Beginner Snorkling - Cozumel or Mahogany Bay?

HELP! We will be sailing on the Carnival Freedom March 19, 2016 and would like to do some "beginner" snorkling with our soon-to-be 10 year old. We do not have our own gear so we would have to rent. Which port should we plan to do this - Cozumel or Roatan, Mahogany Bay? :confused: We would like to see AS much sea life as possible. What will we likely see this time of year? And does anyone have a "preferred" operator/area that they like to use/frequent? We will probably not use Carnival's excursion for this trip as we likely wouldn't be out the WHOLE day...like we will in Belize.

Thanks so much, to anyone that can provide any insight. :)

The easy solution in Coz is the Money Bar - about a $10 cab ride from the piers, rental gear available (we always bring our own masks and snorkels - my mask is prescription or I would not see anything :o), guides available, plus good facilities/food/drinks/service. You enter the water via steps.

There are lots of snorkel operators in Coz who will take you to various spots on the reef - we used Eagle Ray several years ago and were happy. Check trip advisor for more recent reviews/options.

http://moneybarbeachclub.com/

If your ten year old is old enough to a ship excursion, this might be a better option. The guides will assist.

If you're looking for a private operator, then check with Mystical Snorkeling http://www.islacozumel.com/#_=_. They have good guides and can help if necessary. There are reviews of Trip Advisor too.

In Roatan, you can snorkel off the West Bay beaches, which would be good for a younger beginning snorkeler. Bananarama Dive Resort has snorkel gear for rent, if I recall correctly. The snorkeling at Mahogany Bay isn't that good, but the water is shallow and there's equipment for rent. You can also book a ship excursion on a catamaran, but these can get to be party boats and are very crowded.

Roatan is by far better snorkeling. The reefs are very close to shore and current is minimal. EASY and lots of pretty underwater scenery.

Cozumel is known for its diving, but the reefs are far from shore, impossible to see pretty coral without taking a boat. Also, most of the reefs are walls or very deep, so snorkeling from a boat is better than shore snorkeling, but you are not as close to the "action" as in Roatan.

Shore snorkeling in Cozumel means tiny coral heads or underwater rubble with growth on it. Not very colorful or extensive. Fishlife will only be over those areas. Money Bar and Chankanaab are the best places to shore snorkel... hands down. Neither has a walk-in beach, only a raised manmade beach area. So if you want both... sorry.

Following this post. We, too, are a beginner snorkeling family. We did it last year, October 2014 @ Disney's Castaway Cay and loved it.

As for gear, we purchased inexpensive ($20) Speedo mask & snorkel sets from our local Target toward the end of the summer last year. Once home we washed them thoroughly with mild detergent & let them air dry. They look great & will be going with us this fall. We drive to the ports so space is not an issue.

Following this post. We, too, are a beginner snorkeling family. We did it last year, October 2014 @ Disney's Castaway Cay and loved it.

 

As for gear, we purchased inexpensive ($20) Speedo mask & snorkel sets from our local Target toward the end of the summer last year. Once home we washed them thoroughly with mild detergent & let them air dry. They look great & will be going with us this fall. We drive to the ports so space is not an issue.

Awesome idea to purchase the mask/snorkels...might just do that!

Anyone else have any more ideas to add?!