We did the 3 snorkel tour and beach break with Roatan Ocean Adventures on July 3, and it was one of the best snorkeling experiences we have ever had. Herbert picked us up from Coxen Hole (where Norwegian docks), and drove us back to his dock, which is located directly across from Big French Key. It was literally only a few steps from where we parked to the boat, and from there we were off.
Because we arrived earlier than the other travelers booked that day, Herbert decided to send us out to the first reef with Garrett, our guide, and Micheal, the captain, and we did our first snorkel directly off of Big French Key. The coral was in great shape, and the fish were outstanding. We saw a wide variety of fish, including eagle rays and eels, and spent around 45 minutes drifting over the reef.
Our second snorkel spot, once we picked up the other people in the group, was a shallow snorkel, which was interesting but nowhere near as exciting as the first snorkel. However, the third spot we stopped at blew everything else away. Giant canyons of coral culminating in a sheer drop downward, and also included a shipwreck as well. This was the largest coral I have ever seen, and it was teeming with fish, eels, huge lobsters and other aquatic life. What is also nice about this trip is that you are not spending an inordinate amount of time in a boat, trying to make it out to the coral--instead, the snorkel spots we went to were relatively close to the dock, giving us more time to snorkel.
If you enjoy snorkeling, I cannot recommend ROA enough. They have a dedication to protecting the reef, and make sure that you understand how to best enjoy your snorkeling experience. Another great aspect of it is that you will receive a bunch of pictures that they take of your group and the fish and coral that you see during your trip. On our trip, Garrett was swimming with us, GoPro in hand, making sure to take pics of the things that we saw. As far as the guides and boat captains are concerned, they are all cousins of Herbert's, making it a definite family affair. Both Michael and Garrett were incredibly personable and knowledgeable, and served to make the trip even more enjoyable.
At the end of the snorkeling portion of our trip, we had the option of a beach break, or heading back to the cruise port, and we chose to go back in order to do some shopping. Herbert drove us back and dropped us off at the port, ending a great excursion day. We will definitely be booking with him the next time we come to Roatan.