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The 11 best places to snorkel with sea turtles

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Sea turtles are some of the most remarkable animals you can encounter in our oceans. They have existed for over 100 million years, can live for over a century, and some swim more than 10,000 miles between nesting and foraging grounds each year. There are seven different species of sea turtle, and you can find them at locations around the world. Here is our roundup of the best places to snorkel with these charming animals.

1) Australia

Photo by Manny Moreno on Unsplash

Whether you choose to explore Australia’s eastern or western coast, there are numerous places to go snorkeling with sea turtles. The Great Barrier Reef has world-class snorkeling and hosts six of the seven species of sea turtle. A visit to this special area also offers the chance to explore the oldest rainforest in the world, the Daintree Rainforest. Western Australia also has great snorkeling and numerous sea turtles, especially at Shark Bay, Ningaloo Reef and the Muiron Islands.

2) Malaysia

Mabul, Sipadan and Kapalai offer some of the best and most diverse snorkeling opportunities in the world, especially for sea turtle fans. Sipadan’s bright blue waters are teeming with big fish and huge green sea turtles, whilst Mabul is the place to go for spotting sea turtles cruising along coral reefs. Make sure you visit in August if you want to see nesting sea turtles at Sipadan.

3) The Maldives

Maldives scuba diving is high on many divers’ wish lists, but you don’t need to be a diver to make the most of this stunning destination. There are excellent snorkeling opportunities and numerous sea turtles throughout the atolls, including leatherback, loggerhead, hawksbill, green and olive ridley sea turtles. To surround yourself with green sea turtles, visit Lhaviyani Atoll and especially the seagrass meadows of Kuredu Island. This idyllic atoll hosts almost half of the Maldives’ green sea turtles.

 4) Wakatobi, Indonesia

Wakatobi is renowned for having some of the world’s most biodiverse reefs and has easy snorkeling conditions. Sitting in the Coral Triangle, this special destination has everything from prized critters through to schooling reef fish and plenty of sea turtles. Snorkel over the colorful outer reefs to find adult Hawksbill turtles munching on huge sponges or simply walk off the beach to look for juvenile and adult green sea turtles at the seagrass meadows.

5) Akumal, Mexico

Mexico is another top destination for snorkeling with sea turtles, especially at Akumal in the Yucatan Peninsula. Akumal means ‘the place of the turtle’, so it’s no surprise to find out this is a great place to swim with sea turtles. With numerous green sea turtles and loggerheads there, which are used to the presence of humans, it’s an experience not to miss.

6) Hawaii

Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash

If you’re visiting Hawaii, you have a good chance of encountering sea turtles whichever island you choose, but Oahu is one of the best. You can either join snorkeling tours to meet the turtles or explore without a guide. Laniakea Beach (also known as Turtle Beach) is one of the most popular places to swim with turtles but there are plenty of quieter turtle hotspots around the island.

7) Egypt

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash

People go scuba diving in Egypt every year and with good reason. It is one of the most accessible and affordable places to experience vibrant reefs, warm water snorkeling and year-round sunshine. It truly has something for everyone, including snorkelers. You can spot sea turtles on any of Egypt’s reefs but visit Abu Dabbab Beach at Marsa Alam for almost guaranteed green sea turtle encounters. You will also be able to swim with dugongs whilst you’re there.

8) Greece

Zakynthos (also known as Zante) is the top place in Europe to swim with sea turtles. In the summer months, thousands of loggerhead turtles head inshore to lay their eggs on the beaches. You can snorkel with them at Zakynthos and at nearby Cameo Island, or go island hopping and watch them come ashore at Kefalonia’s beaches.

 9) The Galapagos Islands

Photo by Dustin Haney on Unsplash

Wild and remote, the Galapagos Islands are an iconic haven for wildlife above and below the waterline, and sea turtles are no exception. There are numerous snorkeling spots where you’ll find sea turtles and Galapagos green sea turtles nest on some of the islands’ beaches.  Wherever you snorkel, the waters are teeming with life. There is nowhere else in the world where you can swim with sea turtles, marine iguanas, sea lions, penguins, schools of fish and more. Don’t miss it.

