However you define a great snorkeling experience, we can help you find it. Here are 35 of the best places to get in over your head.
You can jump in almost anywhere in the warm, clear <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Caribbean Sea and find beautiful sights and fascinating marine life. From the most prolific coral reefs offshore to the bizarre burrowing creatures of the back bays, snorkelers who travel here have a world of underwater opportunities. To give all you masked mariners a go-to list custom-made for fantastic finning, we've scoured the bottom to find resorts where you can practically roll out of bed and onto the reef, the best I-don't-need-no-boat beach dives, the most expert naturalist guides, the top extreme snorkel adventures and the wettest and wildest day trips.
Reef-Lovers' Resorts
Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia
The reef beckons from the water's edge at the south end of Anse Chastanet Beach, a swath of salt-and-pepper sand on St. Lucia's lush southwestern coast. The resort exudes a nature-loving atmosphere, which complements the always-rewarding snorkeling you'll find. Watch for peacock flounders, octopus, needlefish and turtles in the shallow areas. Farther out, the reef goes deep over dense coral. (800-223-1108; ansechastanet.com)
Cocoview Resort, Roatan
Accommodations don't get much more snorkel- and dive-friendly than those actually built over the water, like the bungalows and cabanas at Cocoview. Guests have 24-hour access to the resort's watery Front Yard, including the famed Cocoview Wall, where coral rises to within five feet of the surface. With plenty of octopus and other critters in the shallows, this is also a wonderful place for night snorkeling. (800-510-8164; cocoviewresort.com)
Coral Gardens, Provo
Crossing Grace Bay Beach right in front of this boutique resort puts you on Bight Reef and its scenic snorkeling trail through fringing coral. Submerged placards in three to 16 feet of crystalline water introduce the residents -- multiple species of tropical fish, crustaceans and invertebrates. Matthew Williams, adventure concierge at Coral Gardens, provides private instruction, tours and boat excursions. (649-941-3713; coralgardens.com)
Glover's Atoll Resort & Island Lodge, Belize
Campsites, rustic dorms and over-water thatch rental cabins dot this pristine nine-acre cay in Glover's Marine Reserve. The aquamarine lagoon's widespread patch reefs provide endless shallow wanderings and are surrounded by 50 miles of sheer drop-offs, which lure an abundance of marine life. On the east and north sides, canyons start from 25 feet deep and plunge to the thousands. Spires line the south side, while stacked layers of reef descend on the west. (011-501-520-5016; glovers.com.bz)
Guana Island, BVI
There's fine snorkeling all around this private-island resort, but the best is off White Bay Beach. Walk down the steep hill from your room, and you'll be surrounded by silversides within a few feet of the sand. Stay in school and you're sure to see big tarpon cruising in to feed (watch for the dive-bombing pelicans and boobies). Continue offshore to find low-profile spur-and-groove reefs leading to deeper water. (800-544-8262; guana.com)
Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas
A giant rock formation splits the swank resort's two white-sand beaches, and you can simply wade in to explore the reef expanding out from the wall. Elkhorn coral and yellow sea fans frame a strand glimmering with silvery baitfish and the predators they attract -- jacks, snappers and barracudas. Check in with onsite Patagon Dive Center for night snorkels and sailing/snorkeling cruises to neighboring reefs. (340-775-3333; ritzcarlton.com)
Sunset House, Grand Cayman
Away from the Seven Mile Beach traffic, in the quiet area one mile south of George Town, sits Sunset House, where the snorkeling begins about 20 yards from the pool and bar. The dive shop here has a site map that will take you to the wreck of the Nicholson and to Amphrite, a nine-foot-tall bronze mermaid. Or you can simply glide freely amid the resident turtles, eels and rays. (800-854-4767; sunsethouse.com)
Sunset Waters Beach Resort, Curaçao
Topping a limestone bluff on a remote stretch of coast, this serene resort abuts a shallow manmade lagoon. The rocky entry slopes down to 10 feet, where it opens to a sandy area with a variety of sponges and corals. Head west between the two protective breakwaters and you'll see the skeleton of an old Cessna and, with luck, the house octopus. (866-578-6738; sunsetwaters.com)
Shore Things
Andrea I & II, Bonaire
This island was built for shore diving. And though storms have beat back much of the shallow reef that once created an almost impenetrable coral forest right up to the edge of Bonaire's rugged coastline, excellent snorkeling can still be found. At Andrea (this piece of coast is split into two sites, I and II), you wade across the rocky beach and then swim out amid shallow corals to find plenty of fish, including large schools of blue tang that swarm across the bottom and stop all at once to pluck at algae fields.
