Snorkeling on my own in either St. Marteen or St. Martin? Lockers available?

[mikeerdas]

Since my wife and I will have our own snorkel gear, we feel snorkel excursions probably aren't worth the money--overpriced transport, lunch, captive for however many hours the tour operator decides, etc. We'd rather just get to some good snorkeling locations and do it on our own.

 

So, my questions are:

 

-- Where are some snorkel locations we can easily get to on our own?

-- Can lockers be rented at these locations

 

Learned on another thread that in U.S. ports like St. Thomas and St. John, we could probably just use an otterbox or other wearable waterproof container. But I figure we'd need our passports (vs. a U.S.-issued drivers license) in St. Marteen / St. Martin--and I don't think a passport would fit, or that I'd want to risk getting my passport wet.

 

How does the snorkeling in St. Marteen / St. Martin compare with snorkeling on St. John / St. Thomas? Considering whether we should just do a non-sitting-on-the-beach (boring for us), non-snorkeling bus tour on St. Marteen / St. Martin if the snorkeling is significantly better in the USVIs.

 

Thanks