 10) French Polynesia

French Polynesia, with its lush volcanic islands, luxurious resorts and soft white sands, is the perfect destination to get away from it all. As if that’s not enough, French Polynesia is also stunning underwater, with calm lagoons ideal for snorkeling, healthy coral reefs and abundant marine life. You can go snorkeling with sea turtles at Tahiti and Moorea, where the shallow waters make it ideal for new snorkelers.

11) Barbados

Barbados is an idyllic Caribbean destination, with azure waters and numerous sea turtles, including green, hawksbill and leatherback turtles. There are a handful of snorkeling tour operators and plenty of infrastructure, meaning you can get out and swim with the turtles easily. If you don’t want to join a tour, grab your snorkeling gear and go in search of sea turtles off the west coast beaches. Make sure you follow local snorkeling safety guidelines and enjoy.


Kathryn Curzon, a shark conservationist and dive travel writer for Scuba Schools International (SSI), wrote this article.

Scuba Schools International (SSI) is the largest professional business-based training agency in the world. For over 50 years now, SSI has provided the ultimate training experience for millions of certified divers, not only in Recreational Scuba, but in every training category; Freediving, Extended Range, Rebreather Diving, Mermaid, Swim and Lifeguard.

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The Suit Ocean Team leads the Ultimate Curacao Snorkeling Adventure

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By Bryan Horne
Snorkeling and scuba diving in Curacao is a dream for anyone who loves the combination of amazing beaches and the mind blowing biodiversity that exists along 104 square kilometers of its fringing coral reefs. So if you are interested in the ultimate Caribbean snorkeling adventure then keep reading as The Suit Ocean Team takes you on a one hundred kilometer snorkeling tour of Curacao’s southern shoreline.

As passionate residents of our Dutch Caribbean Island, we must congratulate The Suit Ocean Team for creating more awareness about the importance of protecting our beautiful fringing reef systems in Curacao.

The film, Curacao Underwater Kunuku (Kunuku is Papiamento for Garden), not only documents this ultimate snorkeling adventure showing you how easy it is for everyone to access and enjoy a snorkel or diving experience, but it also showcases the interaction between man and nature, highlighting the beauty of underwater life while promoting conservation, preservation and the need to protect these vital habitats.

These are the key ingredients to this beautiful short film documentary. Watch NOW and please enjoy our “CURACAO UNDERWATER KUNUKU”.

This film, produced by the Lawrence Mensa Foundation (LMF), is also available in multiple languages including: Spanish, Papiamentu, Dutch, Portuguese and German.

Images courtesy of The Suit Ocean Team
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8 Unique Places to Go Snorkeling in Europe

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Snorkeling in Europe brings to mind golden sands dotted with beach umbrellas, clear waters, and rocky landscapes busy with Mediterranean fish life. Europe offers all of that, but it also offers so much more for snorkelers. Among Europe’s diverse countries, you can find impossibly bright blue lagoons, idyllic islands, and pristine marine reserves that host thousands of sea turtles and playful seals. You can snorkel over a sunken Roman city and explore one of the world’s premier marine megafauna hotspots. Ready for a summer vacation? Get inspired with our round-up of 8 unique places to go snorkeling in Europe.

Comino, Malta

Sitting between the islands of Malta and Gozo, Comino Island is a paradise for snorkelers and divers alike. This tiny island hosts the brightest blue waters in the Maltese Islands and offers fantastic snorkeling among sheltered inlets and caves busy with diverse marine life.

Comino is best-known for hosting the Blue Lagoon; a bucket-list destination with crystal-clear waters and striking rocky landscapes. It is the perfect place to go snorkeling, take a hike, or simply marvel at the gorgeous scenery.

Medes Islands, Spain.

With over 500 dive sites and seaside destinations all along its coastline, Spain draws tourists from around the world. This vibrant country is one of Europe’s top vacation spots.

The Costa Brava in northeastern Spain is home to some of the most famous snorkeling spots in the country, one of which is the Medes Islands. This small archipelago of seven islets off L’Estartit is one of the best marine reserves in all of the Mediterranean.

