What Is The Best Caribbean Island For Snorkeling From The Beach
Waterlemon Cay is the best. It is an exceptional reef with a very shallow depth that allows you to dive in the best way. It is only 10 minutes from the coast, and you only have to walk a kilometer from the white sand beach of Leinster Bay to get there. In the place, you can observe turtles and all kinds of marine life that reflect all the colors of the iris. It is a fascinating fact that you will never want to leave the place.
We Build Amazing Memories For You
Let the award-winning Exceptional Villas sales team talk you through your dream snorkel vacation. With decades of experience, we delight in introducing our valued clients to experiences and destinations that are both beautiful and exclusive. Whatever literally floats you boat, we have a line on it and will be delighted to build a bespoke vacation like no other.
Bora Bora French Polynesia
With so many properties on Bora Bora offering accommodations in overwater bungalows, snorkeling here couldn’t be any easier. However, the “Aquarium” off the southern tip of the main island shouldn’t be missed, and if you chose to stay at the Sofitel Private Island Resort you’ll have unlimited access via kayak or Tahitian canoe to its adjacent motu otherwise accessible only by private boat rental.
Favorite place to stay: The aforementioned Sofitel Private Island Resort .
Bonaire National Marine Park Bonaire
Bonaire National Marine Park, Bonaire
Dedicated scuba divers know that Bonaire is among the best scuba diving locations in the world. Fortunately for snorkelers, this means the island boasts some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean, such as the Bonaire National Marine Park. This site covers more than 6,700 thousand acres and is home to more than 340 fish species and healthy populations of endangered sea turtles.
As Bonaire offers some of the best snorkeling in the world, you can enter the water almost anywhere off the island. Although, youll have the best luck spotting sea turtles if you book a boat tour that will take you to some of the best sandy-bottom spots, most of which are just a bit too far offshore to reach by swimming.
Puerto Rico Cayo Diablo National Park
The opportunity to experience diving through one of the most glorious marine attractions in the world is something not to be missed. In Cayo Diablo, people can dive through the unspoiled and most beautiful reefs in the entire Caribbean Sea.
This beautiful ecosystem is a bridge that unites and develops along the boundary between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. With approximately 18 meters of depth, people have the opportunity to see a great variety of animal species that coexist in corals.
Cayo Diablo is a paradise for turtle lovers because this site is the preferred habitat of a population of Hawksbill and green turtles. They develop peacefully in the environment and coexist in harmony with the rest of the animal species.
They can also marvel at the beautiful and vibrant colors seen in the corals. With the expert guides, you can fully enjoy a safe and completely wonderful experience.
This divers amusement park has so many attractions that people never get bored. They can have fun feeding the sea turtles and even study their behavior. Species from both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea converge at this site.
Video Guide:
Us Virgin Islands Waterlemon Cay
This island is a tropical paradise and a tourist attraction for people from all over the world. Thanks to its wonderful natural conditions, it is the ideal habitat for large sea turtles and dolphins.
The beautiful and colorful fish make the experience that much more entertaining and fun. These animals unfold calmly and naturally in their natural habitat while people observe them during diving tours. With the help of experienced guides, tourists can enjoy and carry out the tour safely.
During the diving tour, people can observe how marine ecosystems develop among the various corals. The vibrant colors that surround the entire environment make the place extremely attractive and eye-catching. Most people take pictures to remind the beauty of their environment while they are ten meters deep.
People feel completely safe during the tour because the animals that live in the environment are harmless. The guides also have the required preparation and knowledge to provide tourists with an experience like no other.
Waterlemon Cay is the ideal destination for people who want to enjoy the best diving experience. They have the opportunity to see the most beautiful and eye-catching marine attractions from around the world.
Video Guide:
Grenadines Tobago Caymarine Park
When a person wants to dive into the Caribbean Tobago Cay is one of the most popular options available. This island is known to people as the Crown Jewel of the Grenadines.
It is the ideal place to see sea turtles of different species and especially green turtles. A wide variety of reefs and corals can be seen arranged throughout the area, and the species interact with each other peacefully.
Tourists also enjoy seeing the places that turtles use to nest and reproduce. Likewise, at the feeding sites, people have the opportunity to feed the turtles and take a close look at them. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity that people cannot miss.
On diving tours through the mangroves, people enjoy spotting schools of young fish. They also have the opportunity to snorkel through the horseshoe reef and swim alongside the majestic eagle rays.
Tobago Cays biological environment cannot be found anywhere else. The natural beauty of this marine environment is extremely glorious and eye-catching for tourists. The population of marine species that coexist in the same habitat is very numerous, and they turn this environment into a natural reserve.
