Culebra snorkeling: Beach Snorkeling Spots in Culebra

Culebra Snorkeling Catamaran Tours | East Island Excursions

Culebra POWER CATAMARAN TOUR

DUE TO COVID-19 CHANGES HAS BEEN MADE LUNCH OPTIONS AND ONLY ONE BEACH STOP

CULEBRA GETAWAY DAY TRIP on a power catamaran 

DUE TO COVID-19 CHANGES HAS BEEN TO ALL EXCURSIONS 

• All guest MUST wear a face mask while in the marina and during the excursion
• The lunch option changed to a pre-made Chicken wrap (Gluten and Veggie options available)
• Guest will need to bring their own snorkeling equipment (we will only supply fins) 
• All guest must sign our electronic waiver before the day of the excursion

Culebra Gateway Day Trip description 

If you are looking for a unique fun aquatic adventure the Culebra Snorkeling tour is perfect for you. Flamenco’s turquoise waters and white sand, which stretches for a mile around a sheltered horseshoe-shaped bay, is one of the few beaches consistently ranked and included on the “World’s Best Beaches” list. (Please note Flamenco beach is not guaranteed as our beach stop. Culebra has several beaches and reefs so our captain will select the best option based on water conditions). The Getaway begins at the Marina Puerto Del Rey, Fajardo where one of our power catamarans will transport you to this unique treasure.  At the first stop, you will enjoy some time snorkeling at one of the most beautiful reefs of the Island of Culebra, where you will be able to experience and enjoy the beautiful and colorful marine life Culebra Island has to offer. Aboard our guests can enjoy snacks, lunch, fresh fruit, and our signature pasta salad.  And don’t forget about our amazing refreshing complimentary beverages that are also available aboard the vessel. It’s the perfect way to refuel and continue your unforgettable adventures with East Island Excursions. Our Captain’s preferred point of adventure to be the famous Flamenco beach where you will enjoy the most breathtaking beach in the Caribbean. Depending on the weather, the captain can divert the stop to Cayo Luis Peña or to Culebrita Island, which are also revered as Caribbean gems, where you can swim, continue to enjoy snorkeling, or just take in all of its amazing wonders among others. 

*PLEASE NOTE DUE TO COVID-19 CHANGES ARE THE FOLLOWING – Box lunches – guest will need to bring their own snorkeling equipment  

Boat Options: Caribe Spirit 81′ Power Catamaran  *Island Flyer 65′ Power Catamaran

A DAY IN PARADISE! FULL DAY BEACH TOUR

Timing: 9:30 am – 3:30pm

Price: Adult $165.00 and Kids ages from 6 -11 $145.00 + 11.5% sales tax and $3.00 per person DNR fee
For a charter minimum of 60 passengers maximum 70 passengers add a 10% gratuity

Food & Beverage: Choice of pre-cooked Chicken sandwich, Hamburger or Veggie burger with Garden pasta and bean salad. Bags of chips for a snack in the afternoon.
Bar includes Vodka, Don Q and Medalla beers, assorted sodas and water, plus our daily Captain tropical specialty drink called “Blue Paradise”

Fun & Games: On these excursions we offer beach games, water Twister, Kayak & paddle boat racing, beach beer pong, rope climbing contest and much more. It’s fun and awesome!

Destination: 1 BEACH Stop only. Main destination is Culebra but we can go to Culebrita or Tamarindo and due to water conditions we can reroute to Icacos, Palominos, Piñeros or Lobos.

**This is not a snorkeling tour.
Guests must bring: Towels, sunblock and bathing suit.

Transportation: is offered at an additional fee per person from any major hotel in the Old San Juan, Condado or Isla Verde area.

Restrictions: Children under 6, pregnant women, people with back conditions or recent surgery can’t participate.

Boat option: Blue Paradise 78′ power catamaran click here for more pictures

For smaller groups, we offer private charter: Private charter options up to 12 passengers Eco Isleño 45’ power catamaran 

Private charter from 9 to 80 passengers call for more details +1 (787) 860-3434 or text us at +1(787)-409-2485.

Disclaimer
Due to water conditions and other unforeseen circumstances, we reserve the right to reroute to another destination or cancel at the marina

What’s included in the Price?

