best snorkeling

[honkanen]

We are cruising to Cozumel, Bahamas, Belieze and Roatan. Out of these 4 which do you think would be the best for snorkeling?? We are looking for colorful living coral, colorful fish, and hopefully beach access. We have snorkelled in other places and saw a lot of dead coral. It was sad.

[FlashbackAlternatives]

We are cruising to Cozumel, Bahamas, Belieze and Roatan. Out of these 4 which do you think would be the best for snorkeling?? We are looking for colorful living coral, colorful fish, and hopefully beach access. We have snorkelled in other places and saw a lot of dead coral. It was sad.

 

Belize probably has the best out of Cozumel and Bahamas (Never been to Roatan), however you will need to take an excursion. No beach access.

 

Cozumel had some decent snorkeling off some beaches. Back in 2000 I went to one hotel that was within walking distance of the ship (Carnival Imagination). A lot of the ship staff recommended it - was less than $10 for a day pass at the time. Had a pool, beach (no access to the water from the beach for swimming however - very rocky and actually had a wall up that prevented you from accessing). There was a staircase that led you out into the water - and the snorkeling was very good. Saw lots of fish around the area by the staircase, and about 150-200 ft out was a sunken airplane that was used in some movie (or so I was told). Lots of fish there, and some barracuda.

 

When were there in 2006, we went to another beach, but there was no snorkeling what-so-ever (lots of inflatable stuff for the kids and adults however). When we were leaving, I saw the hotel I mentioned above - it looked pretty beat up from the hurricane that leveled the Carnival pier a few years ago - so I am not sure if it is even open any more.

[deliza]

Roatan by far. I've snorkeled in all 4 locations, and the reef right off the beach Tabayana (SP) was the best of them. The reef near shark ray alley in Belize was pretty nice. The Bahamas can be great if your in the right spot. All the reefs I've ever been taken to for snorkeling in Cozumel have been dying or dead, with the exception of a sight off the southern coast (Punta Sur, I believe) which was nice.