Dive/snorkel group - T&C or one of the Caymans?

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Southern Belize is not good for snorkeling since the beach is nice and extends for miles. Also all the diving is 30-60 minutes out from there to the barrier reef. IDK much about Ambergris.

Roatan could work. Most of the AI dive resorts offer both. At AKR there's a shallow dive in the laggon, another off the Key and it's all good snorkeling. The channel betwen the main part of the resort and the key is a shallow muck dive/snorekel. Also both groups can do the dolphin dive/snorekel. They may still be running the BOGO this year also. You want Superior or better as that includes A/C

There are also options nearby in the West End. We saw snorkelers daily off Half Moon Resort and there's a shore dive off the west side of Half Moon Bay that ends up there. Also one of the good dives is accessible off Sueno Del Mar's beach. Dozens of boat dive operators and dives sre cheap $30-35 each. Most shops return to the dock betwen dives and 3-4 dives/day are possible. West Bay has the nicest beach, there's one area you can snorkel but it's all boat dives. On the south side Cocoview has both including at least two different shore dives, the wreck and the wall. I've also read Media Luna farther east does both as well. A more budget option is Reef House resort. Barefoot Cay is as nice as it looks and there's snorekling in the bay out front - it's about 12' deep to the fringing reef. All boat dives though. Roatan flights are higher but everything else is pretty cheap to compensate. Lots of bugs.

Bonaire works for both. Almost all the 50+ shore dives are also snorkels. In addition there's 25 more on Klein Bonaire - snorkelers can even take the water taxi over and get dropped off.We snorkeled with the turtles after a dive at Jerry's Reef - right off the beach. Bari Reef has one of the highest fish ocunts in the Carib - the south side is a huge rubble pile from a previous resort that got trashed in a hurricane.Boaire is pricier flights also and foods not cheap.

One you didn't mention - Curacao. Almost as many dive sites and most are beaches - not ironshore like on Bonaire. Most with on-site dive/food facilities. The famous Tugboat dive site to the south is 17' deep - cruise excursions snorkel there. Varsenbaai good for both - there's a pontoon bat wreck in 80', seahorses at 40' and turtles just off the beach in 5-6' The north side of Playa Jeremi is listed in Frommer's best Carib snorkels - also a good shore dive.

Lots more to do there than Bonaire, shops, good restaurants, old forts, Sea Aquarium (dolphins there also) Ostrich Farm etc. Some nice beach clubs also.It's a cheaper flight and the deepwater port for the area so food is island high but not outrageous. www.curacao.com lists it all.
 
robint - Thanks for the info. We've all been to Roatan a few times. We're looking for another destination.
diversteve good info! Especially about Curaçao. I've been wondering how the island is for diving. It'd be great to finish off the ABCs!
 
Diving in Curacao is quite good and it’s a great destination for a mixed dive/snorkel group. The trickiest part is deciding where to base yourselves.

Many boat dives will be suitable for snorkeling and many dive sites are off beaches are also suitable for snorkeling and hanging out - often with facilities like dive shop and snack bars where you could spend some time. Lots of restarants and more things todo and see than many islands If you’re looking for someplace you haven’t been it could work well. I think Cayman would be a much better choice than T&C in your situation, but Curacao probably beats both.
 
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