These Caribbean Resorts Are Perfect for Snorkeling Lovers, From Antigua to Bonaire to The Bahamas

It’s one of the most popular activities in the Caribbean — snorkeling. There’s nothing quite like slipping on a mask and fins and diving into another world just offshore. Coral gardens, schools of tropical fish, sea turtles drifting by — snorkeling calls to the adventurer in all of us.

Yes, you can snorkel at just about any beach in the region. But true snorkel lovers want more: hotels where the reefs are closer, the gear is ready, and the excursions are endless. Hotels made for undersea adventure. Some are dedicated dive resorts, others simply happen to be blessed with extraordinary water. All of them offer a window into the Caribbean’s most vivid, unforgettable experiences.

Here are the best hotels for snorkeling in the Caribbean right now.

Bimini Big Game Club, The Bahamas

There’s no place in The Bahamas quite like Bimini, and at its heart is the legendary Bimini Big Game Club. This is where island history, Hemingway lore, and saltwater adventure all come together. For snorkelers, it’s a dream. The waters around Bimini are alive — reefs rich with coral, colorful fish darting through the shallows, and sites like the Sapona, the famous partially sunken ship, just minutes away.

The real engine of the experience is Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center, based right at the resort. The operation runs six boats, including a 60-foot glass-bottom dive boat that’s perfect for snorkelers and sightseers as much as divers. You can explore wrecks and reefs, but also sign up for unforgettable encounters: Great Hammerhead Shark Safaris, Wild Dolphin swims, Reef Shark dives, and Stingray adventures. For anyone who wants to go further, the center also offers PADI certifications and courses.

Back on land, the resort has an easy, classic vibe: a lively marina, a poolside bar, and evenings that slip into the rhythm of island life. Bimini Big Game Club isn’t just a hotel — it’s the ultimate launch point into some of the most thrilling waters in the Caribbean.

Small Hope Bay Lodge, Andros, Bahamas

Tucked away on the mysterious, spectacularly beautiful island of Andros in the Out Islands of The Bahamas is Small Hope Bay, a charming lodge that was the first dive resort in the history of the Caribbean. And now, more than a half century later, it’s still a Mecca for watersports lovers, particularly snorkeling. Whether you take the daily trip to snorkel shallow sites along the Andros Barrier Reef, or enjoy the diverse range of snorkel spots along the shore, Small Hope Bay has it all (even night snorkeling). It all adds up to the region’s best hotel for snorkeling — and a true bucket-list destination.

True Blue Bay Boutique Resort, Grenada

Colorful, creative, and distinctly Grenadian, True Blue Bay is a boutique escape with a serious love for the sea. The resort sits on a lively bay with calm waters perfect for a first snorkel right off the dock. But the real adventure is nearby — the staff can arrange trips to Grenada’s famous Underwater Sculpture Park, or to snorkel-rich sites like Flamingo Bay, where coral gardens bloom just below the surface. The vibe here is relaxed and personal, with eco-conscious touches, family ownership, and a sense that you’re part of the island community. After a day in the water, you can lounge at the pool, sip a rum punch at Dodgy Dock, and plan the next morning’s snorkel adventure.

Pineapple Beach Club, Antigua

On Antigua’s east coast, Pineapple Beach Club is a classic all-inclusive perched on one of the island’s most dazzling beaches. The calm, turquoise waters just offshore are tailor-made for snorkeling, with reefs and rocky outcrops alive with parrotfish, sergeant majors, and the occasional sea turtle. But what really sets it apart are Long Bay’s snorkeling trails. The resort’s watersports team has the gear ready, and boat trips can take you out to some of the island’s top offshore sites for even more adventure. It’s adults-only, laid-back, and designed for long, easy days spent drifting between the beach, the sea, and the bar.

Lions Dive, Curaçao

The island of Curaçao has long been one of the best-kept secrets in Caribbean diving, and that’s equally true for snorkeling. At Curaçao’s premier dive resort, the snorkeling options are endless, with a particularly good tour offering, whether you want to explore the Tugboat shipwreck or Director’s Bay.

