots off Thailand. But I have not been to the Simillan Islands 60 miles off Phuket (you can make it in a dayy trip)and I hear that is awesome. We will do it on our next trip to Asia in 2009/2010.

My very first dive was in Hurghada and I think it spoiled me. My "great barrier reef" experience was during a trip to Cairns and it was not spectacular. I think I just did not find the right spot. I would love to do the Southern Asia spots you mentioned; lately, I am hearing that they are the best in the world.