Snorkeling

[FlyKaesan]

I love Snorkeling and would like to hear from you where you had the best experience?
I like snorkeling by the shore not by going through with boat or tour.

[gt899]

7 AM-Lawai Beach. No crowds...just me, the fish and the turtles.
8 AM-On the lanai w/ a stack of pancakes, coconut syrup and a side of fresh fruit.
Paradise!

[IreneLF]

I too want to know more places where you can snorkle from the shore.

We enjoyed Kauai - Tunnels and Kee beach VERY much.

On Oahu , up north, Shark's Cove and Pupukea tide pools, where someone, not me, saw a monk seal among all the other sea creatures.

[Loriannf]

39 beaches to choose from, all walk off snorkeling. Some of the best snorkeling in the world (even better than Maui, IMO).

[Steamboat Bill]

Anywhere in the BVIs...this place has the best snorkling I have ever seen.

[Timeshare Von]

We love to snorkel right off the beaches, especially in Hawaii where there are nice places on most (all?) islands.

Worst experience was in Cancun where we did a "boat" tour and they simply took us out with the divers in a area that was too deep and the current too strong to really snorkel (or swim for that matter). It was a waste of $150! I was back in the boat after 15 minutes and barfing in 20.

[rklein001]

Grand Cayman

Our best experiences were several spots along 7-mile beach, especially in Georgetown itself

and farther up the coast at Cemetery Beach

[The above taken from Grand Cayman Snorkeling Guide.]

There are other spots on the East side (where Morritts is) but we found access more difficult and more waves too.

[Steamboat Bill]

Great map of Caymans...I too likes the Cemetery Beach as I could easily swim there from the beach, while the kids played on the sand. But the BVIs were even better than GC (hard to believe).

[Judy]

The Big Island of Hawaii. South of Kona, near the City of Refuge National Park is a place called Two Steps. It’s easy to reach. Just turn right before entering the Park and park your car on the street or in the $3 lot. Then walk across the lava to the sign about dolphins, down the steps and into the water. There is plenty of sea life here on the reef.
Also the Manta snorkel is awsome, but it's a boat dive.

Then there's Bonaire, where you can snorkel right off the dock by your resort. There are 48 shore snorkeling sites described in the book, "Bonaire Shore Diving Made Easy" by Susan Porter. 22 of them are listed as "good", 22 "excellent", and 4 "advanced". I mostly dive in Bonaire, but from what I've seen passing over the shallow areas, they are incredible You can also snorkel in the mangroves. The Bonaire National Marine Park has been identified as one of the "7 Wonders of the Caribbean".

[johnmfaeth]

Great snorkling:

USVI - St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix all have numerous great spots.
BVI - Almost everywhere it seems.
Anguilla - Northwest bays
Grand Cayman

Not so great to terrible"

Cancun
Jamaica
St. Maarten
Aruba
Bahamas (too shallow)

[Steamboat Bill]

Originally Posted by johnmfaeth

Bahamas (too shallow)

Too shallow???

I have actually had many great snorkeling trips to the Bahamas, Elutheria, Bimini, Disney Castaway Cay, etc. ....and also the Florida Keys, but BVI has been the best I personally have experienced.

[johnmfaeth]

Hi Bill,

For offshore snorkeling, much of the Bahamas is too shallow. By boat, that issue goes away and the barrier reefs are to notch.

The OP asked about from shore snorkeling.

But I am no Bahamas expert. I'm sure that things also vary greatly across the plethora of islands.

Like you, the BVI is #1 in my book. Close behind are the less travelled bays of the USVI.

John

PS. I have heard that Sand Key, off of Key West, has largely died off in recent years. Hopefully Pennecamp is doing better. The reefs everywhere are under attack.

[Timeshare Von]

Originally Posted by Judy

The Big Island of Hawaii. South of Kona, near the City of Refuge National Park is a place called Two Steps. It’s easy to reach. Just turn right before entering the Park and park your car on the street or in the $3 lot. Then walk across the lava to the sign about dolphins, down the steps and into the water. There is plenty of sea life here on the reef.

We did "two step" when we were in Hawaii back in September and Judy's right, it is easy to get to and very nice snorkeling. We parked about 50 yards "up the hill" along the road which was fine. The water was relatively calm and the fish beautiful. We didn't see any dolphin there during our day there, but did see a couple of large green turtles that were enjoying munching the green off the rocks right at the two step entrance into the water.

