Destination with good snorkeling from shore?

[TSandM]

I had a friend ask me this today. She snorkels but doesn't dive. She would like to make a trip to a place where she could stay on or near the water, and where she could walk into the water and go snorkeling. She doesn't want to do boat trips or tremendously long surface swims, and is on somewhat of a budget.

I was thinking of Bonaire, but I don't know how the snorkeling is or how far the reefs are from shore. Certainly Maui would have excellent opportunities for snorkeling, but not so much without a car.

So I told her I'd turn to my favorite information source on water-related travel, ScubaBoard. Can anybody help me out?

 

[chile7236]

Okinawa ....tremendous....everything...maybe a little over her budget, tho

 

[diversteve]

How much of a budget? Bonaire waterfront - places with decent snorkeling - Buddy Dive, Habitat, Den Laman, Sand Dollar condos - maybe Eden Beach - are going to be in the $1500/wk. range Staying off the beach inland might be too far to walk. Of them only Eden Beach technically has a beach: Edenbeach

There's a little strip of sand at Den Laman:



The higher ironshore seen in the left corner is the start of the Sand Dollar property it extends thru to Buddy Dive and Habitat.

Buddy's covers their ironshore with sand - you use ladders to get to the water.



Some of the more affordable places are in town also but there's no beach or snorkeling there. And now cruise ships. Most of the condos/resorts south of town in Belnem aren't on a beach either - it's ironshore. Usually steps/dock to the water but I don't recommend that area without a car as there's no restaurants within walking distance due to the lagoon south by the airport. It was a 5min. drive from there to south Kralendijk - the closest food was actually at the Plaza Resort.

Plaza Resort might be another option - Snorkeling in Bonaire | Plaza Resort Bonaire They do have a beach with a breakwater to keep it in place. There's a lot of it, some places it's over ironshore - others its sand to the waters edge. Rooms are pricier though.

The Divi has a small beach (manmade?) - and snorkeling just off the resort. One of few places close enough to town to walk also - I read their inshore reef was trashed in a hurricane a few years ago. Watch the animation on their site, one of the shots will show the beach. Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino Bonaire - Divi Resorts

Some of the best dive sites north and south of town are also good snorkel sites. At many the reef is 15' offshore. The defacto dive vehicle in any Bonaire dive pkg. is a 4 door small truck so maybe she could find some divers willing to let her ride along. Actually they might appreciate that as unattended vehicles get ransacked regularly while the divers are in the water. There are absolutely no facilities at any of the sites so she'll want to bring water, shade etc.

Roatan might be an option. Cocoview or Fantasy Island Resort(s) have great snorkeling just offshore. Roatan Snorkeling | CoCo View Resort Afaik CCV has a small beach area. Fantasy Island has 3 beaches. Fantasy Island Resort Both are full AI's and kind of isolated - just across the channel from each other.

In the West End - Half Moon Resort advertises some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean is just off their property. We did often see people out there when we rode by on our boat. They're a 5min. walk from the West End also - cheap food and everything else can be found there. She could actually snorkel from Half Moon Bay Beach out to that area also - probably 75 yds. or so. Half Moon Resort, West End, Roatan, Honduras. Beach Hotel

A little more upscale might be Luna Beach Resort- in addition to being a full AI and having a snorkel zone off their beach, they also offer a snorkel package with 3 daily trips to shallow spots nearby. Paradise Snorkel Package Rates | Luna Beach Resort Just under $1000, dinner is extra.

It's a long walk to the West End from there but they have a water taxi for other food/entertainment. Other inexpensive food and lodging options nearby: Bay Islands Diver Home

 

[Testudo]

I've only snorkeled (don't dive) the Caribbean (extensively) and Hawaii (a handful of times), but I'd 2nd the suggestion for Roatan. The swim/kayak out snorkeling along the reef between West End and West Bay is simply phenomenal (opposite side of the island from CocoView and Fantasy Island). Food and lodgings are cheap by my standards.

Between West Bay and West End, West End is the more diver focused of town with many smaller and cheaper lodging options. The town is chalk-full of bars, restaurants and little shops. It has the hustle and bustle of a working town. The reef off Half-Moon Bay, which is at the far eastern end of West End, is a bit beat up by the cruise excursions. So I'd focus on lodgings on the western side of the town. In addition to Luna Beach she might also consider Sueno del Mar. The properties are a few hundred yards apart and have some of the best sections of reef. The biggest downside on West End is that the beach is nothing special by Caribbean standards and tends to be narrow with muddy of sea grass water entry.

West Bay is less of a town and more of a resort area. The properties are located here because the beach is considered the best in Roatan. Unlike most beach areas, the snorkeling is still great here since the same reef continues all the way to the tip of the island. Lodging prices run the gamut here, with rustic bungalows, dive resorts and AI options at some properties. Some places to consider are Banarama, Fosters, Las Rocas. While there are plenty of restaurants here, there is daily water taxi service to West End and nightly land taxi service for more options.

Here is a post with snorkeling pictures and links to more from my Roatan visit: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/snorkeling-freediving/302671-snorkeling-photos-18.html#post6230519

 

[debbbb1]

We stayed in a inexpensive place off the West End (Ironshore area...you wont have issue sand flea bites)Saw sea turtles and a a mix of marine life from our rental. We would also walk to town and take water taxis to West Bay.Also had a rental car a few days and went snorkeling at other areas around the island. Lots of shore snorkeling and if you can get direction from the locals (or divers) to some the hidden areas,you will find amazing corals,walls and marine life. One word of caution,make sure you dont snorkel in a water taxi zone !!!

