how is the water/ocean -- i hear its foamy??????

JennyBean is right, a little foamy, but not enough to get a good shave. You have to take your own can of foamy ( I prefer the jell myself), and your own soap and backscratcher also...

Trust me on this..... use the ocean....the hotels tend to frown when you use their facility. Ours kicked me right out of the kiddy pool.

HT,
You are going well after the rainy season is over, so it will not be a muddy lake. Hawaii and the Caribbean it is not but you can find some decent snorkeling in PV.

Snorkling at the Marietas Islands is quite decent, plenty of tropical fish to look at and the water is warm. There are a number of tour boats that go there that range from family friendly to downright rowdy. Have a very good time.

The only problem I have with the Marietas is not knowing how rough it is going to be until you get all the way out there. 25 miles is a long way to go to find out you have to fight the conditions to keep from getting slammed into the rocks. I have been out there when it was as smooth as you could ask for and I have been out there when we had waves breaking in the boat.

People who have snorkeled before might not find it as big a problem as someone who is going for the first time.