My wife and I are planning to take a vacation in the last week of July
and we'd like to go someplace warm, with some good snorkeling. I
realize this is a scuba list but I assume many of you know of
snorkeling locations. I used to be an avid spearfisher, surfer,
windsurfer and now I've had some back problems that have taken me out
of all the games I used to play. I think I can go snorkeling however,
if I play it smart. Unfortunately we are used to "adventurous" travel;
camping, making our own itineraries. Her first snorkel trip was a self
directed trip in the Baja in cold water, kayaking aimlessly around the
Bay of Los Angeles. It was great, the whales swarmed us, we will never
forget it but not what many people would consider a great snorkeling
experience. I would really like her to experience some warm clear
water, reef and some proximity to marine life. (and I'd dig it too!)

I am basically admitting to myself that I will need a good comfortable
bed, and many more comforts than I ever have needed in the past, but I
know I'll be miserable if we go for the all-inclusive or awful tourist
trap, I've avoided all of that scene my whole life so far. I can't do
long rocky bus rides, long hikes carrying gear, or crazy bouncing boat
rides. (Basically I have to protect my spine, it gets broke easily.) So
I can think of a lot of places I can't go right off the bat, but I
imagine there have to be some destinations/accomodations that would
work out for us. We love Mexico, but would avoid anything remotely
similar to Cancun like the plague. In the Carribean I've only been to
Nassau and found it pretty depressing. Spent 2 years in Central America
and visited Honduras/Utila and loved it (apart from the jejenes) but
not sure I can handle the trek, I remember the boat ride was utterly
insane. Other than that, Costa Rica was of course idyllic but I don't
recall great snorkeling. The only place I've ever really seen abundant
reef life was near Key West about 20 years ago. We basically need to
find a place that is relatively straighforward to reach, it doesn't
have to be a resort but a good bed. Other than that, I think we just
want to keep it simple. We would choose an interesting or romantic
locale that has some great snorkeling over a place where all you would
ever want to do is dive. I realize late July is in hurricane season,
not sure what that would mean, seems to me like August is when it
starts to blow in Carribean. And yes, we want to try and travel
somewhat inexpensively. I know, I'm expecting a lot.

I've read a little about Bonaire (but it always seems like a local biz
owner's opinion) Cozumel, St. John, Roatan, FL keys. Any suggestions
anyone could give us would be greatly appreciated!