The Baths, Virgin Gorda
If it seems like everyone on this entrancingly beautiful island has one destination, it's because they do. And yes, The Baths are that majestic -- white sandy beaches framed by otherworldly formations of granite, some reaching 40 feet in diameter. These gigantic boulders, sculpted by the elements, create pools and grottoes that hide a variety of exotic creatures, with coral formations and caves extending farther off the beach.
Dawn Beach, St. Martin
It can be a bumpy drive to this quiet beach, but that only adds to its out-there appeal. The best snorkeling is on the main reef, which runs parallel to the white sand. Paddle out from Scavengers Beach Bar (you'll pass over a dead patch) or follow the reef out from the right-hand side of the beach. Head to the seaward side of the reef only when it's calm, and be wary of a strong cross current.
Eden Rock/Devil's Grotto, Grand Cayman
Just south of George Town, a huge mass of limestone coated in a living shell of coralline algae, sponges, sea fans and patches of living coral towers 30 feet over the sand. Honeycombed with caves and sunlit caverns, Eden Rock and adjacent Devil's Grotto attract many fish -- damselfish, parrotfish, trumpetfish and, down in the shadows, big tarpon -- along with multitudes of snorkelers who use treats to attract hordes of yellowtails and sergeant majors.
Loblolly Bay, Anegada
For those who don't require any distractions beyond empty beaches, luminous blue water and great snorkeling, this most remote of the British Virgin Islands is next to nirvana. Park at the Big Bamboo bar/restaurant and walk through the sea grapes to the beach. The lagoon is dotted with coral heads you can easily spot from the surface, and the main reef is just a short swim beyond. Fin to the left and you'll find a series of fish-filled caves and caverns.
Malmok, Aruba
This narrow slice of sand is not the best for the sun worshipers, but for snorkelers, it's what's under the surface that counts. There's a wrecked fishing boat about a half-mile to the south in five feet of water, a hideout for bottom feeders. North of the entry, mounds of crusty rock and coral tempt a diverse crowd: starfish, puffers, crabs and fire worms.
Playa Jeremi, Curaçao
Slightly off the grid, peaceful Playa Jeremi lies just north of Lagun and two miles south of Knipbaii. The sheltered bay embraces a soft, sandy beach with walk-in entry to brain corals, orange cup corals and flowery anemones feeding in the current west of the shore. Farther out, damselfish dart and groupers glide in clear waters near algae-covered boulders in depths of up to 20 feet.
Snorkel Park, Bermuda
Nestled behind the Royal Naval Dockyard and its historic British fort, this protected lagoon's relaxed atmosphere makes it a good spot for families. Paddle out to the marked snorkel trails (with floating rest stops) and coast through the fringing coral reef. Lifeguards will be happy to tell you whether you've seen a wrasse or a tang. Look for rays around the sunken sloop Seahorse. (441-234-6989)
Trunk Bay, St. John
Renowned for its picture-postcard beach and 650 feet of meandering snorkel trail, Trunk Bay is a Caribbean classic. For an off-the-beaten-path adventure after you cruise the trail, explore both sides of the two rock formations about 200 yards offshore. Near their bases, you're sure to discover bashful critters -- eels, lobsters and the like -- that the rest of the crowd will miss.
