washingtonpost.com: "Bonaire, for example, is widely considered the best dive destination in the Caribbean, but if you're looking for miles of white-sand beaches, forget it. Turks and Caicos, another highly regarded dive spot, has a laid-back vibe and pretty beaches, but you'd have to scale back considerably on lodging to stay within your budget. Mexico's Cozumel boasts a winning combo of fantastic dive sites and more affordable all-inclusives, but the island isn't particularly known for its beaches. And in the Dominican Republic's Punta Cana, you can have your pick of fancy oceanfront resorts at affordable prices, but the diving isn't as dramatic."
Forbes, I have been a long time vacation homeowner on Aruba, the tiny Dutch Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela. Only 20 miles long and 6 miles across, the cactus-filled, dry island features my favorite beach in the entire world. Endless days spent on the famed Eagle Beach floating in crystal clear, aquamarine warm waters is why massive throngs of tourists return annually to this island paradise.