Coral Gardens or Cheeseburger Reef/Shipwreck?

[klflote]

I'm trying to decide between an excursion to Coral Gardens and Barrier Reef vs. Cheeseburger Reef and the shipwreck. I've been to Cheeseburger/Shipwreck a few years ago, and my dim recollection from years ago is that the Coral Gardens were really great, and that the Barrier Reef was okay. But now I've read mixed things about the Coral Gardens. So which of these sites have the best snorkeling?

 

I know that trips to Coral Gardens/Barrier Reef also feel compelled to stop at nearby Stingray City, but that is not a factor in my decision. Been there, done that, over it. I'm really only interested in where the better snorkeling is (even if it means putting up with Stingray City).

[rickb609]

My preference was the barrier reef, I thought coral gardens was fairly barren and devoid of life. The reef was like swimming inside an aquarium. We saw a moray eel, a nurse sharks and tons of other fish while snorkeling through the coral maze.