Best Places to Snorkel in the Caribbean

From Eastern to the Southern Caribbean, these are the islands you’ll find have the best snorkeling.

Sapphire Beach - Saint Thomas

Clear blue water and schools of different fish species. This area probably had the most vast variety of fish I’ve seen - many of which I hadn’t seen before (including cuttlefish).

Underwater is a bit rocky, and there’s less coral, but there were rays, turtles and a few harmless lemon sharks lurking in the area.

Mahogany Bay - Roatan, Honduras

This beach is privately owned by the Carnival Corporation, therefore you can only visit it by a cruise ship. And if snorkeling is an activity you enjoy, I’d highly suggest doing so.

I’ve been to most of the islands in the Caribbean and Eastern Mexico, but nothing compares to the underwater beauty at Roatan. Because it’s a bay, the water is clear and very calm. The coral reef is vibrant and full of fish, starfish, urchins, and even a few tiny jellyfish.

Turtle Cove, Buck Island - Saint Thomas

Taking a catamaran out to Turtle Cove.

Turtle Cove is a National Wildlife Refuge, so the marine life in this area is heavily protected. If you’re hoping to snorkel with sea turtles, this location is a guarantee. Expect to see dozens of sea turtles, fish, and possibly a few smaller sharks.

Grand Cayman

The water clarity in the Cayman Islands is crystal clear. Even from the top of a cruise ship, you can look down and see through the waters to the bottom.

Whatever marine life you’re in search of, you’ll find in Grand Cayman. Aside from sharks, rays, sea turtles, there’s a large variety of fish - most notably, barracuda and large Silver Tarpon.