best snorkeling

Good morning all,

My family is going on a Royal Caribbean cruise on 4/5 from Tampa. We
are stopping in George Town, Grand Cayman, Roatan, Honduras, Belize
City, Belize, and Cozumel, Mexico. Does anyone have an opinion on
which would be the best for snorkeling, to see beautiful fish? My
kids love snorkeling in the Gulf, even though all they see is sand an
a few small fish. They love tropical fish, so seeing them while
snorkeling would be great for them.

We went snorkeling last year on our RC cruise, but the reef was in
pretty bad shape from the hurricanes.

Thanks,
Kathryn

kbutterly <kbutte...m> wrote:
>
> My family is going on a Royal Caribbean cruise on 4/5 from Tampa.  We
> are stopping in George Town, Grand Cayman,  Roatan, Honduras, Belize
> City, Belize, and Cozumel, Mexico.  Does anyone have an opinion on
> which would be the best for snorkeling, to see beautiful fish?  

All four of these *countries* are known to have good scuba diving
sites. The question will be if the cruise docking location is near/
far from these sites (and how applicable that site is for
snorkeling).

Grand Cayman should be just fine, such as over at Eden Rocks. I
know that folks snorkel in Cozumel, although currents are more likely
here as you get further offshore. I don't know Roatan well enough,
but I'd say its another good possibility, as it is in the right
neighborhood. For Belize City in Belize, this is on the mainland and
*not* out on the atolls where the scuba diving is typically done, so
that's not a great starting point, but you never know, but going out
to Ambergris Caye is reportedly a 1.5 hour one-way ride, which to do
round-trip would really eat into a daytrip.


-hh

"kbutterly" <kbutterlym> wrote in message
news:b15cbc33-e61d-432f-862e-d9d6fd1e72cf@j78g2000hsd..com...
> Good morning all,
>
> My family is going on a Royal Caribbean cruise on 4/5 from Tampa. We
> are stopping in George Town, Grand Cayman, Roatan, Honduras, Belize
> City, Belize, and Cozumel, Mexico. Does anyone have an opinion on
> which would be the best for snorkeling, to see beautiful fish? My
> kids love snorkeling in the Gulf, even though all they see is sand an
> a few small fish. They love tropical fish, so seeing them while
> snorkeling would be great for them.
>
> We went snorkeling last year on our RC cruise, but the reef was in
> pretty bad shape from the hurricanes.
>
> Thanks,
> Kathryn

All of them are famous for snorkeling. That stretch has the second best
barrier reef in the world, after Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

In Cayman, the most popular thing to do is go snorkeling with the Stingrays.
Another great place, walkable from where the tenders drop you off, is Eden
Rock, a snorkeling area right adjacent to the road. There are a few dive
shops there where you can rent stuff. There is no sand there... you walk
down the coral steps into the water. Entering the water, you will see
thousands of fish. Last time there, these 3 large tarpon (about 4 feet
long) swam right up to me looking to see if I was going to feed them. When
I didn't, they just swam away.

Cozumel had wonderful reefs. Jacques Cousteau made Cozumel famous. They did
have a Cat 5 hurricane about 2 years ago, so I'm not sure the condition of
the reefs. We used to go snorkeling at Chankanaab Nat. Park there. It's
about a 10 minute taxi ride from the International Pier, a little further
from the downtown piers.

I've never snorkeled at either Roatan or Belize. Roatan also had a Cat 5 a
number of years back. That's when the sailing ship Fantome was lost.

Make sure to get your kids inflatable snorkeling vests. There are currents
there, and there is always the possibility of rip tides.

--Tom

"Tom K" <tkanitra@> wrote:

>
>"kbutterly" <kbutterlym> wrote in message
>news:b15cbc33-e61d-432f-862e-d9d6fd1e72cf@j78g2000hsd..com...
>> Good morning all,
>>
>> My family is going on a Royal Caribbean cruise on 4/5 from Tampa. We
>> are stopping in George Town, Grand Cayman, Roatan, Honduras, Belize
>> City, Belize, and Cozumel, Mexico. Does anyone have an opinion on
>> which would be the best for snorkeling, to see beautiful fish? My
>> kids love snorkeling in the Gulf, even though all they see is sand an
>> a few small fish. They love tropical fish, so seeing them while
>> snorkeling would be great for them.
>>
>> We went snorkeling last year on our RC cruise, but the reef was in
>> pretty bad shape from the hurricanes.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Kathryn
>
>All of them are famous for snorkeling. That stretch has the second best
>barrier reef in the world, after Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
>
>In Cayman, the most popular thing to do is go snorkeling with the Stingrays.

We did this in December, and I thought it was way over-rated. There
were so many people that the sand was all stirred up and you couldn't
really see anything under the water.

>Another great place, walkable from where the tenders drop you off, is Eden
>Rock, a snorkeling area right adjacent to the road. There are a few dive
>shops there where you can rent stuff. There is no sand there... you walk
>down the coral steps into the water. Entering the water, you will see
>thousands of fish. Last time there, these 3 large tarpon (about 4 feet
>long) swam right up to me looking to see if I was going to feed them. When
>I didn't, they just swam away.
>
>Cozumel had wonderful reefs. Jacques Cousteau made Cozumel famous. They did
>have a Cat 5 hurricane about 2 years ago, so I'm not sure the condition of
>the reefs. We used to go snorkeling at Chankanaab Nat. Park there. It's
>about a 10 minute taxi ride from the International Pier, a little further
>from the downtown piers.
>
The best tour we did (but it was from NCL and not from RCI) was the
Eco Tour where you go out in a 4x4 jeep caravan down to the south end
of the island. The snorkeling there is really good and I'm sure your
kids will love it. We also visited the lighthouse, and the alligator
sanctuary there.

