Snorkeling and diving allow you to explore the wonders of the Caribbean Sea

Worldwide travelers visit the Caribbean for its warm sands and amazing onshore destinations, but avid snorkelers and divers visit the Caribbean for another reason. Ducking your head under the incredibly blue tropical waters off the coast of just about any Caribbean island can dazzle you with sights beyond compare. Bright yellow fish darting between flame-colored coral and fragile sea anemones dancing in the current are just part of the wonders that can be found under the waves.

With all that's out there to be explored, it's no wonder that the Caribbean is home to many of the world's most popular snorkeling and scuba diving destinations. Before you dive in, take a few minutes to learn about scuba diving and snorkeling in these amazing waters.

Preparatory Information

The most important thing for you to remember is that, although often written and talked about together, snorkeling and diving are two very different activities. Snorkelers and divers can actually visit and enjoy many of the same spots, but certain locations are not suitable for both snorkeling and diving.

One of the most fundamental differences between snorkeling and diving is your location in the water. Snorkelers float at the water's surface and breathe through a snorkel, while divers challenge the ocean's depths with their oxygen on their backs. Anyone can learn to snorkel quickly, but to really dive, you'll need to get a license and training.

To get started snorkeling, grab a friend and ask your resort--most will lend or rent snorkels and fins to their guests. On many islands in the Caribbean, merchants on public beaches can rent out equipment as well, so even if you're not staying in a resort, getting ready to snorkel can be easy. Wear sunblock and a Lycra® dive skin or long-sleeved shirt for the best protection; you'll be near the surface of the water and the sun will be overhead! Many vacationers don't realize they can get severe sunburn because the water has a cooling effect, but it also magnifies the intensity of the sun's rays.

The long sleeves and dive suit will also help to protect you from accidental scrapes on underwater rocks. It's easiest to stay safe by swimming with your arms at your sides. To get closer to anything you see, just hold your breath and kick. However, you'll have to surface and clear out your snorkel tube before you can continue.

Divers will need to go a little further to get in the water, becoming certified before they can dive. Still, local dive shops in your hometown can help prepare you before you leave, and many resorts have even faster one-day courses that allow you to go out with an expert guide. Once the certification is taken care of and you have your "C" card, you can proceed with diving, which is actually easier on your body than snorkeling--though it certainly requires more equipment.

If you're not ready for full certification, some companies offer tethered scuba dives for depths of up to 20 feet. These provide a floating air tank and 20-foot tube, and a short course on how to use the equipment before letting you perform a shallow water dive.

Sites with Sights

Coral reefs are just one kind of amazing site that is available under the Caribbean Sea. Divers, and sometimes snorkelers, can visit old shipwrecks and underwater formations. Deep dive sites offer even more incredible sights to behold. Volcanic vents can provide fascinating and fun experiences. In addition, snorkeling and diving can be activities for the whole family. Depending on the ages of the children, and of course diving certification, diving and snorkeling can be interesting for all ages.

Many of the most popular sites in the Caribbean for both snorkeling and diving require a boat ride to reach. Still, remember that on nearly every island there will be something just offshore to spark your interest. In many cases you'll find fish, rays, and anemones close to land. While many vacationers are content to explore what's nearby; others choose a site and then stay at the nearest lodging. Many of the sites that inspire this kind of visitor are world-famous.

While fishermen and sailors also head to the U.S. Virgin Islands, they've got plenty for an underwater visitor to see. The Virgin Islands National Park and Buck Island are very popular as snorkeling and diving locations. In the National Park, spots like Trunk Bay and Leinster Bay make great spots for snorkelers; while the Buck Island reef has something for everyone.

The islands, reefs have plenty of brain and elk coral that grow to amazing sizes and are populated with colorful fish, crustaceans, and sponges. St. Croix is slowly growing in popularity as a dive spot as well, with many drop offs, coral canyons, walls, and wreck dives in its waters. The Puerto Rico Trench, the earth's fifth-deepest body of water, is also off the shores of St. Croix.

For adventure or amazement, Caribbean visitors choose the Cayman Islands. While the Caymans are a popular dive spot, the most impressive and unusual of all the sights is just off Grand Cayman. It's called Stingray City, and there you'll find both snorkelers and divers swimming with dozens of peaceful stingrays. The Bloody Bay Wall off Little Cayman is excellent for divers, beginning at 18 feet and dropping swiftly to more than 1,000 feet. It goes without saying that visitors to the Caymans are in for something a little different.

The Cayman and Virgin Islands are just two of the most popular areas to snorkel and dive, but there are plenty of other Caribbean spots that keep vacationers coming back.

• Cozumel, Mexico has grown to become a tourist destination due to the popularity of its dives. In fact, you can seemingly swim the entire western coast and hop from site to site.

• Dominica has plenty of walls, but is better known for its volcanic vents. Offshore from the city of Scott's Head, waters bubble like warm champagne and are great for divers.

• Martinique, St. Eustatius, and Tortola have famous shipwreck dives, including ships sunk by the eruption of Martinique's Mt. Pelee and an 1867 hurricane.

• Marine Parks in Bonaire and Curacao provide wonderful spots for snorkelers. Bonaire's snorkelers can practically wade from hotel to reef, while Curacao has sunken ships for its snorkelers to view, as well as coral gardens swimming with fish.

• Antigua's calm waters and plentiful marine life make it an attractive snorkel destination. The island's reefs produce interesting and varied coral.

Costs

The cost of visiting these coral reefs is not always a small one. The following are average costs per person, in U.S. dollars, for several activities. Renting snorkel equipment may be free at resorts or it can run up to approximately $8(USD). Snorkel trips range from $20(USD)-$35(USD) for a half day or $38(USD)-$45(USD) for a full day. Scuba divers can expect to pay $35(USD)-$45(USD) for a one-tank dive or about $20(USD) more for a two-tank dive. Nighttime dives can run from $25(USD)-$50(USD). Resort scuba courses, if not included, are usually about $75(USD)-$90(USD). To get scuba certified with a "C" card, expect a course to cost from $250(USD)-$400(USD).

Tips

Both snorkelers and divers need to keep a few things in mind while they're visiting the creatures under the Caribbean waves:

• Be aware of currents and stay watchful of your location. You don't want to get too far away to return easily.

• Wear a watch so you don't lose track of time. It's easy to do underwater.

• Don't feed the fish or touch the animals or coral. Their protective layers can be stripped away.

• Never stand or walk on a reef and tread carefully on shallow water around reefs. (Shuffle your feet to avoid stingrays, and watch out for sea urchins, spines.)

• Never wear jewelry. Caribbean fish, barracudas especially, seem drawn to shiny objects that look like their natural prey, small silver fish.

• Avoid jellyfish, fire coral, and other stinging creatures.

• Never reach into holes or crevices, they might be an animal's home--especially moray eels.

• Shark spottings are rare, and those that are spotted are usually passive. Keep calm, and if necessary, move slowly out of the water.

• Never remove anything from dive sites and reefs, it is illegal to do so.

The Caribbean has plenty of beautiful sights for both snorkeling and diving, but it is always best to keep safety in mind when planning your vacation.