Best Places in the World to Snorkel

Snorkeling gives the chance to see amazing marine life up close and in fantastic destinations worldwide.

Snorkeling is a great way for water and nature lovers to get up close and personal with the amazing things to be seen in the worlds oceans. By donning a mask, snorkel & fins people can explore the waters from above observing fantastic marine life in its own environment. Travel destinations have opened up and offer travellers the chance to take part in cruises to some of the most exotic places on the planet.

Who wouldn't be tempted at the chance to swim with amazing creatures like Whale sharks & Manta Rays? This is possible at selected locations around the world. Snorkeling will give you a birds eye view of beautiful coral reefs of vibrant colours and watch the marine life go about it's daily business.

Worldwide snorkel destinations

Australia
Snorkeling in Australia gives visitors access to the famous Great Barrier Reef. With it's clear blue waters and healthy reef system stretching more than 2300km, snorkelers will have the chance to see turtles, reef sharks, clown fish and much more. On the West coast Ningaloo reef is famous for it's whale shark encounters and snorkelers can see these huge plankton feeders in these waters.

Maldives
Picture perfect sandy atolls spread throughout this region of the Indian ocean the Maldives waters hold some special sights for snorkelers. Hanifaru Bay is a great place for the chance to see Manta's playing below and also whale sharks visit this area regularly. Well known areas like Ari Atoll, Baa Atoll and Rasdhoo will not disappoint when it comes to spotting marine life.

Galapagos
The Galapagos islands are a UNESCO world heritage site which holds a staggering amount of marine life diversity. Sea lions, turtles, dolphins, sharks and even penguins can be seen here and it truly is a nature lovers dream destination. A snorkel trip to the Galapagos Islands must surely be high of travellers wish list.

Egypt (Red Sea)
The Red Sea, Egypt has amazing reefs, marine life and coral formations. It's clear blue waters and reliable weather make it a great place to go snorkeling. The chance to snorkel with rare creatures like the shy Dugong (related to the Manatee) and gaze on the impressive corals is possible on a snorkel trip to Egypt. Obviously topside, there is also the country's ancient history to keep history lovers enthralled.

Indonesia
Indonesia has something for everyone. As well as a top scuba diving destination, snorkelers will not miss out on chances to see some awe inspiring marine life. Cenderawasih Bay is famous for it's Whale sharks, where these docile creatures swim close to the surface and offer great opportunities for snorkelers to see them up close. Indonesia can also deliver in terms of small creatures, being one of the best places on earth to spot the weird and wonderful like frogfish, flambuoyant cuttlefish, nudibranch's and lots more. Snorkel trips to this area will usually allow time for some land based tours which can be a treat for those also interested in wildlife. A visit to Komodo offers the chance to see the famous Komodo Dragons. Raja Ampat is one of the most bio-diverse regions on the planet and will not disappoint when it comes to swimming amongst it's healthy coral reefs.

More snorkel destinations

Many more destinations offer fantastic snorkeling opportunities to anyone looking to see more of the underwater world. Below is a list of different locations around the world which can offer excellent snorkeling opportunities.