>I've never snorkeled at either Roatan or Belize. Roatan also had a Cat 5 a
>number of years back. That's when the sailing ship Fantome was lost.
>
The Fantome was lost because of the hurricane and not because of any
hazard to cruise ship passengers

I've snorkeled in Belize and it is nice. I've not done it from a
cruise ship though. I'm pretty sure that you have to go to one of the
cays - I don't think there's anything right in Belize City.

>Make sure to get your kids inflatable snorkeling vests. There are currents
>there, and there is always the possibility of rip tides.

All the snorkeling type cruise ship excursions I've ever been on
supply and make you wear the snorkeling vests, although you don't have
to blow them up if you don't want to.

"Rosalie B." <gmbeasley@> wrote in message
news:gtpbq391kvkpe2dt6gfrsa9i406jprpg0t@...
>>
>>In Cayman, the most popular thing to do is go snorkeling with the
>>Stingrays.
>
> We did this in December, and I thought it was way over-rated.

You're loss.. I've done it several times and think it's one of the
outstanding experiences I've ever had. But then I love nature and wild
animals. To me, to be able to spend time with these creatures in their
habitat is an awe inspiring experience.

> There
> were so many people that the sand was all stirred up and you couldn't
> really see anything under the water.

"Popular" and "many people" do go hand in hand. There's nothing under the
water to see there anyway... it's just a sand bar. It's the stingrays you
go there to see. You don't have to snorkel to see them. They lift them to
the surface, and you can touch them and feed them.

>>Another great place, walkable from where the tenders drop you off, is Eden
>>Rock, a snorkeling area right adjacent to the road. There are a few dive
>>shops there where you can rent stuff. There is no sand there... you walk
>>down the coral steps into the water. Entering the water, you will see
>>thousands of fish. Last time there, these 3 large tarpon (about 4 feet
>>long) swam right up to me looking to see if I was going to feed them.
>>When
>>I didn't, they just swam away.
>>
>>Cozumel had wonderful reefs. Jacques Cousteau made Cozumel famous. They
>>did
>>have a Cat 5 hurricane about 2 years ago, so I'm not sure the condition of
>>the reefs. We used to go snorkeling at Chankanaab Nat. Park there. It's
>>about a 10 minute taxi ride from the International Pier, a little further
>>from the downtown piers.
>>
> The best tour we did (but it was from NCL and not from RCI) was the
> Eco Tour where you go out in a 4x4 jeep caravan down to the south end
> of the island. The snorkeling there is really good and I'm sure your
> kids will love it. We also visited the lighthouse, and the alligator
> sanctuary there.
>
>>I've never snorkeled at either Roatan or Belize. Roatan also had a Cat 5
>>a
>>number of years back. That's when the sailing ship Fantome was lost.
>>
> The Fantome was lost because of the hurricane and not because of any
> hazard to cruise ship passengers

Huh? I never said anything about a hazard to cruise ship passengers.

>
> I've snorkeled in Belize and it is nice. I've not done it from a
> cruise ship though. I'm pretty sure that you have to go to one of the
> cays - I don't think there's anything right in Belize City.
>
>>Make sure to get your kids inflatable snorkeling vests. There are
>>currents
>>there, and there is always the possibility of rip tides.
>
> All the snorkeling type cruise ship excursions I've ever been on
> supply and make you wear the snorkeling vests, although you don't have
> to blow them up if you don't want to.
>

Sure, if they take an excursion... but what if you snorkel on your own? Not
everyone takes ship excursion. I generally consider those a waste. I much
prefer going on my own. Hence my suggestion to wear snorkel vests.

--Tom

In article <gtpbq391kvkpe2dt6gfrsa9i406jprpg0t@>, Rosalie B.
<gmbeasley@> wrote:

> We did this in December, and I thought it was way over-rated. There
> were so many people that the sand was all stirred up and you couldn't
> really see anything under the water.

It is a sandbar. Nothing to see underwater on the sandbar. The idea is
to interact with the Stingrays.

--
Charles

kbutterly;876650 Wrote:
> Good morning all,
>
> My family is going on a Royal Caribbean cruise on 4/5 from Tampa. We
> are stopping in George Town, Grand Cayman, Roatan, Honduras, Belize
> City, Belize, and Cozumel, Mexico. Does anyone have an opinion on
> which would be the best for snorkeling, to see beautiful fish? My
> kids love snorkeling in the Gulf, even though all they see is sand an
> a few small fish. They love tropical fish, so seeing them while
> snorkeling would be great for them.
>
> We went snorkeling last year on our RC cruise, but the reef was in
> pretty bad shape from the hurricanes.
>
> Thanks,
> Kathryn

I have been to Georgetown Grand Cayman on several occacions and the
snorkeling is great and there is a cheap way to do it. Just get off
the boat at the dock and walk a short distance to the right. You will
see a dive flag by a small building which has a place to enter the
water. You can rent gear or bring your own. They will rent you a
locker to keep your valuables in if you want. Bring some bread or other
food with you and the multi-colored fish will mob you. I never miss a
chance to snorkel there when I'm in the area. Have a great time!
Rick




--
rwalpole

"jcz" <Harpie@isthisheaven?.com> wrote in message
news:PeCdnYNo0eB-JzranZ2dnUVZ_saknZ2d@...
Tom, is Chankanaab still a viable snorkeling option or have the hurricanes
wrecked the reef? The last time I was there much of it was roped off.


Don't know for sure... haven't been to Chank since the hurricane. Though I
heard it was open again.