Where to go for snorkeling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in the fantasy stage of planning a trip where we could go snorkeling. Ideally, we’d be able to rent snorkeling equipment and wouldn’t need to get on a boat to go snorkeling. I think my family is hoping for amazing fish and clear water, as opposed to snorkeling off the coast of New England. I’d love a direct flight from the DC area. Where should we go?

Bonaire. No direct flight but you can connections are easy. There's not much else to do on Bonaire except dive and snorkel. My kids love the blokarting which is a lot of fun. However, Bonaire is an easy flight to/from Aruba where there is lots to do. There are inter island flights and there is direct service from DC to Aruba. What I'm trying to say is that you can go to Aruba for a few days and Bonaire for a few days. Aruba is windy--the snorkeling is okay but it's not the crystal clear glass that you'll find in Bonaire. One other thing to note is that Bonaire doesn't have a lot of sit on the sand beaches. Most of the beaches are rocky which is great for supporting marine life but not so great if you want to lay on the beach or build sandcastles.

As others have said, Roatan is also good. No direct flights to Roatan at the moment but the connections aren't bad.

[Anonymous]

Half Moon Bay in Akumal (Mexico). Walk downstairs from your condo and walk into the water

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How far? The Blue Heron Bridge in West Palm Beach has excellent snorkeling. You can hire a guide from one of the dive shops that are right there. They can point out all of the critters you would probably miss on your own.

? did you read the OP?

" wouldn’t need to get on a boat to go snorkeling"

When I went to FL, we hired a boat to go snorkeling, and we also went snorkeling off the beach. Neither was impressive. HI was so much nicer.

You snarl too soon.

The Blue Heron Bridge is a beach. You walk in. Walk out. Maximum depth is 20 ft. It is a protected site and considered a top shore dive in the US.

Not everyone is middle class like you and can afford to go to hawaii, roatan, etc. some of us are poor.

LOL HI is for the middle class?

Just don't go to FL in the summer. I made that mistake and couldn't go into the water with all the gross sargassum seaweed.

[Anonymous]

Akumal is great because you can see sea turtles if you are lucky. Bonaire is nice but PP explains some of the downsides-- not much to do, the shore is rocky and it's not very convenient to get to.

[Anonymous]

Bermuda. Don’t know about DC, but there are direct flights form NY and BOS.

[Anonymous]

Roatan and Belize are probably best due to the reef. But there is nice snorkeling in many locations, including the keys, many Hawaiian beaches, Jamaica, Aruba and cozumel.
Is there a reason you’re avoiding boats? I do think it’s almost always better off a boat because with the super shallow water you have more rocks/coral to scrape you, there’s less silt stirred up, and there just aren’t as many fish that come close to shore. I get super seasick but take a Bonnie and I’m fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bermuda. Don’t know about DC, but there are direct flights form NY and BOS.

There is still one from Philly, and I agree. Many coves where you can snorkel from shore.

[Anonymous]

The Abacos in the Bahamas

[Anonymous]

St. John. Direct flight from DC to St. Thomas and a short ferry ride to St. John. Tons of places to rent snorkel equipment and snorkel on your own. My kids’ favorite was Trunk Bay because of the turtles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St. John. Direct flight from DC to St. Thomas and a short ferry ride to St. John. Tons of places to rent snorkel equipment and snorkel on your own. My kids’ favorite was Trunk Bay because of the turtles.

Meant to say Maho Bay for the turtles. Although they also liked the underwater trail at Trunk Bay.

[Anonymous]

St. John, USVI

[Anonymous]

Roatan
St. John
Curacao

These all have excellent snorkeling right from the beach.

Vieques in Puerto Rico also have decent off shore snorkeling, though its beaches are more remote.

[Anonymous]

Plus 1 for Bonaire. Uncrowded, not too expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a direct flight, but, Roatan, Honduras 100%.

Yeah and don’t forget your BPV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bermuda. Don’t know about DC, but there are direct flights form NY and BOS.

There is still one from Philly, and I agree. Many coves where you can snorkel from shore.

There’s usually a seasonal flight from BWI to BDA but think that’s stopped because of the current government. And I agree, good for kids & snorkeling.