One of the key things to consider when going snorkeling is your choice of location; after all, you want to be sure to see amazing waters, intriguing sea creatures and not to be surrounded by hundreds of other people.
Unfortunately, it can be quite difficult to find destinations which offer fascinating seas without the rest of the world also already being in situ, but there are some places which are less discovered and hold a wealth of marine life to uncover. And before you go make sure you have the right snorkeling gear packed. Look for gear with good reviews like those found at www.sportzbits.com or similar review sites.
Here is our round-up of some of the best places in the world to go snorkeling:
1. Raja Ampat in Indonesia
This area is home to around 75% of the world’s known coral species as well as having the world’s most concentrated levels of marine life for a region of this size. You will find fish, coral, sea turtles, sharks and manta rays.
There are more than 1,000 marine life species living in these 50,000 square feet of the archipelago. The islands are also incredibly scarce of people so you won’t be disturbed by hundreds of other snorkelers and can enjoy the scenery in peace.
2. Komodo National Park in Indonesia
As well as the famous Komodo dragons which live wild here, the reefs and islands are teeming with marine life thanks to the area’s World Heritage status which it has held for more than thirty years, keeping it incredibly protected.
3. Galapagos Islands
Here is the place to go if you want to see the larger side of marine life including turtles, dolphins, sea lions and penguins. It’s not just pretty coral and fish you can find here. The Galapagos offer a fascinating view of marine life for snorkelers.
They are remote islands meaning the wildlife have no natural fear of people and are often friendly and will be happy to interact with you, making it a truly unique and memorable snorkeling experience.
4. The Philippines
The Philippines incorporates more than 7,000 individual islands making it an incredibly diverse ecosystem. In the Bay of Donsol you can swim with whale sharks – the world’s largest fish which are giant but friendly.
There is also Noa Noa Island, which is great for snorkeling trips as it has thriving reefs and as a result, you can swim with literally thousands of fish in every colour of the rainbow.
This is one of the few places in the world where it is possible to snorkel next to wild humpback whales. It is a shallow stretch of sea meaning ships can’t travel here so it’s safe for the humpback whales to come to for mating and birthing.
6. Palau in Micronesia
If you have always found jellyfish fascinating then this is the place to go. Palau has a Jellyfish Lake filled with harmless jellyfish which you can safely swim and snorkel with, with no risk of getting stung at all. You will also see turtles, tropical fish, sharks and rays.
7. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia
The Great Barrier Reef is actually made up from almost 3,000 different reefs which cover more than 2,000 kilometres and is the world’s largest coral reef system – easily available to snorkelers who want to experience the fish and the coral which are incredibly diverse.
8. The Solomon Islands
These islands are great for snorkelers thanks to places like Uepi Island and Mary Island where you can actually wade offshore and come across stunning reefs which are home to giant eagle rays, batfish, sharks and barracuda.
10. Isla Holbox in Mexico
This is another destination where you can swim with whale sharks which swim near the surface feeding on plankton. It’s a sleepy, eco-friendly island off the coast of Mexico.
11. Kealakekua Bay in Hawaii
This place has amazing fish, dolphins and turtles to discover while snorkeling, as well as stunning coral, to admire. It is a small way which can be accessed on foot via a jungle trail, by paddling a kayak or on a guided tour because the waters are protected. It also has a fascinating history as the place where Captain Cook was killed.
There are many stunning places in the world to go snorkeling where amazing marine life can still be spotted and enjoyed without being disturbed too much by other snorkelers and swimmers; it’s just a case of finding the right destination for you.
Whether you want to swim among small colourful fish and corals or prefer the dramatic scenery offered by swimming with giant whale sharks or humpback whales, there is a destination for everyone out there.