The
Best Snorkeling
The Virgin Islands offer some particularly outstanding sites,
but there are many other great places for snorkeling in the
Caribbean.
Antigua:
This is a snorkeler's dream. Most of its lovely
beaches open onto clear, calm waters populated by rainbow-hued
tropical fish. The marine life offshore is particularly dense,
including gentle manta rays and colorful sea anemones. The rich
types of different elk and brain coral make snorkeling particularly
rewarding.
Bonaire
Marine Park (Bonaire): All the attributes that make
Bonaire a world-class diving destination apply to its snorkeling,
too. Snorkelers can wade from the shores off their hotels to the
reefs and view an array of coral and a range of colorful fish.
In particular, the reefs just off Klein Bonaire and Washington-Slagbaai
National Park receive rave reviews.
Stingray
City (Grand Cayman): Stingray City is an easy 4m
(13-ft.) diving site that can also be seen while snorkeling. It's
an extraordinary experience to meet the dozens of tame, gentle
stingrays that glide around you in the warm, crystal-clear waters.
Curaçao
Underwater Marine Park (Curaçao): In contrast
to Curaçao's arid terrain, the marine life that rings the
island is rich and spectacular. The best-known snorkeling sites,
in the Curaçao Underwater Marine Park, stretch for 20km
(12 miles) along Curaçao's southern coastline, and there
are many other highly desirable sites as well. Sunken ships, gardens
of hard and soft coral, and millions of fish are a snorkeler's
treat.
St.
Martin: The best snorkeling on the island lies on
the French side, where the government religiously protects the
calm waters, which are populated with schools of brilliantly colored
fish. Find a tiny cove and explore the shallow reefs along its
shores, especially in the northeastern underwater nature reserve.
The
Grenadines: Every island offers great snorkeling
possibilities right off magnificent white-sandy beaches. In most
places you'll have the waters to yourself. A reef stretching for
1.6km (1 mile) along the island of Canouan invites snorkelers,
and the waters are filled with beautiful brain coral and rainbow-hued
fish. The snorkeling is also good at Palm Island and Petit St.
Vincent.
Tobago:
The shallow, sun-dappled waters off the Latin American coastline
boast enormous colonies of marine life. Buccoo Reef on Tobago
is especially noteworthy, and many local entrepreneurs offer snorkeling
cruises.
Coki
Point Beach (St. Thomas): On the north shore of
St. Thomas, this beach offers year-round snorkeling, especially
around the coral ledges near Coral World's underwater tower, a
favorite with cruise-ship passengers.
Provo
(Turks and Caicos): Although this island is known
primarily as one of the world's best dive sites, it also offers
a number of snorkeling possibilities. The government has established
snorkel trails at Smith's Reef and Bight Reef, right off of Provo's
spectacular Grace Bay Beach. These reefs are right off the shoreline,
and they provide easy access into the fragile but stunningly beautiful
world of coral gardens, the most dramatic in the vast area immediately
south of The Bahamas.
Buck
Island (St. Croix): 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 National Park Service.
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 137m (449 ft.) and see the Cane Bay
Wall that drops off dramatically to deep waters below. Multicolored
fish and elkhorn and brain coral abound.
Trunk
Bay (St. John): Trunk Bay's self-guided 205m-long
(672-ft.) trail has large underwater signs that identify species
of coral and other items of interest. The beach offers showers,
changing rooms, equipment rentals, and a lifeguard.
Leinster
Bay (St. John): With easy access from land and sea,
Leinster Bay is filled with calm, clear, and uncrowded waters
with an abundance of sea life.
Haulover
Bay (St. John): A favorite with locals, this small
bay is rougher than Leinster and is often deserted. The snorkeling
is dramatic, with ledges, walls, nooks, and sandy areas set close
together. At this spot, only about 182m (597 ft.) of land separates
the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea.
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