Enlarge Photo

Photo by: Bob Friel

 THE BATHS

VIRGIN GORDA

Three crescents of fine white sand – Spring Bay, The Baths and Devil's Bay – are joined by the Caribbean's most boulderific trail. Poor Man's Bar & Grill and national park restrooms and lockers are available at The Baths.     

SNORKEL TOUR

For the full tour, grab your gear and head left from The Baths beach onto the trail and then climb, crawl and wade your way through the jumble of granite boulders to the beach at Devil's Bay. "Start looking, even in the very shallow water," says Belinda Kloppers, master instructor at Dive BVI (divebvi.com) in Virgin Gorda's Yacht Harbour. "You'll find octopuses hiding among the rocks, and if your toes are painted red, cute little fish will swim up for a nibble." The boulders on both sides of Devil's Bay offer great snorkeling, with lots of tropicals like sergeant majors and blue tang, but keep an eye out over the sand and sea grass. "We often see green turtles and baby hawksbills," says Kloppers. "And nurse sharks sometimes rest on the bottom by the dinghy mooring." Avoid snorkeling here between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., when it can feel like a water park because of the crowds.  

WHERE TO STAY 

Nail Bay
Twenty-three villas on 148 acres of beach and hillside with three beaches, a swim-up bar and grill.
From $185 in low season ($240 high); nailbay.com; 800-871-3551

TRUNK BAY

ST. JOHN, USVI

Trunk Bay's beach stretches for more than a quarter-mile, with white powdered-coral sand backed by palms and sea grape trees. A spit divides the bay and points directly at Trunk Cay, a rugged little isle that's a short swim from the beach. The entire bay is part of the Virgin Islands National Park and offers full facilities, including showers, a snack bar and a shop where you can rent snorkel gear, beach chairs and umbrellas.   

SNORKEL TOUR

 "Trunk Bay is easy and inviting, even for first-time snorkelers," says guide Dave D'Alberto of OneHornButtfish (onehornbuttfish.com). "It's generally calm and clear, and there's a marked snorkel trail that follows a zigzag course in 3 to 18 feet of water." The park installed 15 underwater plaques along the trail that explain the ecosystem and identify marine life. Shallow rocky areas around the bay are home to octopuses and crustaceans, while the deeper water holds swarms of blue tang, yellowtail snapper, parrotfish and butterflyfish. For the more experienced "one-horn buttfish" (a local name for snorkelers, because all you see above water are snorkel tubes and rear ends), D'Alberto suggests circumnavigating Trunk Cay. "Start on the right side and swim counterclockwise," he says. "You'll see the young reef out there, with nice brain corals, and then ride the current back to the snorkel trail." In the middle of the bay, in 15 to 30 feet of water over sand and turtle grass, snorkelers often see green turtles, stingrays and eagle rays.  

WHERE TO STAY  

Westin St. John Resort & Villas
Family-friendly beach resort with 175 rooms, 146 villas, a spa and four restaurants, including Snorkel's Bar.
From $333 in low season ($420 high); westinresortstjohn.com; 866-716-8108. 

Caneel Bay
Exclusive classic with 166 rooms, a wellness center, seven beaches, four restaurants and a beach bar.
From $275 in low season ($510 high); caneelbay.com; 340-776-6111

WEST BAY BEACH

ROATAN, HONDURAS

More than a half-mile of fine white sand meets 40 miles of lush coral reef at the western tip of Roatan. This is the island's best beach, with a variety of hotels, dive shops and beach bars.

SNORKEL TOUR

The further south (left as you face the water) you go, the closer the reef – though it's not far offshore anyplace along the beach. The water is calm and clear, and Louis St. Louis of Bananarama Dive and Beach Resort says the snorkeling is good up and down the beach. "All of West Bay is part of Roatan's marine park," he says. "Expect to see eels, turtles, grouper and conch." The most popular site is Mandy's Eel Garden, where dozens of slender garden eels poke out of their dens in the sandy bottom while reef fish school around nearby coral heads. To find Mandy's, swim straight out from the bend in the beach about 80 yards south of the water-taxi dock. 

WHERE TO STAY

Bananarama Dive and Beach Resort
Family-run resort located in the middle of West Bay Beach; 23 rooms (plus condos at adjacent Island Pearl); beach bar and dive shop.
From $81; bananaramadive.com; 727-564-9058

Infinity Bay Spa & Beach Resort
Condo-resort development on West Bay Beach, with 145 rooms and suites (studio to three-bedrooms) and swim-up bar.
From $200 in low season ($250 high); infinitybay.com; 866 369-1977

Go back to the start of Shore Things...

Online Editor's Note: To learn more about snorkeling and diving hot spots around the Caribbean, check out our Top 10 Caribbean Snorkeling Parks.