Creature Teachers
Bimini Undersea
For the past 10 years, Nowdla Keefe and her trained naturalists have been visiting with a pod of spotted dolphins that lives north of
Bimini. No guarantees, but 80 percent of the time guests are able to interact with the dolphins, usually by getting in the water and snorkeling with them. The spotteds seem to revel in the attention, and unlike their theme-park-familiar cousins, bottlenose dolphins, they're not shy of snorkelers, especially those who are comfortable in the water and can do graceful surface dives. ($120; Bill & Nowdla Keefe's Bimini Undersea; 800-348-4644; biminiundersea.com)
Sea & Discover, Bonaire
When you glide over a sea-grass bed, it's like soaring over a miniature forest with all sorts of curious animals hiding amid the blades. Marine biologist Caren Eckrich leads a Seagrass/Mangrove Ecosystem program in Bonaire's Lac Bay, as well as other courses covering fish courtship and mating, predator/prey interactions and underwater night life. Each half-day program combines a classroom session with an hour-long snorkel. (011-599-717-5322; bonairenature.com/seandiscover)
Tiamo, Andros
This award-winning, seriously eco-friendly boutique resort in the Bahamas employs an entire team of "nature concierges," trained biologists who escort guests to spectacular snorkeling sites and lead them on educational explorations of both the coral reef environment (Andros' barrier reef lies only 15 minutes away) and the intriguing world of the island's blue holes, including a unique underwater fracture site and its fascinating ecosystem. (Guided snorkeling included in rates; 242-357-2489; tiamoresorts.com)
Under the Sea, Nevis
Marine biologist Barbara Whitman has fashioned a fish-friendly educational center within the walls of a former restaurant on Oualie Beach. A short classroom session starts with Whitman's explanation of a marine mural depicting various underwater environments, then moves to hands-on "touch tanks" (go ahead, pet a moonsnail). Finish with snorkeling lessons and tours in the company of Victoria, the resident hawksbill turtle. (869-469-1291; undertheseanevis.com)
Extreme Snorkeling
Dolphins, Little Bahama Bank
The Atlantic spotted dolphins living on the edge of the Little Bahama Bank have developed a unique (and wholly voluntary) friendship with the snorkelers who visit them -- playing chasing games, vocalizing, passing shells back and forth. Weeklong live-aboard adventures include balmy tropical nights anchored under the stars and sun-drenched days frolicking in the clear blue water. (888-277-8181; dolphindreamteam.com)
Caribbean Galapagos, Mona Island, Puerto Rico
Forty-two miles west of Puerto Rico, this 13,000-acre preserve has leatherback turtles lurching up the beach in nesting season (April to October) and Mona iguanas scaling the rocky cliffs. Overall, 100 endangered species and 270 kinds of fish have discovered the secret hideout; you can visit them from April through November on multi-day snorkeling/camping trips. (787-823-2340; oceans-unlimited.com)
Humpback Whales, Dominican Republic
Each winter, a seamount off the Dominican Republic hosts a vast gathering of Atlantic humpback whales. The cetaceans, some up to 50 feet long and weighing 50 tons, use the bank as their birthing, nursery and mating grounds. Getting there requires a long boat ride and living aboard for a week, but the reward is no less than the greatest animal encounter available anywhere: meeting the most demonstrative of the great whales in its own element. Humpback season runs from the end of January until April. (954-382-0042; aquaticadventures.com)
Sharks, Bahamas
Hammerheads, tigers and bulls, oh my! Jimmy Abernethy has been obsessed with sharks for a long time. After running his dive operation out of Palm Beach for years, he bought a live-aboard boat, ostensibly to reach pretty sites in the Bahamas. Instead, Abernethy loads his 65-foot Shearwater with barrels of chum and then anchors at places where he knows his guests will have an excellent chance for up-close encounters with what are traditionally thought to be some of the most dangerous sharks in the world. This is primarily a diver's trip, but plenty of action is visible from snorkel depths -- for those who dare. (888-901-3483; scuba-adventures.com)
Whale Sharks, Bay Islands, Honduras
