Cheap snorkelling in the Caribbean?

[havoc]

OK, bit of an oxymoron perhaps, but we're looking for an alternative to Egypt for a week or so in Feb/March.

Criteria:-
- Good snorkelling, ideally off the beach but affordable boat-trips would be OK. Variety of fish and at least some nice coral.
- Decent food. We've not done Caribbean before, but are expecting to have to go all-inclusive, and want somewhere which is going to serve up good fayre. Preferably NOT just a buffet.
- By the beach if possible.

Budget for a week all-in of £1,250 a person, ideally. Less would be great.

Thanks all,

Martin.

[westtra]

Mexico caribean side. Great snorkling and lots of things to do.

[havoc]

Thanks Mark. Would rather avoid Mexico for the same reasons we want to avoid Egypt (hygiene), otherwise that'd be a very good shout.

Anyone else?

[westtra]

we never had an issue with hygene when we were there and either has anyone else I know off.

[CaptiV8ted]

My visit to Mexico had no hygiene issues whatsoever. I did sme snorkelling there, on the island of Cozumel (Cancun side). This is rumoured to be the best diving in the Caribbean. I think you'll be lucky to match Egypt for that though. It doesn't get much better than Egypt / Maldives.

[havoc]

Out of interest, what are the Florida Keys like for snorkelling, vs e.g. Antigua / St Lucia / Cozumel?

[westtra]

not sure about the keys but can also reccomend turks and caicos island. beautiful islands and beaches etc

[clive f]

just booked a fortnight in Antigua, been told its good for snorkelling, so will find out this spring.

[havoc]

westtra said:

not sure about the keys but can also reccomend turks and caicos island. beautiful islands and beaches etc

May be slightly out of the "cheap" part of our request...love to go there though!

[K77 CTR]

What about Watamu in Kenya? Had amazing snorkelling although I've never been to Egypt. Weather should still be great in February and the people are lovely.

[bint]

havoc said:

Out of interest, what are the Florida Keys like for snorkelling, vs e.g. Antigua / St Lucia / Cozumel?

Can't compare it to the Caribbean, but can say it was almost on par with the Maldives.

We took a trip to the Dry Tortugas/Fort Jefferson when we were in Key West and saw some amazing fish, sharks and tarpons.

Also the national park at the start of the Keys was pretty good for snorkelling also.

[havoc]

Now THAT looks pretty cool. Would like to hear more about that...we can get flights into Miami for not-too-silly prices, car-hire shouldn't be a biggie*, which means we can pick hotels to suit...



* Unless I go for a Mustang Convertible, of course!

[bint]

We did 2 weeks fly drive (in and out of Orlando) around Florida in a subtle white Volvo convertible

Spent 3 days in the Keys and had a fabulous time. Was last week of September/first week of Oct so it meant no school kids, cheap flights, free upgrades on accommodation and the weather was mid to high 30's. Of course we were lucky, it is also borderline hurricane season.

[Jon Ison]

Dominican republic ?

There right now, just getting ready to watch the "European" new year in on big cinema screen on a Caribbean shore been snorkelling earlier today and it was superb, suspect will be back in there in just under 6 hours time but without the snorkel.

Edited by Jon Ison on Saturday 31st December 22:13