[hibbeln]

Another vote for "Two Steps" on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Maui - Honolua Bay and dozens of other areas off of "South" Maui (in the Wailea/Makena area. Oooooh la la!

We are avid shore snorkellers, and have found Maui and Hawaii to be the best. Kauai is a great island, and Tunnels Beach is great, as is seeing seals and turtles at Lawai Beach. One of these days I'm going to get to Anini Beach and snorkel there, too.

[Denise]

St. John, USVI First time I had ever snorkeled, hooked for life, even got a prescription mask. Taught the children at Shoal Bay, Anguilla. All beautiful and walk-in.

[elaine]

right off Marriott in Curacao. Big island of Hawaii, by Westin at Hapuna beach. There is free beach access--walk along outer rim of Westin property fronting the beach to the cove where there are steps cut into the rocks--snorkeling here is great.

[Laurie]

I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned Kahalu'u Beach Park in Kona - water is shallow, always lots of colorful fish and often sea turtles, it's great! You don't have to swim out to get to the reef, just walk in and start snorkeling immediately. We like to go every day when we stay in Kona.

Also Champagne Pond, Kapoho, eastern side of Big Island.

[Icc5]

We did this as a family and all loved it. For those of you that tried snorkeling years ago and got sick from salt water snorkling today is different. The equipment you can rent is great, cheap, and works fantastick. I only wish the same equipment was available years ago.
Bart

[LisaH]

Originally Posted by Icc5

We did this as a family and all loved it. For those of you that tried snorkeling years ago and got sick from salt water snorkling today is different. The equipment you can rent is great, cheap, and works fantastick. I only wish the same equipment was available years ago.
Bart

I was also a big fan of the Tunnels Beach. This year, we went there in July and was quite disappointed. Lot's of dead corals and fishes were not as plentiful. Wonder if this has anything to do with the major winter storms two years ago or the general global warming...

[FlyKaesan]

Originally Posted by johnmfaeth

Hi Bill,

For offshore snorkeling, much of the Bahamas is too shallow. By boat, that issue goes away and the barrier reefs are to notch.

The OP asked about from shore snorkeling.

But I am no Bahamas expert. I'm sure that things also vary greatly across the plethora of islands.

I have a secret hideaway Paradise in Grand Bahamas. If you want to know, email me or PM me. I think I liked it better in Bahamas than Oahu, Hawaii.

[rnsnake]

Guam had some great places to snorkel.

[jacknsara]

Originally Posted by FlyKaesan

I love Snorkeling and would like to hear from you where you had the best experience?
I like snorkeling by the shore not by going through with boat or tour.

Aloha,
Over the last few years, I have taken to snorkeling from shore out to some of the places where I see the snorkel tour boats drop anchor. What conditions, distance, current do you consider to be your limit?
Jack

[winger]

First timer - going to the logoons outside Marriott's Ko Olina! Heard that's a nice calm place yr round for even little ones

[FlyKaesan]

Originally Posted by jacknsara

Aloha,
Over the last few years, I have taken to snorkeling from shore out to some of the places where I see the snorkel tour boats drop anchor. What conditions, distance, current do you consider to be your limit?
Jack

Well, I have been to a place that I need to swim slow pace for 10 minutes from shore that was one of the best dive.
There was an island that was reachable so I tried it but some might drown if they can't make it that far. As for me, I can snorkel 8 hours and still be able to swim. Not a long distance swimmer but just love snorkeling.
Once I went to Cebu, Phillipines for snorkel trip and the guide was looking for me since I went off the course. He looked more tired although I was swimming for 2 hours and he swam for 30 minutes looking for me.
Has anyone been to Phillipines for snorkeling or diving? I wanted to snorkel everytime I got on the boat but not sure if there was anything below the water. Water was so clear, I could see rocks but not sure if there were fishes.

[FlyKaesan]

One question for snorkel lovers out there.....

Once I was snorkeling and suddenly there was big drop and could barely see the bottom. I didn't see any sharks or big fishes but it was one of my SCARIEST moment of my life. I was alone although others were swimming on the shallow water.
Did you ever feel that way or was it just me?