Your Culebra Snorkeling Tour includes:

• • Lunch options 
  • Beverages, including rum drinks
  • Floating devices
  • Swim platforms where our guest have easy access to the water
  • Snorkeling instruction if needed
  • Swiming fins

Lunch Buffet & Drinks

Tour Lunch Includes:

• • Wraps come with a bean salad and pasta salad
  • Chicken with or without mayo wrap
  • Chicken wrap in a corn tortilla (Gluten-free option) 
  • Hummus wrap (Veggie option)
• Snack – chips and fruit 
• Beverages, including 
  • Rum drinks – Pina Colada & Rum punch
  • Assorted regular and diet sodas 
  • Juice & water  
• Any guest that needs any special dietary needs can bring their own lunch or contact 787-860-3434 for details.      

What to Bring?

What to bring aboard culebra snorkeling tour:

Recommendations:

When on the waters of Fajardo aboard one of our Power Catamarans you will enjoy warm temperatures along with spectacular views of El Yunque Rainforest and Vieques Island.

That’s why we recommend bringing on board:

• Waterproof Photo Camera, GoPro Camera or Cell Phone with a waterproof cover with a good amount of battery to take pictures aboard.
• Sunblock: We are in the Caribbean and with the Warm Temperatures year-round it’s always good to be protected against the Sun.
• Sunglasses and/or Hat
• Comfortable Shoes and swim suit under light beach clothing
• Personal Towel
• Get seasick, take an over-the-counter remedy with food at least 1 hour before the trip

Please read our Restrictions and Cancellation Policy!

RESTRICTIONS:

PLEASE be advised that our Culebra excursions travel via open waters that may NOT be appropriate for Children under 3 of age, pregnant and people with back, recent heart surgery or neck injury
ALL PASSENGERS MUST BE KNOWLEDGEABLE SWIMMERS

cancellation policy:

Individual reservations:

10:00am day before scheduled trip the reservations can be canceled for 1-9 passengers, 10 + passengers 2 days prior with No penalty. Master Card, Visa or credit card is required to confirm reservation.

“NO SHOW” if you don’t arrive on time, the ticket is NOT REFUNDABLE and NOT REUSABLE unless (and only if) we have space available to reschedule on a future date. Reschedule must be made on the day of the original trip, base on availability and a rescheduling fee of $25 + tax per person will be applied.

*All marine activities are subject to water conditions please call the prior day for an update, cancellations or change of destination due to water conditions is at the Captain’s discretion. These decisions can be informed upon check-in.

Tour Site Information:

This tour departs from Marina Puerto del Rey in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, please be on site by 45-30 minutes prior your departure time for check-in Process. If you have any questions about the boarding process or regarding your reservation please contact us at +1 (787) 860-3434.
Marina Puerto Del Rey offers safe parking facilities to all of our guests

This was our first family vacations together. We choose to do the Catamaran day trip to Culebra. It was the highlight of our 8 day vacation. The crew of of Alex, Willie, the captain and Coral were awesome. I had been to Culebra before but the other 11 had not and no one was disappointed. The food, crew and organization of the whole operation from booking to the Marina was professional and on schedule. We highly recommend East Island Excursions.

Family of 12!

burritasabanera / Florida

What an amazing ride! My son and I had an amazing time. The ride was awesome as we sat outside the entire time, the buffet lunch was delicious, Flamenco beach was beautiful and the staff was friendly and funny. We had a great time! We will definitely do this again next year.

Catamaran trip

Novacek2012 / Connecticut, United States

The trip was fantastic. The crew were professional, helpful and attentive. Highly recommend. Flamenco beach is one of the most beautiful we’ve seen.

Trip to snorkel Culebra

JFerr4

My husband, our 23 and 18 year old daughters,and I greatly enjoyed our snorkeling and Flamenco beach trip. Chris was Awesome! He kept us all entertained. Flamenco beach was so beautiful! We all agreed that this was a highlight of our trip to Puerto Rico

Wonderful Excursion

crazymomof2grls / Fort Worth, Texas

Highly recommend this excursion. Crew was exceptional!!!! Full of knowledge and extremely attentive. One of the best things we did on the trip!!

Great excursion!!!

Denise R

Excellent day trip and awesome crew! This was my second time taking the excursion. The Culebra Island is absolutely beautiful. The crew members were all very friendly and helpful. It was a great experience.

Culebra snorkeling trip

Maria M

Do you like crystal clear ocean and snorkeling? Do you like water that is not to cold or too warm? Do you like rum? You get all this and more when you take this trip to snorkel a couple of reefs and then wind down at the gorgeous Flamenco beach (Rated the 2nd most beautiful beach in the world by the Discover channel). I could have stayed here for days – the staff was courteous and knowledgeable. You should be able to swim to take this tour, unless you want to stay on the boat the entire time. I saw children as young as 4, but I would not recommend this for a child under 8 years of age.

