lookinforland@yahoo.com (Mike) pounded away at his keyboard resulting
in:

I don't even think Blue Hole is worth the long boat ride to dive it,
much less snork it.

Dan Bracuk
Is it my imagination, or do Buffalo Wings taste like chicken?
The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/

You won't see much of anything snorkeling at the Blue Hole.  You don't even
see very much when you go to the depth the divemaster would take you on
scuba.  Only stalactites, maybe a few fish, possibly a shark.  There is an
area around Blue Hole where you could snorkel but it's not particularly
interesting.  I've only been aboard the Belize Aggressor (too expensive a
trip for snorkeling) and on Ambergris Caye (reefs not close enough for
snorkeling.)  Bonaire and Grand Cayman are probably the best best for you.

Jeanne

I guess more experienced (divers) are in disagreement, but I did the trip
with my kids and we enjoyed it greatly.  We did it with Frenchie's dive
shuttle out of Caulker (10 pack? with twin yamaha's on back) and it was a
fast and exciting ride out.  SOme folks had a rough time with the swells.
The hole was an interesting experience with lots of fish tho few pelagics
when we were there.  The visibility at the time exceeded 200ft.  On the way
back, we stopped at a location where a very friendly dolphin was found.
Could be local tourist legend, but we were told it had been used in a
hollywood movie and was thus very friendly towards humans.  Dolphin was
exactly where we'd been told he'd (or she?) be, and all had a great time
cooling off in the water and playing tag with it.  My son - 7yrs old at the
time - still talks about it...

Hol Chan marine reserve just off Caulker was also really nice and the
offshore reef had lots of rays, nurse sharks, etc.  There is virtually no
beach snorkelling, but it was very easy to hire someone to take us out for a
couple of hours.

I'd recommend Caulker for a laid back stay and would definately talk to
Frenchie's folks.

All this was 6-7 years ago?  so ymmv...
a

I don't think traffic can really ruin this site, at least since a famed
explorer blew up an opening.  It's a geological site, not a lively reef.  
As part of a trip to the island at Lighthouse Reef and snorkeling at other
areas, it might be worth the haul.  For Blue Hole, not a chance, unless you
can free diving to triple digits.  

There are sharks congregating there of decent size and number.  Like many shark
encounters in Belize, it's because they get fed at some point.  

Go to Hol Chan for snorkelling. Also there is a shallow corral garden inside
the reef a couple of miles north of San Pedro that is good snorkelling.
For both of these, stay either in ay Caulker or San Pedro.
Most dive shops offer snorkelling trips.

It's not a great spot.  I think people do it mostly to say they did.
The water is, in effect, stagnant and the isn't a lot of life in it.  I
don't know about the outside but I can't imagine snorkle is the way to
go.  What else is on the same trip could make all the difference.
JB