If you're staying at Casa del Mar there is a lot of variety in what you can see swimming straight out from the beach with about 4 reef areas right there. This album is all of the snorkeling from the beach, though most pics are with a disposable camera:
Snorkeling off the beach at Casa del Mar pictures from diving & snorkeling photos on webshots You can indeed make use of the Gri Gri dive shop on site to take you out snorkeling nearby and to the islands (I visited Catalina Island with them and stopped at the "Wall", pictures at
Catalina Island, off La Romana, Dominican Republic pictures from caribbean photos on webshots) , as well as using the dive shops in Bayahibe. I find that most of them promote the diving and not so much the snorkeling, so I was happy to find Seavis Bayahibe who do both. They took me to Catalinita Island in the Catuana Straight where there was a beautiful reef (
Snorkeling at Catalinita, Saona and Piscina Natural, Dominican Republic pictures from caribbean photos on webshots), and their stop at Saona Island is at Canton de la Playa where there is another small healthy reef for private snorkeling (
Saona Island with Seavis Bayahibe pictures, photos, and videos, from caribbean on webshots).
If heading out away from the near reefs at Casa del Mar, make sure you have a diver's flag or wear something colourful. There can be a good deal of boat traffic. They may respect snorkelers closer to the property, but may not expect you further out.
Kaki