They're every snorkeler's dream come true: 15 welcoming Caribbean havens where the water's warm, clear, teeming with kaleidoscopic sea life -- and just steps outside your door.

Anegada, BVI
Cow Wreck Beach Resort
Hundreds of ships have met their fate on the reefs of Anegada, and for years after one particular 19th-century wreck, cow bones washed ashore on the island's northwest coast. This tragedy not only led to maritime laws forbidding cattle from ever again serving as crew aboard merchant ships, but it also bestowed a quirky name on the local bay.

Cow Wreck Beach Resort comprises three self-catering cottages and an inviting beach bar/restaurant astride one of Anegada's endless powdery-white strands. Accommodations sit just 25 feet from the sand, and good snorkeling begins just offshore. Grass beds dotted with conch and patrolled by bonefish give way to scattered coral heads crowded with sea life -- all in just 5 feet of water. Keep making your way toward the drop-off marked by dark patches and deep blue, and you'll find huge coral bommies undercut with ledges rising from the sandy bottom 30 feet below. One-bedroom cottages are $200 year-round; one-bedrooms with air conditioning, $250; and two-bedrooms, $300. 284-495-8047; cowwreckbeach.com

Barbados
Coral Reef Club
They didn't pull this place's name out of thin air: A nice bulwark of reef sits directly offshore of this exquisite, family-run hotel on Barbados' calm Platinum Coast. They didn't get the clubby bit wrong either; many of the guests have been returning for years (if not generations), which along with attentive hosting from the O'Hara clan and their excellent staff fosters an eminently congenial atmosphere. The beach is nicer on the north side of the resort, but the south is where snorkelers want to be. What at first appears to be a solid bank of coral rising nearly to the surface at low tide is actually a sponge-covered Swiss cheese of tunnels, ledges and small caves. The calm water and close reef make it an ideal spot for night snorkeling. Doubles start at $395 in low season, including breakfast ($800 high). 800-223-1108; coralreefbarbados.com

Belize
Ranguana
For snorkeling addicts, this private island 18 miles off Placencia in southern Belize offers total immersion. Ranguana consists of two acres of sand shaped by the currents, and it lies just inside the world's second-longest barrier reef. Bonefish school in the brilliant-blue lagoon, minnows burst from the water with jacks in hot pursuit, and stingrays glide across the shallows. Patch reef, stony ledges and grass beds stretch as far as you can see, with fine skinny-water snorkeling from the beach all the way to the fringing reef and beyond. Three rustic, air-cooled cabins are available for overnight guests. (Be sure to bring a submersible light for night snorkeling, or rent one from the Robert's Grove dive shop in Placencia before heading to the island.) The fishiest spot is right near the cabins, with snappers, grunts, barracudas, nurse sharks and eagle rays often in attendance. Divers, fishermen and cruising sailors stop by Ranguana to picnic during the day, but the rest of the time you'll have the island -- and the snorkeling -- all to yourself. A two-night, three-day all-inclusive package costs $543 per person year-round. 800-565-9757; robertsgrove.com

Bonaire
Buddy Dive Resort
Island-time languor kicks in the moment you arrive at Buddy's, two miles north of Bonaire's capital, Kralendijk. The unabashedly laid-back setting boasts spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with kitchens, and an enormous tiki-style waterfront restaurant where barefoot breakfasts are the norm. Weekly beach barbecues and live music spice up the evenings. The sea is just a few steps away, and ladders on the docks drop you into schools of snapper; the house reef is only a few fin kicks farther. Along the coast are chances to spot some 75 species of tropical fish in what's almost always calm water. Keep an eye out for schooling Caribbean squid and resident tarpon. One-bedrooms start at $165 in low season ($173 high). 866-GO-BUDDY; buddydive.com

Plaza Resort
This family-friendly hotel's 12 acres are landscaped more lushly than is typical on this arid isle, and they lend a feel of exotic escapism (as do the iguanas that wander everywhere). Set on one of Bonaire's nicer beaches, the expansive property has a large pool, a marina, three restaurants and a dive operation. All rooms have a European openness and simplicity. Youth programs get children engaged in marine activities, and it isn't unusual to see whole families exploring the house reef, 18 Palms. The shallow-water fish are accustomed to snorkelers and the occasional handout, much to the delight of little ones. Doubles start at $180 in low season ($230 high). 800-766-6016; plazaresortbonaire.com

