One of the most popular water activities for tourists traveling for beach vacations is snorkelling. Nothing beats escaping reality and traveling to a remote beach to float through tranquil waters, marvelling over the vibrant fish and mesmerising sea creatures.
The earth’s surface is mostly covered by water, so there’s certainly no shortage of exquisite sea life to discover. Grab your mask, snorkel and fins and travel to these best beaches around the world for an enjoyable snorkelling experience.
1. Maui
Maui is in Hawaii and is a classic family favourite for a pleasant beach vacation. It has an abundance of tranquil beaches and crystal-clear water. The lush island also has unique lava rocks and coves that make the visit worthwhile.
Tourists can snorkel off the island’s beaches or venture out to well-known reefs to see some sea turtles, technicolour fish and coral formations. Don’t miss out on the opportunity of visiting the Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve, which is a perfect place for beginners to enjoy undersea life.
2. Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the world’s largest coral reef, with more than 3000 individual reef systems and coral cays. This is indeed the most iconic diving and snorkelling destination in the world. The best and easiest way to experience the great barrier reef is to join any boat tour that takes snorkellers to various spots around the reef.
Most divers and snorkelers choose to base themselves in Cairns, but Townsville and Port Douglas also offer easy access to enjoyable swims. Some tourists prefer to snorkel close by, so Heron Island is a small but lovely coral cay island situated at the southern end of the great barrier reef that’s a perfect alternative.
3. Baa Atoll
Baa Atoll is in the Maldives, located southwest of India in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is considered as one of the most picturesque coral islands in the world, surrounded by aquamarine waters that are home to hundreds of fish species and other aquatic animals including octopus, sharks and mantra rays.
Baa Atoll is one of the Maldives’s 26 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and supports one of the largest groups of coral reefs in the Indian Ocean. Hundreds of mantra rays gather on the island to take advantage of the zooplankton trapped in the bays from the periods of June to November.
4. Koh Tao
Koh Tao is in Thailand and is also referred to as the Japanese Gardens due to its spectacular boulders that are covered with incredible hard and soft coral. The small island is home to spectacular coral and aquatic life, the area is surrounded by tranquil, turquoise waters with enchanting bays and beaches.
Koh Tao is an island synonymous for its world class diving and snorkelling, and you can expect to spot baby sharks, tigerfish, clownfish and more while swimming, or you can simply relax on the shore enjoying the view and a few real money pokies on your phone.
5. Bora Bora
Bora Bora is an island in the French Polynesia known for its sunny weather, crystal clear waters and snow-white sandy beaches. If you yearn to get closer to sharks while snorkelling or scuba diving, Bora Bora should definitely be at the top of your bucket list. Here, you can have close encounters with lemon sharks and blacktip reef, along with turtles, rays, dolphins, and colourful coral.