CatsinShow Posted July 3, 2017 #1 Share Posted July 3, 2017 I know this is subjective!! I'm a serial snorkeler and to me, the best snorkeling has always been in Hawaii hands down! I know though that cruising has something for everyone so if going with others who aren't into it, it may be the next best thing. I've gone to Roatan, Belize, Nassau, and Grand Caymen. Did not live up to the experiences that I have regularly had in Hawaii. Are these good, so so, or skip? Half Moon Cay St. Thomas San Juan Amber Cove St. Thomas Grand Turks Bay Islands Harvest Caye Costa May Cozumel Tortola St. Thomas Great Stirrup Cay Key West Philipsburg Basse Terre Labadee Montego Bay Falmouth Cap Cana Barbados St. Lucia Saint Kitts St. Maarten Princess Cays Mahogany Bay Santo Tomas de Castilla Castries Bridgetown Willemstad Kralendijk Bonaire Oranjestad Roseau St. CroiX Progreso La Romana Curacao Aruba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceCowboy9 Posted July 3, 2017 #2 Share Posted July 3, 2017 I've snorkeled a number of places: Nassau, The Bahamas (three stops including the sharks) Grand Turk-twice (both from shore-pier near Jack's shack - one cut short due to the coast guard) St. John (from shore-Trunk Bay) Cozumel (Carnival excursion - it was just south of the cruise port) Grand Cayman (three stops including stingray city) Aruba (from shore-Arashi Beach - but didn't count - was after a tropical storm - the water was murky) Have not snorkeled Hawaii, so I cannot compare - but of those, Cozumel was the best - lots of different types of fish though the best experience was St. John - Trunk Bay is a little slice of heaven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armedaneian Posted July 6, 2017 #3 Share Posted July 6, 2017 Have not snorkeled Hawaii, so I cannot compare - but of those, Cozumel was the best - lots of different types of fish though the best experience was St. John - Trunk Bay is a little slice of heaven. It's funny how one person's heaven can be another person's hell! To me, Trunk Bay = crowds, dead coral, and no large fish. Bonaire should be at the top of your list, but what do I know... I think Roatan, Belize, and Grand Cayman should be up there too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrqoisWtrs Posted July 7, 2017 #4 Share Posted July 7, 2017 Trunk Bay = crowds, dead coral, and no large fish. I totally agree! And that was when I was there 20 years ago. Their 'snorkel trail' was a joke. We were in Curacao and Bonaire Feb 2016 and experienced really good snorkeling, and only because I think the cruise ships were just starting to stop there regularly. Give it a few years and unfortunately it will be ruined like the rest of them. In general, IMO, I've found the snorkeling to be pretty lacking in any of the well-traveled ports. I don't even bring my gear anymore. (No offense to the newbies who think those swarms of black and yellow sergent majors is 'great snorkeling'. ;p) I agree - its hard to match anything to Hawaii - until we went to Fiji! omg. Best snorkeling and most gorgeous types of coral I've ever seen. <3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted July 8, 2017 #5 Share Posted July 8, 2017 I know this is subjective!! I'm a serial snorkeler and to me, the best snorkeling has always been in Hawaii hands down! I know though that cruising has something for everyone so if going with others who aren't into it, it may be the next best thing. I've gone to Roatan, Belize, Nassau, and Grand Caymen. Did not live up to the experiences that I have regularly had in Hawaii. From your list ... these were our snorkeling favorites: Tortola Bonaire St. CroiX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsinShow Posted July 8, 2017 Author #6 Share Posted July 8, 2017 Thanks guys =) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeniePrincess Posted July 29, 2017 #7 Share Posted July 29, 2017 I've snorkeled the Great Barrier reef and have not found anything that compares to that. I've never snorkeled in Hawaii. St. Thomas has good snorkeling from the beach as does Bermuda. Labadee does not have snorkeling/reefs as everything has been over fished. Grand Cayman snorkeling from shore was average. Castaway Cay in the Bahamas had average snorkeling as well, although you had to stay in a designated area. In the Caribbean, so far, St. Thomas has been my favorite with Bermuda a close second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zubsin Posted August 16, 2017 #8 Share Posted August 16, 2017 Serial Snorkeler here as well. I have hit most of the places on your list and snorkel in Hawaii a couple times a year. My top would be St John Virgin Gorda Roatan Maybe Costa Maya Most of the rest of the list - sure I'd get in the water but don't expect to see too much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac66 Posted August 17, 2017 #9 Share Posted August 17, 2017 Bonaire along the island reef across from the cruise port has good snorkeling. You can get in and drift with the current along way. There is alo good snorkeling right off shore down from the cruise ships. The Blue Cave is an excellent place to snorkel in Curacao and there are a few beaches that offer good off shore spots as well. Snorkeled Grand Caymen a few times, once out on the barrier reef, once at Stingray City and a couple times at Eden Rock. The barrier reef was very good, lots of stingrays to swing with. Stingray City is basically a sand bar that is waist deep where you can handle/pet the rays. Not really snorkeling, though you can. Eden Rock was good once, not so much another time. It suffered some ship damage a year or so ago. It was okay last February when I went. Labadee-used to be better 20-30 years ago. Pretty average now Cozumel-If you do a three reef snorkel you can see some stuff. Drift snorkeling is good in the right place. I did snorkel on Kona in Hawaii at a public park just off shore. There were lots of turtles to swim with. I've probably snorkeled most of the other places on the list but can't remember anything spectacular. Bonaire and Curucao were our favorite places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winkman Posted August 20, 2017 #10 Share Posted August 20, 2017 I have been to the following, and would rank them accordingly: Aruba Curacao Roatan Bonaire St. Lucia St. Thomas Grand Turk Cozumel San Juan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtiffany24 Posted August 21, 2017 #11 Share Posted August 21, 2017 Best snorkeling ever for me was Palau. The cruise ships don't go there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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