Curaçao
Lions Dive & Beach Resort
A cozy getaway with a consistent trade wind and a blinding white beach (albeit a man-made one), Lions Dive is popular with Europeans and North Americans alike. The setting is low-key with simple rooms and wonderful views, but its biggest draw is the Curaçao Sea Aquarium, a brief stroll away. Lions Dive guests enjoy free admission, so you can breeze in as often as you like to identify what you spotted while snorkeling the lively house reef. Don't miss the aquarium's new dolphin and sea lion snorkels. Floating in the water as the mammals frolic around you is absolutely worth the additional price. Ocean-view doubles start at $158 in low season ($178 high). 866-546-6734; lionsdive.com

Eleuthera
Rainbow Inn
For the snorkeler who values character and location over luxury, the Rainbow Inn just might be a rare find. There are no phones or TV, the Internet access is iffy and the bungalows could stand a makeover, but the pool is warm, the hammock is comfy, and a surprisingly South Pacific-looking landscape rolls toward the sparkling sea. Proprietor "Krabby Ken" has run the place for decades, and true to his moniker, he doesn't smile a whole lot. But he has a wealth of local knowledge and doubles as a capable cook at the inn's popular restaurant. One of the best snorkeling spots on the island awaits right at the end of Ken's boat ramp, where crystalline water swirls around huge limestone boulders that shelter grouper, soft coral, angelfish, rays and even the occasional Pacific lion fish. A dramatic limestone sea cave lies a short swim away, and the beautiful shallows of Rainbow Beach are just up the road. Doubles start at $115 in low season ($140 high). 800-688-0047; rainbowinn.com

Grand Cayman
Sunset House
This dedicated divers' hotel has long been famous for its ultra-convenient house reef, oceanfront diver bar and incredible sunsets. And although Sunset House is unmistakably scuba-centric, snorkelers can take advantage of the same attractions. Stone steps cut into the ironshore lead to an ocean pool that in turn leads to open water. There's plenty of fish-attracting structure along the stony coastline, and a nice reef sits directly in front of the hotel, home to eels, barracudas, reef fish and Cayman's trademark sea turtles. To take some pressure off the natural reef, the hotel sank a wreck and a topless bronze sea goddess, Amphitrite, as artificial reefs. Both are in deep water (about 55 feet) but are close enough to snorkel over. Three-night stays start at $383 per person in low season, including breakfast ($455 high). 800-854-4767; sunsethouse.com

Guana Island, BVI
Hosting a maximum of 40 guests on its 850 acres, Guana Island is a privately owned Virgin, most of which is maintained as a wildlife haven. For snorkelers, it's an absolute sanctuary, surrounded by reefs and rocky coastline that attract an abundance of sea creatures. The best beach here, White Bay, is one of the best anywhere. Thick coral spurs begin just a few feet off the sugary shore, and the bay holds dense schools of silversides that support a thriving food chain that includes big tarpon. White Bay offers Guana's easiest, most accessible snorkeling, but even more stellar sites -- Crab Cove, Long Man's Point and Monkey Point -- await those who either hike the nature trails that stitch across the island or kayak from White Bay. Rooms, including all meals, start at $775 in low season ($1,150 high). 800-544-8262; guana.com

Jamaica
Rockhouse
Diving into a jewel-like sea through clouds of shimmering silversides schooling in an ancient limestone alcove is a pretty good way to start the day. No wonder travelers frequently return to Rockhouse's dramatic portion of Negril coastline, where sheer limestone cliffs framed by greenery vault upward from the sea. Casually comfortable cliff-edge bungalows with ample outdoor lounging space have stairways cut into the stone, leading to calm water. This virtually instant access to the sea, along with the show-stopping view, are the real luxuries here. Visibility is stunning, and partially submerged cliffs and grottoes amplify the magic of this unique spot. Hard corals are limited this close to shore, but the surprising range of reef life includes moray eels, angelfish, parrotfish, snake eels and countless small crustaceans. Rates start at $125 in low season ($150 high). 876-957-4373; rockhousehotel.com