Thanks to a seasonal abundance of plankton, the outer banks north of Utila are a magnet for whale sharks, which can grow to a gargantuan 50-plus feet in length. Your best chance to synchronize swim with Old Tom (the biggest Rhinocondon typus frequenting these waters) comes between February and April, when the annual rendezvous of these animals occurs. (504-425-3211; deepblueutila.com)
Whale Sharks, Isla Contoy, Mexico
The all-day snorkeling adventure from Delfin Diving focuses on sightings of the largest fish in the world, whale sharks, as well as close encounters with dolphins and giant manta rays. You'll be able to view the nationally protected bird sanctuary on this island (located 45 minutes by boat north of Isla Mujeres) during the ride back from swimming with the big boys. (011-52-998-877-0305; delfindiving.com)
King (Neptune) for a Day (Trip)
Buccoo Reef,
Tobago
A glass-bottom snorkel-boat tour is a rite of passage for visitors to
Tobago. The five-hour excursion starts with a fly-over of the coral flats for reef-peeping through the floor. Next stop is
Coral Gardens, where you snorkel amid large colonies of brain and star coral. Then it's off to Nylon Pool for a shallow-water swim with its finned inhabitants. (877-862-240-405-4329; adventuretobago.com)
Buck Island, St. Croix
Several tour operators run half- and full-day trips to Buck Island, one of only three underwater national monuments in the U.S. Bright-green hillsides overlook the tranquil lagoon, which is embraced by a fringing reef. On the east side, a marked underwater trail leads snorkelers through one of the best collections of grottoes in the Virgin Islands; it's home to some 250 species of fish and three kinds of sea turtles. (866-773-4482; bigbeards.com)
The Caves, BVI
Pirates and privateers, rum and blood, gold and silver: Norman Island is reputed to be the Treasure Island of Robert Louis Stevenson fame. Regardless of its bonny bona fides, Norman does indeed have treasure hidden inside mysterious caves, and it's there for anyone with a mask and snorkel. The mooring buoys bob in 30 to 40 feet of water (watch for turtles and larger fish below), but inside the four caves it's belly-scraping shallow. Duck inside and let your eyes adjust, then look down into a dark little chamber to find a treasure chest's worth of shimmering copper sweepers and watch as a king's ransom of silversides flows through the crevices.
Stingray City/Sandbar, Grand Cayman
The Caribbean's most popular animal encounter, enjoyed by hundreds of snorkelers every day, is a combination baby pool and petting zoo. At Sandbar, you snorkel or stand in just a few feet of water while up to 50 southern stingrays compete for your attention
er, rather, your scuba snacks. Stingray City is deeper, about 12 feet. At both spots, snorkelers have been known to come away with hickeys from being mouthed by over-friendly flatties.
Klein Bonaire
Uninhabited Little Bonaire has garnered a big reputation among snorkelers willing to skip a day of following big Bonaire's yellow-stone-marked road of dive sites. Day boats and water taxis take visitors across the half-mile channel and land them on sandy beaches like No Name to find lots of fish. Organized trips drop their charges onto south-side sites, where snorkelers can fin through shallow gardens of soft corals and deeper collections of coral heads. (Bonaire Tours runs trips with gear and snacks for $25; 011-599-717-8778; bonairetours.com)
Laughingbird Caye, Belize
An idyllic sandy speck 14 miles off Placencia, Laughingbird Caye is the smallest chunk of Belize's national park system. The island is part of a faro, an angular reef distinct from the barrier reef in northern Belize and slightly different from Belize's atolls. Inside the edge of the faro lies a deep lagoon with prominent coral boulders chockablock with marine life. Snorkelers can swim through an elkhorn forest that grows on the west side and explore the shallow (10 to 15 feet) stony gardens covered in flowing soft corals that cover the rest of the bottom. Keeping watch in the sand over deeper water is often rewarded with sightings of spotted eagle rays and large fish. ($70; 800-565-9757; robertsgrove.com)
Related Links:
Top 20 Beaches to Snorkel
At Sea With the Boys of Summer: A Family Vacation Afloat in the Bahamas
Of Beaches, Boats and Blarney in the Bahamas
