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 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" wrote in message
...
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

kbutterly 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


Pretty much anywhere on the West End of Roatan is very good snorkeling.
There is a small Inn/Restaurant/Dive Shop run by Americans there
called Cannibal Cafe -- http://www.seabreezeroatan.com/cafe.html You
can probably just taxi there (20 mins at most) and hang there all day.
Is a regular beach to swim/snorkle at etc...

Jeff

"Tom K" wrote:


"kbutterly" wrote in message
...
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.

kbutterly 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


Another handy Roatan link:

http://www.roatanisland.net/roatan.htm

Jeff

"Rosalie B." wrote in message
...

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
,
kbutterly 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,

This is one of the finest dive outfitters anywhere, I'm sure their
snorkeling trips would be very good as well.

http://www.anthonyskey.com/english/snorkeling/index.cfm

jay
Sun Feb 03, 2008






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

In article , Rosalie B.
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

In article , Tom K
wrote:

"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.

There can be an awful lot of people there. When I went with Captain
Marvin's half day excursion a few years ago he hung back until there
were less people. Also in addition to the stingrays the Captain Marvin
excursion included snorkeling at the Barrier Reef and and Coral Gardens
reef. Those are wonderful reefs full of coral and fish. Some of the
best I ever snorkeled at. If someone is on a ship with enough port time
I recommend an excursion like Captain Marvin's over the cruise lines
excursions.

--
Charles