St. Barts
Eden Rock
With red roofs covering much of the towering promontory, Eden Rock looks like a ruby pendant dangling atop the silky blue of St. Jean Bay. Glitterati orbit this precious rock in high season, bedding down in one of the unique suites carved into the headland itself or in the new beach house or beach suites. After settling in at the classic yet consistently hip hotel, guests can find interesting snorkeling as soon as they put their faces in the water. All manner of fish and invertebrate life cling to the underwater edges of Eden Rock, and as the water deepens offshore, the rock gives way to a large swath of coral that rises in a sharp wall from the sandy bottom. Beach rooms start at $710 in low season ($1,000 high). 877-563-7105; edenrockhotel.com

St. Lucia
Anse Chastanet
Double whammy: From your three-walled, hillside room, you feel you can almost reach out and touch a UNESCO World Heritage Site, St. Lucia's iconic and breathtaking Pitons. Walk down the hundred-plus steps to the soft gray beach, slip into the sea, swim a few strokes, and you're in another world of wonderment -- this time a national marine reserve. Anse Chastanet's reef enchants with its kaleidoscopic whirls of brain and soft coral, sponges and sea fans, and more than 150 species of fish and other denizens of the deep. Before heading for the reef, ask the folks at the dive shop about "De Ting," a secretive, 6-foot-long creature with tentacles on its head. It may or may not be an elongated segmented worm (Eunice roussaei); even marine biologists are baffled. After your excursion, report your sightings of flying gurnards, frog fish and butterflyfish at the beachside tropical bar, before braving the 100 steps back to your deliciously romantic enclave. Rates begin at $225 in low season ($495 high). 800-223-1108; ansechastanet.com

St. Maarten
Dawn Beach Westin
Dawn Beach's claim to fame -- not surprisingly, once you think about it -- is its prime east-facing location. For early risers (and very late to-bedders), a walk along the shore as the sun emerges from the sea is a magical experience. The only thing that can match that for natural beauty is the reef that spreads out along the shore and hosts a bounty of tropical fish. The only downside here is the east wind, which can kick up a chop above the reef, making it best, at those times, for confident snorkelers only. Summertime, when the water is calmest (and warmest), is the most reliable for comfortable snorkeling at Dawn Beach. The 314-room Westin on the hillside above the sand boasts St. Maarten's largest infinity-edge pool, which along with the swim-up bar and hot tub makes a nice topper to a long day of fish-finding. Rates start at $361 in low season ($465 high). 599-543 6700; starwoodhotels.com/westin

St. Thomas
Secret Harbour Hotel
This "harbour" is really a bay called Nazareth, a quiet, sheltered U with a small crescent of white sand. A grove of palms grows right out of the sand, convenient for shady lazing and lounging between dips. Your favorite palm is only a step and a splash from the reef, part of a marine sanctuary that keeps the coral pristine and the sea life abundant. These waters are well suited for beginners (bottom, 20 feet; visibility, 30 feet or more; no undertows), but seasoned snorkelers can paddle to a maze of volcanic rocks to frolic with turtles, rays and octopi. Aqua Action can kit you out with masks and flippers and take you on a beginners' trip. Blue Moon Café, next to Aqua Action, is the right spot for meeting fellow snorkel buffs and comparing notes on sightings. And at this bargain-priced condo resort, every suite has a balcony or patio for watching soothing sunsets over the bay. Doubles start at $185 in low season ($325 high). 800-524-2250; secretharbourvi.com

St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Palm Island
This private Grenadine isle's former name, Prune Island, still makes sense for snorkelers, who won't want to come out of the water until they're completely wrinkled. From a bright, sandy bottom dotted with coral heads off the resort's main beach to thick coral in the northern lagoon and prolific growth at the bases of rocky headlands, there is good snorkeling all around this 135-acre island. Most of the 37 cottages sit on a beach, so guests can either wade in from right outside their door or grab their fins and hike or bike to one of the island's other four beaches. There's also a great reason to leave this island retreat: Some of the finest snorkeling in all the Caribbean is a short boat ride away in the Tobago Cays. Beachfront rooms start at $835 all-inclusive in low season ($1,010 high). 800-858-4618; eliteislandresorts.com