Fishing was banned at the Medes Islands over 30 years ago, which has allowed marine life to flourish there. Seagrass meadows and rocky areas busy with fish await. A visit to this exceptional marine ecosystem is a must if you are visiting Spain.

Zakynthos, Greece.

If you love sea turtles, Greece should be top of your list of places to go snorkeling in Europe.

Zakynthos is home to Marathonisi Island, also known as ‘Turtle Island’. This small island sits within the National Marine Park of Zakynthos and is a vital breeding ground for loggerhead sea turtles. The National Marine Park of Zakynthos was created in 1999 to protect these turtles, plus rare Mediterranean monk seals, which give birth to their young in Zakynthos’s secluded caves.

Marathonisi, nearby Cameo Island, and Zakynthos, are the top places in Europe to swim with turtles. In the summer months, thousands of loggerhead turtles visit the area to lay their eggs and you can go snorkeling with them.

Lundy Island, United Kingdom.

Snorkeling with seals is bound to leave a smile on your face. These cheeky animals are known for getting up close to snorkelers, checking them out, and occasionally nibbling fins.

Lundy Island is one of the best places to go snorkeling with seals in Europe. This island sits just 12 miles off the coast of Devon and hosts a breeding colony of Atlantic grey seals. The seals can be found playing in the surf and lounging in the sunshine at various points around the island.

Grab your snorkeling kit and dive in. Below the water, you will find shallow sunlit kelp forests, a variety of reefs, sea caves, and pinnacles. Lundy is a popular place for diving, but you will see plenty of marine life from the surface, including bright cup corals, anemones, fish, and hopefully seals.

Sunken City of Baiae, Italy

Not every great snorkeling experience is about marine life. In Italy, you can snorkel over ancient Roman ruins.

Two thousand years ago, Baiae was the destination for rich Romans to escape the city and relax by the seaside. Countless emperors and merchants flocked to Baiae’s shores every year, until tectonic activity forced this thriving city underwater.

Today, Baiae is an intact underwater city and one of the top highlights of snorkeling and diving in Italy. Observing these ruins is a breath-taking experience that brings history to life. There are Roman statues, a thermal spa, paved roads, and pillars dating back to the 1st century BC.

Corsica, France

Corsica is renowned for its crystal-clear waters and shallow bays perfect for snorkeling with your kids.

This gorgeous island in the Mediterranean Sea boasts dramatic cliffs and white-sand beaches that hosts a wealth of accessible snorkeling spots. There are rich seagrass beds and rocky landscapes, plus small hidden coves dotted around the island. All of which host a diverse array of marine life, including huge schools of fish, octopi, moray eels, and starfish.

Corsica’s calm waters make it ideal not just for kids, but also for beginner snorkelers and those who want an easy time in the water. With water temperatures reaching up to 26 °C, plus water visibility of up to 30 meters, Corsica ticks the boxes for a laidback beach and snorkeling vacation.

Traun River, Austria

You might not think of Austria for snorkeling, but this land of iconic mountains and lush green landscapes has pristine lakes that attract divers and snorkelers every year. Away from the lakes, you can go snorkeling in spring-fed rivers that gleam in the sunshine.

Forget about floating on the surface when you go river snorkeling. At the Traun River in Upper Austria, river snorkeling involves rock jumping, canyoning, and some relaxed floating downstream. Along the way, you can explore interesting rock formations, underwater caves, and a waterfall, and meet freshwater fish life. This is also an excellent spot to go drift diving.

The Azores, Portugal

Sitting in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by endless blue waters, the Azores is a mecca for marine megafauna.

These famous islands host a remarkable amount of marine life, including more than 27 whale and dolphin species, mobula rays, and sharks. Snorkeling at the Azores is a great way to experience this wealth of life. You can swim with dolphins and snorkel among dozens of mobula rays and big pelagic fish.

And if you have a scuba certification, you can also go diving with mako and blue sharks. With water visibility reaching up to 60 meters, the Azores is incredible whichever way you choose to explore.


Kathryn Curzon, a conservationist and dive travel writer for SSI (Scuba Schools International), wrote this article.

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