 

[altarose]

We are avid snorkelers, we always prefer snorkeling from shore, I would rate #1 Bonaire, #2 Roatan, #3 Culebra/Vieques
On Bonaire we rented a nice private house a few blocks inland, resonable price with a cheap car rental by owner, ends up much cheaper than waterfront and gives freedom to visit the many snorkel sites

 

[TSandM]

Thank you all so much! I didn't even think of Roatan, because I don't know much about the place. I'm going to forward her the URL for this thread, and I'm sure she'll appreciate the information.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I stayed at Divi in Bonaire and the top of the reef is maybe 40 yds out from the dock. I also found an ocotpus living in a brain coral less than 30 feet from the one set of steps in about 15 feet of water. East to dive down and see. The only thing I would see as a problem there is that the top of the reef starts at 30-40 feet. Not that big a deal for someone used to free diving to those depths but may be kind of far for one who does not. The other place where there was really good snorkeling on a fairly complex reef structure close to the surface was Jamaica. We stayed in Montego Bay at the Sunset Beach Resort and Spa
Sunset Beach Resort and Spa, Montego Bay Jamaica

And I was impressed with the whole place. Well almost, the chinese restaurant there sucked big time. But maybe 20 yds off the beach is a large complex reef that starts at less than 4 feet from the surface in some places and goes down to about 30 with lots of channels, different species of fish, urchins, and anemones. Only time I care about stuff like that is when snorkeling. Resort is well appointed, reasonable, and very secure - necessary in Jamaica from what we saw.

Nice beach, large pool, and not crazy with a family friendly atmosphere. No scuba diving though.

And this reef being that it starts so shallow is not affected by cruise ships and such. It was not as big as the ones in Bonaire but I could easily spend 3 or 4 days all day exploring it with snorkeling gear and not see it all. At least the way I like to look in every nook and cranny when snorkeling and free diving.

 

[debbbb1]

I had never heard of Culebra.I just looked it up,that looks wonderful. I am a very avid snorkeler and have been trying to find a smaller place with shore snorkeling and No boats,sea doo's etc. Was there a lot of marine life and corals? Did you take the ferry or plane to get there? Thanks for that info !!

 

[diversteve]

I am a very avid snorkeler and have been trying to find a smaller place with shore snorkeling

You should look at the Virgin Islands. There's five places on Frommers list of the best in Caribbean Snorkeling plus other excellent options.

Start on St. Thomas. Coki Beach on the East End - pretty quiet, just a few restaurants and resorts - where the cruise ship snorkelers go. They do Snuba and snorkeling, the way the beach runs there will be boat traffic but it's farther out in the channel.

Coki Point Beach (St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.): On the north shore of St. Thomas, this beach offers excellent snorkeling, especially around the coral ledges near Coral World's underwater tower, a favorite with cruise-ship passengers.

Then move across the bay to St. Johns. There's a car ferry in the East End - takes 10mins. to cross.

Trunk Bay (St. John, U.S.V.I.): Trunk Bay's self-guided 205m-long (673-ft.) trail has large underwater signs that identify species of coral and other items of interest. The beach has showers, changing rooms, equipment rentals, and a lifeguard.

Haulover Bay is another option:

Haulover Bay (St. John): A favorite with locals, this small bay is rougher than Leinster and often deserted. The snorkeling is dramatic, with ledges, walls, nooks, and sandy areas set close together. At this spot, only about 180m (591 ft.) of land separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea.

Another option is St. Croix. It's a couple hours south - either fly there direct from the states (AA) or ferry over from St. Thomas. There's probably a regional airline betweeen them and Puerto Rico also. http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/interisland_ferry/

Cane Bay (St. Croix): One of the best diving and snorkeling sites on St. Croix is off this breezy north-shore beach. On a clear day, you can swim out 140m (459 ft.) and see the Cane Bay Wall that drops off dramatically to deep waters below. Multicolored fish, elkhorn, and brain coral abound.

Then Buck Island 2 miles away:

Buck Island (St. Croix, U.S.V.I.): More than 250 species of fish, as well as a variety of sponges, corals, and crustaceans, have been found at this 340-hectare (840-acre) island and reef system, 3km (2 miles) off St. Croix's north shore. The reef is strictly protected by the U.S. National Park Service.

Or take the Fast Ferry over to Virgin Gorda. On Virgin Gorda is the world famous Baths - one of the most interesting snorkel locations in the Caribbean.

Phenomenal snorkeling among coral ledges and giant boulders

The Baths, Diving and Caving on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands It's really too shallow to dive - 15' but a great snorkel.

VG is pricey and mainly villas but there are a few resorts. Mango Bay is an affordable option esp. their Garden View Studios/1BR's. Mango Bay Resort ? Beachfront, Ocean View or Garden View Villas It's on Mahoe Bay - another really good snorkeling location. Boats can't get in there without being shredded on the reef afaik.

We dove with DiveBVI all week. They also have a boat dedicated to snorkeling.
They run a snorkel/lunch trip to Anegada, the only coral Atoll in the BVI's. - Anegada Day Trip | Dive BVI
And another all day snorkel trip all the way to Jost Van Dyke - Island Hopper Cruise | Dive BVI