Where's the best snorkeling?

[rorito]

I have read that St Martin does not have the best snorkeling but anyone have a good lead on a tour? Doing Trunk Bay the day before so would it be better to stay on land and shop/beach?

MARINER of the SEAS
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[Lidi]

We did the Golden Eagle Catamaran excursion last year in May. It was absolutely wonderful. Dh snorkels, I do not. It was wonderful for both of us. If this is available to you I would do it. We are doing it again on our cruise this September. My dh got a lot of really neat photographs of fish on that trip. We will get our shopping in in the morning and go on the Golden Eagle in the afternoon.

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Norway 5/11

[gtaylor]

St. Maarten sometimes offers some decent snorkeling, but if you have the chance to do it on St. John's, I think that would be a better option, then spend the day with shopping and beach on St. Maarten.

It's easy to grab a cab or taxi-van at the pier for an island tour, with a drop off at Orient, for example, then picked up later to complete the tour.

Finish with shopping on Front Street (the best shopping of the Caribbean, in our view) and you've got a great day.

If you have four people, I'd consider renting a car for the day. The island is an easy drive.

_____
We must sail, sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it -- but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor. Oliver Wendell Holmes

[Candleonwater]

Another vote for the Golden Eagle... we did it, but we did the morning trip. It was awesome, and great if you have non snorkelers in your group. I actually thought the snorkeling was better than what I experienced at St Thomas.

<MARQUEE>Navigator of the Seas March 26, 2005</MARQUEE>
Mariner of the Seas 4/11/04
Disney Magic 12/01/01

[gina2edu]

Do you have any contact info for the Golden Eagle? How much does it cost? If you have an internet site that would be great.

Thanks

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[Candleonwater]

Try this: [url="http://www.sailingsxm.com/Default.htm"]Golden Eagle[/url]

We did the excursion through Royal Caribbean and it cost $72.00/42.00 (adults/kids)

<MARQUEE>Navigator of the Seas March 26, 2005</MARQUEE>
Mariner of the Seas 4/11/04
Disney Magic 12/01/01

[lmmn]

Did you see any sea turtles while snorkeling on Golden Eagle catamaran?

Explorer of the Seas ~ 10/02
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Navigator of the Seas ~ 10/11/03
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[Candleonwater]

I didn't, but I heard once we got back on the boat that there was one right near the boat, as people were getting back on. I was depressed! That was the one thing I had hoped to see!

<MARQUEE>Navigator of the Seas March 26, 2005</MARQUEE>
Mariner of the Seas 4/11/04
Disney Magic 12/01/01