It’s one of if not the most popular activity for Caribbean travelers: snorkeling. Aside from lounging on the beach and drinking rum, grabbing a mask and fins and heading into the sea is one of the main draws for travelers — and thankfully the Caribbean is full of great places to snorkel. Indeed, it’s not a stretch to say that the Caribbean is the world’s best snorkeling destination. These are our favorite places for snorkeling, looking at everything from ease of access to the number of great snorkeling sites to the number of high-quality snorkeling excursions.
Bonaire
There’s nowhere with more easy to access shore snorkeling in the Caribbean, thanks to the spectacular marine park that runs the perimeter of the island. That’s in large part due to the forward-thinking marine conservation practices that have put Bonaire at the forefront of the Caribbean.
St. Lucia
St. Lucia’s beauty above the ground sometimes obscures just how great the island is for snorkeling, whether you’re at the base of the Pitons, off the beach at Anse Chastanet or even popular Rodney Bay.
Tobago Cays
At the heart of the Grenadines, one of the world’s greatest sailing destinations is also one of the region’s snorkeling destinations, spread around five uninhabited islands with crystal clear water, teeming with vibrant marine life.
Grenada
Another hidden gem snorkeling destination, Grenada’s most famous attraction is its underwater sculpture park, which was the world’s first underwater sculpture park when it opened in 2006 under the stewardship of sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. But that’s just the beginning with great spots at sites including Grand Anse Beach and the Levera National Park, among others. That ‘s along with what the island calls the “Wreck Dive Capital of the Eastern Caribbean.”
St. John
St. John is littered with reefs thanks to a long-held conservation bent on the island, with no spot more famous than Trunk Bay’s Underwater Trail, a bucket-list spot for Caribbean snorkelers.
The British Virgin Islands
Ok, it’s not just one island, but the BVI archipelago is simply teeming with great snorkeling spots, from the famous Indians rock formation to The Baths in Virgin Gorda to the caves of Norman Island. And that’s just the beginning.
Dominica
Dominica is one of the Caribbean’s under-the-radar diving destinations, and it’s equally true for snorkelers. The biggest pull for snorkelers is the amazing Champagne Reef destination, so called for the geothermal vapors that give the feeling of snorkeling in bubbles — another bucket list experience for Caribbean travelers.
Cozumel
When it comes to the Mexican Caribbean, Cozumel is the de facto capital for snorkelers, with great shore snorkeling, led by the Chankanaab National Park, home to some spectacular underwater sculpture placements.
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is one of the world’s greatest destinations, but it also boasts some serious snorkeling, whether you’re snorkeling with the rays at Stingray City or even right off the shore in George Town.
Aruba
It’s not a surprise that an island with so many great beaches is also home to top-level snorkeling — and the best part is that it’s all right off the beach. You just need to know where to go — and that includes sites like Arashi Beach, Boca Catalina, Tres Trapi and, of course, Malmok Beach.
The Exumas
The Windex-colored waters of the Bahamas’ Exumas chain bring travelers from around the world, and it’s no surprise that there’s wonderful snorkeling to be found here, with the major destination being Thunderball Grotto (above), famous as the filming location from the James Bond film with the same name.
Jamaica
Jamaica’s North Coast is dotted with reefs suitable for both diving and snorkeling, and many of the areas hotels, particularly its all-inclusive resorts, offer snorkeling as part of their packages. That’s without mentioning sites like the snorkeling off the cliffs on the west end of Negril and even Doctor’s Cave Beach in Montego Bay.
Bimini
There’s no snorkeling destination closer to the mainland than Bimini, one of the region’s aquatic epicenters. There’s great diving both on and offshore, remarkable marine life and even wrecks that can be easily accessed.
Belize
The 192-mile-long Belize Barrier Reef is the longest such reef in the northern hemisphere, meaning finding great snorkeling is eminently easy to do. That’s true whether you’re on an excursion from the capital or on any number of the country’s offshore islands.