Best Places to Snorkel in the World: 12 Top Spots (2026)

Snorkeler floating over a colorful coral reef in east Bali — A snorkeler over the reef on Bali's east coast — photo courtesy of Kriss Bali Diving.

The best places to snorkel in the world are the Great Barrier Reef, Raja Ampat, the Maldives, the Red Sea, Nusa Penida and the Gili Islands in Indonesia, Akumal in Mexico, and Ningaloo Reef in Australia. The right one for you depends on the season you travel in, what you want to see (turtles, mantas, coral gardens) and how confident you are in the water.

Below are 12 snorkeling spots with their best months and conditions, followed by real snorkel trips you can book on Be Underwater. New to the sport? Start with our snorkeling for beginners guide, or see where to snorkel with sea turtles.

12 Best Snorkeling Spots at a Glance

Spot	Country	Best months	What you see	Level and conditions	Book
Great Barrier Reef	Australia	June to October (dry season)	Hard coral gardens, giant clams, reef fish, turtles	Beginner to intermediate; boat trips from Cairns and Port Douglas	-
Raja Ampat	Indonesia	October to April	Some of the richest reef fish diversity on Earth, wobbegong sharks, manta rays at certain sites	Intermediate; remote, usually reached by boat or homestay	Raja Ampat season guide
Maldives house reefs	Maldives	Year-round; driest from December to April	Reef sharks, turtles, rays, colorful reef fish straight off the beach	Beginner to intermediate; depends on the resort island	Maldives dive centers
Ras Mohammed and Abu Dabbab	Egypt (Red Sea)	Year-round; water is coolest from December to March	Walls and coral gardens at Ras Mohammed; turtles and seagrass at Abu Dabbab	Beginner to intermediate; day trips from Sharm, Hurghada and Marsa Alam	Snorkelling in Hurghada, from ~$48
Nusa Penida	Indonesia (Bali)	April to October (dry season)	Manta rays, turtles, reef fish; cooler water than most of Bali	Intermediate; currents can be strong, guided boat trips recommended	Nusa Penida snorkelling trip, from ~$22
Gili Islands	Indonesia (Lombok)	April to October (dry season)	Green and hawksbill turtles, reef fish, easy shallow reefs	Beginner friendly; calm shallow water	Gili Islands dive centers
Akumal	Mexico (Riviera Maya)	Year-round; calmest in the drier months	Green sea turtles feeding on seagrass, rays, reef fish	Beginner friendly; shallow bay, guided entry rules apply	Playa del Carmen dive centers
Hanauma Bay	USA (Oahu, Hawaii)	Year-round	Protected bay with reef fish and the occasional turtle	Beginner friendly; sheltered, shallow bay	-
Silfra Fissure	Iceland	Year-round	Exceptionally clear glacial water between two tectonic plates, not marine life	Guided only, in a drysuit; water is very cold	-
Hol Chan Marine Reserve	Belize	Year-round; drier from February to May	Nurse sharks, rays, reef fish on the Belize Barrier Reef	Beginner to intermediate; guided boat tours from Ambergris Caye	Belize liveaboards
Ningaloo Reef	Australia	March to July for whale sharks; reef is good most of the year	Whale sharks, turtles, reef sharks, coral you can reach from the beach	Beginner to intermediate; whale shark tours are licensed and run by boat	-
Green Bay, Protaras	Cyprus	May to October	Green turtles, rocky reef fish, clear sheltered water	Beginner friendly; guided boat trip	Green Bay guided snorkel trip, from ~$65

Seasons are general guidance; weather, swell and local rules change, so check with the operator before you go. Prices shown are listed on Be Underwater and vary by season.

How to Choose a Snorkeling Destination

For turtles: Akumal, the Gili Islands, Green Bay in Cyprus and Abu Dabbab in Egypt are the most reliable. See the full list in our sea turtle snorkeling guide.
For big animals: Nusa Penida (mantas) and Ningaloo (whale sharks, in season) are worth planning a trip around. Both are best done with a licensed, guided operator.
For first-timers: pick a sheltered, shallow bay such as Hanauma Bay, Akumal or Green Bay, ideally with a guide.
For pure coral and fish variety: Raja Ampat and the Great Barrier Reef lead the list, but both take more effort and budget to reach.

Snorkel Trips You Can Book on Be Underwater

Snorkel boat below the cliffs of Nusa Penida, Bali — A snorkel boat under the cliffs of Nusa Penida — photo courtesy of Scuba Junkie Penida.

Be Underwater is a marketplace: each trip below is listed and run by the operator named, and prices are what is listed on Be Underwater, which varies by season.

Green Bay guided snorkel trip, Famagusta/Protaras, Cyprus — Triton Adventures — from ~$65
Snorkel from the boat, Los Cristianos, Tenerife — Diving Atlantis — from ~$53
Snorkel trip by boat, Tenerife — Aqua-Marina Dive Center — from ~$53
Snorkel by boat, Costa Adeje, Tenerife — Scuba Point Tenerife — from ~$59
Snorkelling in Hurghada, Egypt — from ~$48
Nusa Penida snorkelling trip (mantas/turtles area), Bali — Scuba Junkie Penida — from ~$22
Snorkeling trip in Nusa Penida (from south Bali) — Kriss Bali Diving — from ~$135
Snorkeling trip in Amed, Tulamben or Padang Bai — Kriss Bali Diving — from ~$85
Snorkeling, Koh Chang, Thailand — Koh Chang Divers — from ~$24
Private snorkel boat charter, Koh Tao — Goodtime Adventures — from ~$255

Browse every snorkel trip in one place: all snorkel trips on Be Underwater.

Before You Go

Use reef-safe sun protection. A rash vest or a wetsuit top protects both your back and the reef.
Never touch or stand on coral, and keep your distance from turtles, rays and sharks.
Snorkel with a buddy or guide, and check currents and boat traffic before entering.
Ready to go deeper? A discover scuba diving session needs no certification. See best places to scuba dive.

FAQ: Best Places to Snorkel

What is the best place in the world to snorkel?

It depends on what you want to see. The Great Barrier Reef and Raja Ampat are the classic answers for sheer coral and fish diversity, the Maldives and the Red Sea offer reef snorkeling straight from shore or short boat rides, and Akumal, the Gili Islands and Green Bay in Cyprus are among the easiest places to see sea turtles.

What is the best month to go snorkeling?

There is no single best month worldwide. In general, pick a destination's dry season for calmer water and better visibility: June to October for the Great Barrier Reef and April to October for Bali and the Gili Islands, December to April for the Maldives, October to April for Raja Ampat. The Red Sea can be snorkeled year-round.

Can beginners snorkel in these places?

Yes, many of them. Hanauma Bay, the Gili Islands, Akumal and Green Bay are shallow and sheltered. Nusa Penida, Raja Ampat and parts of the Red Sea can have currents, so a guided boat trip is the safer way to go if you are new to it.

Do I need to be a good swimmer to snorkel?

You should be comfortable in the water, but you do not need to be a strong swimmer. A flotation vest or swim vest keeps you at the surface with no effort, and many guided snorkel trips provide one. Always stay within reach of your guide or buddy.

Can I book snorkel trips on Be Underwater?

Yes. Be Underwater is a marketplace where dive centers and boat operators list their own snorkel trips, including Cyprus, Tenerife, Hurghada, Bali, Koh Chang and Koh Tao. You can browse them all under the Snorkel category and request your booking online.