USVI-On-Line

We LOVE STJ but, for our 2012 vacation, we think we want to go somewhere we havn't been before.

For those of you who have travelled to different places, which Caribbean island is the very best for shore snorkeling (variety/number of fish, healthy coral) - in your opinion?

Bonaire
Cozumel

Kauai- not Caribbean but good

these are not to be missed

http://tobagocays.org/

http://www.ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/barrier.html

Just came back from a snorkeling vacation to Grand Cayman and was absolutely blown away by the snorkeling on the east end. If you check the Cayman Islands forums on Trip Advisor you can see photos and descriptions of the snorkeling on the east end and north side.

I haven't been but my snorkel-obsessed mother thinks Cozumel compares to STJ. Her underwater pictures from their last trip are quite spectular. She mentioned that they did a number of boat trips (reefs a short distance from shore) and the guides were great.

Grand Cayman without a doubt.

Also just came back from Grand Cayman. Really nice snorkeling right off Seven Mile Beach. Easy to reach and so clear. I saw my first spotted eagle ray just off the public beach. It can't replace St. John for me, but it was really beautiful.

Would love to see your pics BuffaloGal...I got married on 7 Mile Beach in 93. Then we took the kids back a few years ago. Definitely more built up than St. John.

Cemetery Reef and Governor's Reef off Seven Mile Beach are great. And in Georgetown, Eden Rock.

Can I add to this question in asking if the other islands have the option of walking off of the beach and snorkeling, or do you have to charter a boat to snorkel?

Grand Cayman has many shore snorkeling opportunities. Turks and Caicos, for example, has a couple but there are many others offshore.

Thank you all so much for your replies/suggestions. We'll definitely look into them.

PL3 - Tobago and Amergris Caye look beautiful, but we're a little concerned about safety issues there??