There are plenty of places around the world where you can go snorkelling and see a few fish. But these ten are genuinely incredible. What makes it special, varies, however. It may be the variety of marine life, the quality of the water or the novelty of swimming between continental plates. Either way, get that mask on…
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Several of the world’s top snorkelling sites are clustered between the Philippines, Timor and New Guinea, in the so-called ‘Coral Triangle’.
It’s not the easiest place to get to, but the Raja Ampat Islands off West Papua are in with a strong shout of being the most impressive destination within this triangle. There are around 540 species of coral, while lack of development and run-off makes for excellent water quality and there’s such diversity that some recently-found species there weren’t known to exist until a few years ago.
Komodo National Park
Also within the Coral Triangle, and marginally easier to get to, the Komodo National Park is best known for the big beasts that live on the land. But once in the water, you’re likely to forget about the Komodo dragons, and concentrate on the manta rays, sharks and dolphins swimming past. It’s also an excellent spot for nudibranchs – weird, often hypercolouful molluscs. One day snorkelling adventures are available from East Nusa Tenggara.
The Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
Let’s get the big daddy out of the way, then – the Great Barrier Reef isn’t named sarcastically. But there’s an art to picking the best snorkelling sites.
As a general rule of thumb, the outer reef is in better condition than the inner reef – the Agincourt Reef where Quicksilver Cruises heads to from Port Douglas is an excellent bet. Similarly, the southern sections of the Reef are less affected by bleaching.
Fly out to the likes of Lady Elliot Island further south in Queensland, and you’ve got great variety just offshore.
The Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
The Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia isn’t necessarily better than the Great Barrier – it’s just different. And it’s incredibly close to shore. Swim out for about 100 metres from the beaches on the North West Cape, and you’re over the dazzling coral, shoals of brightly-striped fish and in amongst the gliding rays. For sheer white sand magic and reef accessibility, Turquoise Bay is a plum base.
The Ningaloo Reef is also a superb place to swim with whale sharks.
Moreton Island, Queensland
Don’t expect all that much coral and fish action here, although rays and turtles are usually spotted. Moreton Island’s USP is a little different, offering something usually only available to divers – a series of shipwrecks near the shore at Tangalooma are easily explored with a snorkel and fins. Australian Sunset Safaris runs one day adventure tours, including kayaking sandboarding after the snorkelling, from Brisbane.
Cenote dos Ojos, Mexico
Not all snorkelling has to be done in the sea, and Mexico’s cenotes – essentially giant sinkholes – serve up a visually stunning freshwater experience. There are several of them along the Riviera Maya coast on the Yucatan Peninsula, and it’s not so much about what’s living in there as the rock formations. If you can imagine swimming through a show cave, you’re about right – and Cenote dos Ojos near Akumal is dazzling example of this. Entry is via guided tour only.
The Silfra fissure, Iceland
The aquatic life isn’t up to much in Iceland’s Thingvellir National Park, but going for a snorkel in the Silfa fissure isn’t really about fish-spotting. Like the Mexican cenotes, the rock formations are staggering, but this time there’s added lava. However, it’s mainly about bragging rights – the fissure is the crack between two continental plates, and how many people can say they’ve gone swimming in one of them? It’s one of the key bucket list activities for a trip to Iceland.
Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Belize
The colourful coral’s there, as are the multi-coloured parrotfish, but the key attraction in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve is the unimaginatively-named Shark-Ray Alley.
No prizes for guessing what swims through here in large numbers, although they’re able accompanied by teams of splashing humans on day trips from Ambergris Caye.
Palau
The notorious Jellyfish Lake – full of harmless jellyfish – is the best-known snorkelling destination in this tiny Micronesian island nation. But with most of its waters a marine sanctuary, with supreme visibility and dramatic underwater walls, pretty much every time you jump off the boat you’re going to find something special here. Several dive operators run snorkeller-friendly tours.
Aitutaki Lagoon, Cook Islands
Has it got the best marine life? No. But you’re going to wish you’d packed a snorkel more than ever before if you visit one of the world’s greatest lagoons in the Cook Islands.
The key factor in Aitutaki is being able to slide off the beach – all the island’s accommodation is next to it – and into the water. Where most snorkelling trips require a degree of organisation, here you can go on a whim in search of trevally, giant clams and turtles.
