Antigua is a dream location for snorkelers. Most of the idyllic beaches on this island are lapped by calm clear waters with millions of rainbow colored fish. Offshore, you can see manta rays and sea anemones. While snorkelling you are practically guaranteed to see different kinds of elk and brain coral.

While Bonaire is renowned as a diving location, it is also a world-class snorkelling destination. Bonaire Marine Park is one of the locations where you can wade into the waters off the beach adjacent to your resort of hotel and see the schools of colourful fish swimming around your legs. Other superb locations for snorkelling on Bonaire are the reefs off Klein Bonaire and in Washington-Slagbaai National Park.

At Stingray City on Grand Cayman, you don't have to engage in diving to catch sight of a stingray. You can easily see them while you are snorkelling. These creatures are quite tame and will just glide around you in the warm, crystal clear waters. The Curacao Underwater Marine Park is very spectacular for its marine life. This park is the best location on the island for snorkelling with a beach that stretches for 12 miles along the southern coastline of the island. There are millions of fish, hard and soft garden corals and sights of sunken ships for you to enjoy.

The best snorkelling sites of St. Martin are on the French part of the island. The calm waters of this region are protected by the government and they are homes to schools of brightly colored fish. There are many tiny coves in this region where you can explore the shallow reefs along the shore.

The Grenadines is one location in the Caribbean where you may just have the beach to yourself in some places. There is a reef that extends for more than a kilometre along the white sandy beaches of Canouan where the waters are teeming with rainbow colored fish. Palm Island and Petit St. Vincent are also excellent snorkelling locations.

Antiqua is one of the islands where the beaches are famous. It is said that this island has a beach for every day of the year. According to the locals, the best of these beaches are Dickenson Bay, which is in the northwestern corner of the island and Half Moon Bay. The latter beach is a half mile long along the eastern coast and is covered in fine white sand.

Shoal Bay is an excellent beach on Antiqua. It is covered with silvery sand and is home to schools of iridescent fish darting among the coral reefs. This is one of the excellent locations in the Caribbean if you want to engage in snorkelling. Just a short distance away you will find Katouche Beach, but you have to take a trail from Old Ta to reach it. This is the best spot on the island for a picnic under the shade of the trees.
Palm Beach, on Aruba, is a superb strip of fine white sand. It has been voted one of the 12 best beaches in the world by magazines, such as Conde Nast. It is the prime location to choose if you want to take in some swimming, sailing or fishing.

The Gold Coast of Barbados contains some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. This location is the site of some of the most expensive resorts in the Caribbean. Some of the best beaches in this area include Paynes Bay, Brandon's beach, Paradise Beach and Brighton Beach, all of which are public beaches, Cane Garden Bay, on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, is a favourite with joggers on vacation. It stretches for 2 km and has white sand. If you're looking for a really long beach, don't overlook the 9km long Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman. The beach is actually 5.5 miles long - not seven, in spite of its name. There is a wide array of water sports available at this beach, which is lined with condos and resorts. The water maintains a consistent temperature of 80°. There is another beach of the same name on Jamaica, but is a nudist beach, so it is not for you if you are conservative.

In Georgetown, the gift shops, the Sea Turtle Farm, and the snorkeling on the northern part of Grand Cayman are all great. It costs a couple of bucks, but even the bus tour of the area is interesting. The sand along the beaches is some of the finest in the world. You can spend a day or a week and still be enjoying yourself. You can spend your US dollars in Georgetown with no problem. Because the city is well-developed and has a thriving economy, don't count on being able to bargain for much. You generally have to pay posted price.

The sun is intense because it is tropical. So, use plenty of sunscreen. There are excellent eateries and clubs to take advantage of while you are there. The cab and bus service are readily available almost instantly. The transportation prices are modest. Don't be deceived by the fact that you are on a relatively small island. In the hot tropical sun, even a walk of a half of a mile or so can seem long in the heat. Use the transportation available, and your stay will be more enjoyable.

The waves around the islands tend to be tranquil for the most part. But, like any ocean beaches, they can kick up in certain weather conditions. Because of this, the Caymans are a favorite for many snorkeling enthusiasts. The clear water makes an excellent venue for spotting the many species of fish and marine life that inhabit the waters in the area.

The islands are low lying. You won't want to ride out a hurricane there unless you have no choice. Many of the buildings on Grand Cayman are either new or recently received extensive repairs from the last hurricane passing through. Storm surges have been known to inundate entire islands including Grand Cayman.

The housing costs are huge. A small 4 or 5 room single story frame house on a modest lot can cost you $250,000. It will look more like a good shack than a run down house. There are some luxurious hotels and homes on the island, but their prices are set to match. A penthouse at the Ritz-Carlton can run $40,000,000. Restaurant prices tend to be about 50% or more higher than comparable food in the United States. If you buy an all-inclusive vacation or come by cruise ship, just plan on eating what you've already paid for unless you have deep pockets.

Overall, you should find the experience in the Caymans quite pleasant. The people, the weather, and the scenery all converge to make a great time. I look forward to a return trip sometime when I have more time to just kick back and take it easy.