The 11 best places to snorkel with sea turtles

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

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

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

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

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.

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