Harbour Village Beach Club, Bonaire

Bonaire is one of the world’s snorkeling capitals, and Harbour Village Beach Club puts it all at your doorstep. Its private white-sand beach leads directly to clear waters teeming with marine life, while the resort’s dive center can arrange trips to Klein Bonaire and other legendary snorkel sites. The atmosphere is refined and tranquil — the kind of place where the day’s biggest decision is whether to snorkel before or after lunch by the pool. And the snorkeling really is that good, just steps from your room.

Royalton Grenada, Grenada

On the southern coast of Grenada, Royalton Grenada sits on two beautiful beaches: Tamarind Bay and Magazine Beach. The snorkeling here is easy and rewarding, with shallow reefs just off the shore. It’s a modern all-inclusive with full amenities — and a base for exploring Grenada’s spectacular underwater world, from sculpture parks to colorful reefs.

Anse Chastanet, Saint Lucia

This beachfront resort in the intoxicatingly beautiful town of Soufriere in Saint Lucia is a terrific snorkeling spot. All snorkeling equipment is free at the property’s on-site scuba center. But the real fun begins at the Anse Chastanet reef, which begins just about 30 feet from the edge of the beach, with more than 150 different species of marine life. There are also snorkeling boat trips on offer. It all adds up to a perfect snorkeling hotel.

Fort Young Hotel, Dominica

While Dominica is most famous for its jaw dropping scenery above the water, it’s long been a favored destination for in-the-know divers and snorkelers. And that’s particularly true for the latter, whether you want to explore the bubble-filled waters of Champagne Reef or the Scott’s Head drop off. And at the island’s premier hotel, snorkeling is a focus; the Fort Young’s dive concierge will coordinate any snorkeling trip you’re thinking of, or you can jump off the dock and explore the waters right in Roseau’s harbour. 

Sunset House, Grand Cayman

It’s one of the region’s legendary dive hotels, thanks to a wide collection of snorkeling sites both right offshore and those accessed by boat. It’s a central point to explore the teeming waters of Grand Cayman, whether you want to snorkel one of the island’s many wrecks or do a trip to Stingray City. 

Scuba Lodge, Curaçao

This relatively new boutique hotel on the outskirts of Willemstad is all about marine adventure. That includes the property’s famous Snorkel Bus, on which the resort’s dive instructors will take you to explore some of Curaçao’s most remarkable snorkeling spots, or do a visit to the offshore island of Klein Curaçao . Oh, and the Thursday happy hour is a great way to top off a day under the water. 

Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Exuma, The Bahamas

Once you’ve visited the Exuma chain of The Bahamas, you’ll be convinced that it’s home to the most beautiful water in the world. So it’s not a shock that the archipelago is home to some world-class snorkeling. And that’s certainly the case at the Exuma’s most beloved place to stay, the boutique Staniel Cay Yacht Club. It’s the perfect jumping off point for snorkeling journeys, whether you’re at the Thunderball Grotto (yes, from the James Bond film) or the Exuma Land and Sea Park.

Guana Island, British Virgin Islands 

This luxury private-island retreat in the British Virgin Islands is a natural playground, with pristine beaches and three distinct reef areas, right off the shore, including White Bay, which boasts more than 125 different varieties of fish. And then there’s Monkey Point at the tip of Guana, home to some of the most marvelous snorkeling in the region. And the best part? Guana’s unmatched privacy means you’ll just about have it all to yourself.

Bolongo Bay, St Thomas

What if you could snorkel a beautiful bay and end up with a bottle of rum? The beloved Bolongo Bay has been hiding rum in the waters of its bay for years for its weekly Snorkel Booze Hunt, and that’s just the beginning. You can leave right from the dock for excellent snorkeling tours around St Thomas, or go snorkeling and swimming with sea turtles on the property’s Heavenly Days boat.