Video Guide:
Caribbean Snorkeling Explore Life Beneath The Waves
If theres one adventure that most people living in North America or Europe cannot enjoy on their home turf, its snorkeling in warm clear water! So, while youre vacationing in the islands, take advantage of the opportunity that Caribbean snorkeling offers Explore an underwater world that you just cant do at home. Slip into the invitingly warm Caribbean Sea and explore clear blue waters full of diverse coral, sponges, fans and colourful tropical fish Its a unique wild world unlike anything you can experience on land After a few hot days under the tropical sun, its good to know that snorkeling is also one of the few activities you can do in the Caribbean without working up a sweat
The Caribbean has a number of different islands featuring a variety of snorkeling experiences. Some have reefs you can snorkel right off the beach, while many offer reefs and wrecks to explore after a short boat ride. Some islands even feature underwater art, stingrays or bubbling waters from volcanic cracks on the sea floor. You choose the adventure For your best Caribbean snorkeling experience, follow the links below to get our island specific snorkeling site information as well as tour / boat operators to get you in the water.
Sapphire Beach St Thomas
Sapphire Beach, St. Thomas
Sapphire Beach in St. Thomas is just as pretty as it sounds, and that goes for both the above and underwater worlds. Not only is it home to some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean, but it also has a wide sandy beach, so you can relax in a lounger with a cocktail in hand between snorkel sessions.
While snorkeling, you wont have to go far to glimpse the underwater world. The reef is just 50 or so feet off the beach, and the large patches of seagrass just a bit further than that tend to attract sea turtles and the occasional baby stingray or nurse shark.
Where Is The Best Snorkeling In The Eastern Caribbean
Dominica is one of the islands that offer excellent places for snorkeling. This island has nine active volcanoes that offer divers a bubbly experience when diving. The most attractive place is Champagne Beach, where you can see the seahorses hanging from the rocky outcrop. Also, you can enjoy frogfish and flying blondes.
The 7 Best Snorkeling Destinations In The Caribbean You Need To Know
You are looking for information on the best snorkeling destinations in the Caribbean. This time: YES. Its going to be the best vacation your family ever had. The challenge: that everyone has fun, from the little 6-year-old, the mother, grandmother, and even your sister-in-laws son, that obnoxious teenager who doesnt find it worthwhile to talk to someone. This year you are going to snorkel. Thats right!
At Dressel Divers, we have been offering snorkeling experiences in the Caribbean for more than 28 years, and we know them all. Even more, we have the privilege of visiting several of these sites from our bases. So, keep calm. We will help you! These are the best snorkel vacation destinations in the Caribbean.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Where Is The Best Snorkeling In The Western Caribbean
In the Western Caribbean, one of the best places to dive in Grand Cayman. There you will find spectacular areas for snorkeling scattered throughout the island. One of the most popular is the sandbar in Stingray City because it provides a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the Stingrays and feed them without affecting their aquatic life and ecosystem. It is a unique experience that must be enjoyed several times in life.
The Best Snorkeling In The Caribbean
With so many places to choose from, planning a Caribbean snorkeling trip can feel overwhelming. Find out which islands have the best snorkeling in the Caribbean.
If youre considering a snorkeling trip to the Caribbean, youre likely wondering: which island has the best snorkeling?
With so many amazing snorkeling sites throughout this tropical region, its impossible to choose just one island. Weve selected 17 of the best snorkeling destinations in the Caribbean and highlighted top sites in each location. Here are the places where youll find the best snorkeling in the Caribbean.
A The Best Places To Snorkel In Mexico
1. Cozumel
Of the 11,122 km / 6911 mi. of Mexican coastline, 1000 km / 621 mi. are bathing in the Caribbean Sea. Rightly, it is the country that offers the most destinations for snorkeling in the world. There is a wide variety of experiences, animals, and corals to see without equal in the world.
In our selection, we talk about three areas that, due to their proximity, can constitute the best snorkeling vacations of your life.
Choosing a destination with the best snorkeling in the Caribbean is complicated.
It is already known: while some people think a location is extraordinary, for others it is so-so. But if there is something everyone agrees on Cozumel is one of the best destinations for coral reef snorkeling.
Snorkeling in Cozumel is like visiting an underwater paradise of vibrant corals along the second largest reef in the world. On the island, you can snorkel from the beach or a boat. If you choose the latter, you will be able to visit the most spectacular reefs.
For example, Palancar Reef and Colombia Shallows offer some of the best snorkeling on the Mexican island. Visibility reaches 30 meters / 100 feet.
Angel, parrot and triggerfish, nurse sharks, turtles of various species, and beautiful coral formations of vibrant colors are waiting for you there.
2. Isla Mujeres and Holbox Island
What do Isla Mujeres and Isla Holbox have in common that other Caribbean Islands do not? From mid-May to September, they have the largest fish in the ocean on their shores.
3. Cenotes
Escambrn Marine Park Puerto Rico
Escambrón Marine Park, Puerto Rico
The world-famous Escambrón Marine Park in Puerto Rico offers some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean for people who love taking underwater photos.
Thanks to intentionally sunken statues and columns, theres a whole ancient city underwater here, as well as more than 200 artificial reefs. These provides plenty of places for fish and sea creatures to live, so the park has its own mini-habitat.
Pigeon Island National Park St Lucia
Pigeon Island National Park, St. Lucia
St. Lucia is one of the most beautiful islands in the region, so its just the icing on the cake that it offers some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean, too. For a dream experience, head to Pigeon Island.
