.... but we are still exploring options for a smaller resort with good snorkeling from the shore. How is snorkeling at Anthonys Key or Barefoot Cay?
The North side resorts have no possibility of shore snorkeling (over a reef) because of geographical formation. The fringing reefs lie far offshore. (This ties in to your question about weather, below...) Anthony's Key (AKR) has, at one time in the recent past, completely dropped any reference to a "shore dive", although they now mention it on their website. Without exception, divers who have posted here discounted the existence of a viable shore dive there. AKR has a fabulous "muck dive", but this kind of diving is more of a night dive thing on SCUBA.
Look at Google Earth and see the terrain surrounding Barefoot Key (as well as the entire island). Note that around BFK, there is a superb "muck" dive/snorkel, but it's a real hump to the live reef, which, in that area, breaks fairly deep, in 35fsw or so.
We are considering a February trip, so given the winds, which side of the island is calmer in that period? Thanks
The short answer: Likely the South side will be calmer. The storms on Roatan are called "Northers" because the smash down from the North. This has caused a dramatic difference in the reef architecture over the long term... over the short term, a more than occasional Norther can shut down everything except South side resorts completely.
Not as good for snorkelers as the CCV/FI immediate area, is Reef House Resort (RHR) running a very close third. As land develops, as resorts are built, other real live shore dives will be offered on Roatan, but for right now, I've listed the few actual places where you step out of your room and into the reef.