Snorkeling ideas ??

[Vkkesu]

We used to dive but due to my husbands ear surgeries he can no longer handle the pressure of diving or the risk. We do still love to snorkel and try to find areas that are right of the beach (don't want to spend money on taking boats out to spots every day). All we do is hang at beach and snorkel.

Hard to find those little hidden gems that don't two days to get to since we are coming from USA and non-stop flights are a thing of the past. We loved Aruba (a lot of places off beach) and cool hikes and plan on going back.

Any others off beach area you suggest?

 

[liverock]

www.itzalodge.com

 

[Ron Reefman]

liverock, have you been to this resort? I'd love to hear your opinions on the place, especially if you went there to snorkel rather than dive. I did some snorkeling at Laughingbird Caye National Park of the coast of Belize a few years ago and had a great time. I'd love to go back and do some more. Probably happen as soon as my wife retires in a couple of years!

Vkkesu check out this thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2511350

Where in the world do you live?

 

[Zeuslr]

Bonaire has great snorkeling.

 

[flananuts]

The barrier reef of Belize is insane. Loads of great snorkeling. My wife can't equalize ear pressure so we don't dive.

 

[C.Eymann]

I second lighthouse reef, I remember hearing about that resort from other divers when staying on ambergris caye, I have dove light house reef and the blue hole a few times and the in-between surface time was always spent eating lunch and snorkeling, it was pretty sweet, lots of big Acropora palmata stands and dense thickets of cervicornis. which are key signs of really healthy Caribbean reefs.
there was a place in turks and caicos called coral gardens where the reef started about 30ft off shore that was great as well, but I heard a Beaches resort was built a ways down the beach from it and it's kinda declined subsequently, still worth checking out though.

 

[G_Sanab922]

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. They had some great off the beach snorkeling reefs that are protected. So much life there when I went!

 

[liverock]

The neat thing about Itza....is it is a private island almost fifty miles offshore of Belize city. When you go there....is a real private island feeling...no development...nobody on the beach trying to sell you something...you can snorkel right off the beach in front of the lodge and get lobster and conch and fish for dinner. The blue hole is just a few miles off the end of the dock. Dive the blue hole and be back on Long Caye for lunch...long before the cattle boats even get out there, as it is a two to three hour run for them from Belize city......and about a fifteen minute trip for you...... No where else like it on the planet.

I second lighthouse reef, I remember hearing about that resort from other divers when staying on ambergris caye, I have dove light house reef and the blue hole a few times and the in-between surface time was always spent eating lunch and snorkeling, it was pretty sweet, lots of big Acropora palmata stands and dense thickets of cervicornis. which are key signs of really healthy Caribbean reefs.
there was a place in turks and caicos called coral gardens where the reef started about 30ft off shore that was great as well, but I heard a Beaches resort was built a ways down the beach from it and it's kinda declined subsequently, still worth checking out though.

 

[indyjaco]

We are looking at St John. Supposed to have good snorkeling

 

[liverock]

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. They had some great off the beach snorkeling reefs that are protected. So much life there when I went!

Yup...that roped off area just off the beach down from sandals....think of that times 50 square miles....and you get Lighthouse reef!

 

[C.Eymann]

Yup...that roped off area just off the beach down from sandals....think of that times 50 square miles....and you get Lighthouse reef!

I snorkeled that reef back in the 90's before there was any development but the white house that is now next to the coral gardens resort that is right in front of the reef, it was amazing ! I have revisted it throughout my life and have witnessed it's decline. the last time I went was in 2006, and that was right after the Sandals resort was built, it was a sad sight.

 

[indyjaco]

liverock,

Any other info for snorkelers on Itza?

 

[G_Sanab922]

Yup...that roped off area just off the beach down from sandals....think of that times 50 square miles....and you get Lighthouse reef!

I looked at it and it looks great. Was seeing that the boat ride there is $250 per person round trip, what does the per night look like?

liverock,

Any other info for snorkelers on Itza?

Looks like they have packages for snorkelers on their website

 

[liverock]

liverock,

Any other info for snorkelers on Itza?

Best to contact them directly...always specials going on...ask for Ann Marie....

and it is a US # that rings on the island....telephone is your friend!

I installed satellite internet via Skycasters.....the island is a hot spot!

 

[indyjaco]

Here is the quote I received for Itza to help others:

I am listing our 7-Night Snorkel Package in our 3 room categories here below.

Our rates DO include our all-inclusive Dining Plan, Roundtrip Boat Transfer to and from Long Caye and Belize City, Roundtrip Ground Transfer to and from the Princess Marina and the International Airport.

7-NIGHT SNORKEL PACKAGE - Includes 6 snorkel excursions. Park fees and equipment rental are not included.
Sky Level Room (w/ private bthrm) - 7 nights - Double Occupancy - US$1542.50 per person.
Beach Level Room (w/ private bthrm) - 7 nights - Double Occupancy - US$1437.50 per person.
Seawing Room (shared bthrm) - 7 nights - Double Occupancy - US$1192.50 per person.

Please note these rates are per person for double occupancy.

Hotel tax of 9% on room charges, sales tax of 12.5% on all other charges will be applied to these package prices.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Does Lighthouse Reef Atoll have more than just the Itza Lodge on it?
Do divers and snorkelers go out on the same boat and to the same place on the reef?
It sounds like a cool place and the prices aren't too bad either. On Trip Adviser there were 31 reviews, 25 are 5 star and 3 more are 4 star!

 

[G_Sanab922]

Here is the quote I received for Itza to help others:

I am listing our 7-Night Snorkel Package in our 3 room categories here below.

Our rates DO include our all-inclusive Dining Plan, Roundtrip Boat Transfer to and from Long Caye and Belize City, Roundtrip Ground Transfer to and from the Princess Marina and the International Airport.

7-NIGHT SNORKEL PACKAGE - Includes 6 snorkel excursions. Park fees and equipment rental are not included.
Sky Level Room (w/ private bthrm) - 7 nights - Double Occupancy - US$1542.50 per person.
Beach Level Room (w/ private bthrm) - 7 nights - Double Occupancy - US$1437.50 per person.
Seawing Room (shared bthrm) - 7 nights - Double Occupancy - US$1192.50 per person.

Please note these rates are per person for double occupancy.

Hotel tax of 9% on room charges, sales tax of 12.5% on all other charges will be applied to these package prices.

if it includes all that then yea that's a decent price.

 

[liverock]

Does Lighthouse Reef Atoll have more than just the Itza Lodge on it?
Do divers and snorkelers go out on the same boat and to the same place on the reef?
It sounds like a cool place and the prices aren't too bad either. On Trip Adviser there were 31 reviews, 25 are 5 star and 3 more are 4 star!

Yup....
Birds...iguanas.....land crabs...coconut palms....mangroves.... and saltwater crocodiles......

no boat needed to snorkel...reef is just off the beach....google earth it...

 

[C.Eymann]

Also if planning a trip to belize/lighthouse reef, try to squeeze in a few days at an ecolodge on the mainland it's a pretty cool experience too add to the trip. Also, definitely try one barrel rum, even if you are not a rum fan, it's simply delicious. I'm not sure if light house reef area is affected as bad as I didn't do the blue hole this summer but there was a big sargassum algae detachment event going on when I was on ambergris caye they said happens every 15-20yrs and they said it usually lasts a year or so. Beaches were full of rotting piles of the stuff.

 

[hhughes]

We went snorkeling in St. Thomas and it was pretty neat.