Five hundred different fish species have been spotted in the islands reefs, including everything from rainbow parrotfish to pink-and-yellow Spanish hogfish to the ornate spotted scorpionfish. If there was ever a place to carry a fish ID chart with you in the water, Pigeon Island is it.
United States Virgin Islands
If youre looking for a magical place to snorkel in the Caribbean, the USVI has a variety of options to choose from. Most spots are island reefs which are located just offshore. The waters are home to an abundance of life, including seahorses and lobsters.
The three main US Virgin Islands include Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas. But there are several minor islands offering unbeatable snorkeling experiences.
St Vincent And The Grenadines
This island chain south of St. Lucia contains the main island of St. Vincent and 31 additional islands and cays known as the Grenadines. There are outstanding snorkeling sites spread throughout the archipelago, although most of these places require a boat to access them.
One of the best snorkeling spots in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is Tobago Cays Marine Park. This protected area is a snorkelers paradise and includes the 2.5-mile-long Horseshoe Reef, where you can see green sea turtles, eagle rays, nurse sharks, corals, sea fans, and other marine life. The mile-long reef surrounding the nearby island of Canouan is also an excellent destination.
Best Snorkeling Spots In The Caribbean
Unlike scuba diving, which requires more gear and more courage, snorkeling is a breeze for underwater sightseers. All it takes is a mask and a tube, a pair of fins, an inflatable life vest and a sense of adventure. Add snorkeling to sun, sand and sea and youll hear a whole lot of oohs and aahs courtesy of spectacular submerged landscapes, the occasional shipwreck and schools of crayon-colored tropical fish cavorting in clear calm water. Easy to master and too much fun not to try, floating near the surface of the water is so mesmerizing that it may become the focus of your island vacation.
Where To Stay In Bonaire
Justin and I adore staying at apartments while we travel, so the One Ocean Boutique Apartments looks like a great choice. The Courtyard by Marriott Bonaire Dive Resort looks like a spectacular choice for those interested in a scuba diving trip.
There are lots of fantastic hotels in Bonaire and vacation rentals as well. Heres a helpful map if youd like to browse all hotels and Airbnbs in one place to compare them.
Cozumel National Coral Reef Marine Park Mexico
Cozumel, off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, has an abundance of incredible snorkeling and dive sites surrounding the entire island. My choice for some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean goes to the coral reefs at the Cozumel National Coral Reef Marine Park. Cozumel has the second largest coral reef system in the world , after the Great Barrier Reef.
There are several species under varying degrees of protection that live at the national park, including sea turtles, the Cozumel Splendid Toadfish, and black coral. I recommend that you check out Paradise Reef, Palancar Reef, El Cielo Reef, or Parque Chankanaab . Cozumel is a popular cruise port, and you can also easily visit from Playa del Carmen if youre staying at a resort.
Curacao Underwater Marine Park Curacao
The 12-mile long Curacao Underwater Marine Park sits along the southern coastline of Curacao, renowned as one of the best snorkeling sites in the Caribbean. Youll find vast coral gardens, sunken ships, schools of nurse sharks and a wide variety of exotic marine life. Marked trails and signs will help you find your way and even identify just what youre seeing. Youll encounter hundreds of species of fish and coral just a few fin-kicks from the beach in addition to enjoying average visibility of 110 feet and temperate waters all year round.
Best Snorkeling In The Caribbean
This page may contain compensated links. For more information read our disclaimer here.
by Kristin Young | Updated On: January 25, 2022 | Snorkel
The magnetic appeal of a Caribbean vacation is strong, attracting people all around the world to its clear waters and sunshine-filled days. If youre planning a trip yourself and wondering which Caribbean island has the best snorkeling, then look no further.
The Caribbean epitomizes a tropical island getaway, complete with the promise of countless snorkeling adventures. There are so many idyllic spots with vibrant marine life that it can be quite challenging to decide where to begin.
Trunk Bay St John Us Virgin Islands
Lets take you way, way back to the beginning stages of this travel blog and one of my first vacations with Justin. If you dont count a few road trips to Montreal and to the USA, our first holiday together was a Caribbean cruise. One of our Caribbean cruise ports was Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas.
From there, we booked a snorkeling cruise ship excursion in St. John, USVI. A tour bus took us to the ferry, which we took to St. John. From there, a second smaller taxi transported us to Trunk Bay, only a short ride away. As one of our first time snorkeling together, we were really spoiled by some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean in St. John.
Trunk Bay is part of the Virgin Islands National Parkand also happens to be one of the most photographed beaches in the USVI. Conde Nast named it one of the top beaches in the world. Needless to say, its an absolutely gorgeous island, and you can also find the best snorkeling from the beach there. It features a 225-yard-long underwater snorkeling trail with some of the most calm and clean water. Youll see an amazing variety of fish just a short distance from the shore. This is some of the best Caribbean snorkeling for beginners and seasoned pros.
The beach itself is extremely clean, too. Even if youre seeking a beach day, this is a phenomenal choice. Add snorkeling to the mix, and youve got the perfect day! Trunk Bay in St. John is one of the best Caribbean islands for snorkeling vacations.