Snorkeling at Flamenco beach with family and teens

Laura R / Ashburn, Virginia

The Catamaran is absolutely the best trip ever. The Crew is Exceptional..Levi, aka The Coolest White boy in Fajardo PR Sorren, Jessie and The Captain Manny meet every expectation you will need in this excursion. This is a must with this Crew & company everything is epic!!!Food and drinks are beyond your expectations!

Ops @ East island excursions

Miguel R / Cresskill, New Jersey

This was a very fun and exciting trip for my family and I. We did the trip to Culebra. I want to first say The Crew Levi, Sorren, Jessie and Captain Manny were beyond great and made sure everyone was accommodated. Every few minutes they made sure we were good with drinks. A couple of my family members got sea sick and they were right there to help out clean up and make sure they were comfortable. The snorkeling was awesome and before we went in the crew informed us of all of the safety and dangers of swimming by the protected reef. Then we stopped at flamenco one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. All around a cool experience and everyone enjoyed themselves. Definitely bring a waterproof camera to take lots of pictures and bring cash to tip these wonderful workers. Customer service A+++

Very Fun and informative

Jose A

Had a great time with this company. Well-organized, which was good because they have many different options leaving at around the same time. We did the snorkeling excursion and then swimming at the Island of Culebra. Amazing views in the clear water. My boys loved jumping and flipping off the side of the boat. If you get sea-sick or are not sure, buy some Dramamine. Quite a few people got seasick but we had all taken a pill about an hour before the trip and had no problems. Oh, and free rum drinks for Mom and Dad!

Catamaran and Snorkeling

DrewG216 / Lakewood, Ohio

We took the catamaran tour to Culebra for snorkeling and a few hours at Flamenco beach. The ride there was exciting and let me be the first to tell you- be prepared to get wet. The snorkel gear was nice. The boat was clean and spacious for the amount of people that were on it. Lunch was buffet style and was delicious. The rum drinks were very tasty. Flamenco beach is breathtaking and I will go back for sure. The crew on the boat did such a good job caring for us. Alexandra and Herman were the deck crew that made sure we all had everything we needed. They were amazing! This tour was a blast and we would use this company again for sure.

This was the perfect day!

Liz J

My family and I did the trip to Culebra & Flamenco Beach on July 31, 2017. We had such an amazing time. Levi in particular was there for each and every member the entire day. They were all very attentive and caring. The trip out was very rough because of the current but Levi and crew did their best to keep us feeling better. Once we arrived to go snorkeling, the crew made sure we were fell fed and safe. The best part of the trip was Flamenco Beach. It was an experience my wife and kids will never forget. Beautiful sand and water. I highly recommend this trip for anyone visiting Puerto Rico.

Amazing Trip & Experience

Michael N / Baltimore, Maryland

My husband and I booked spots on the Island Flyer catamaran and our guides were Arturo, Julie, Willy and Luis. They were all fantastic. This catamaran was a little smaller than the other ones that are available so it didn’t feel super packed or uncomfortable. We met some great people on the boat. The food and snacks and drinks they served were all delicious and readily available. The snorkel spot we stopped at was beautiful and Culebra island was magnificent. Flamenco beach is in the top 10 in the world for a reason. Thank you east island excursions for and amazing time!!

Culebra Island Catamran

Emily H

My friend and I were lucky enough to come across East Island Excursion for our Culebra trip. Everything was perfect, from the booking to the actual excursion. We couldn’t have asked for a better crew… Captain Manny, Levi, Jorge, Raymond, Alexandra and I can’t forget Domingo who was our transportation to and from our hotel. Although the weather wasn’t the best that it could’ve been, our crew made up for it. They really strive to cater to you in every possible way (even diving for my sunglasses which I dropped when we had anchored). I totally would recommend East Island Excursion for any of their tours… you will not be disappointed!!

A Must Do!!

Indy S / Hialeah, Florida

We had a blast! Highlight of our trip! Made new friends and the crew was outstanding! The snorkeling was great. I hope my pictures turn out. I would do this again 100 times over !!!!

Paradise and new friends

RiChris2010 / North Fairfield Ohio

This is the second time I’ve used East Island Excursions and I don’t plan on using any other company. We’ve chartered a private catamaran through East Island & have taken a regular public catamaran to Culebra. The captain and guides are excellent, they’re super fun and make you feel at home. You can tell they LOVE what they do. We had Levi, Christen and Carlos as our captain and guides on our private catamaran. They give you advice on the best beaches and snorkeling places but they allow you to make your own decision. The price for a private charter and round trip transportation is EXTREMELY reasonable! I plan on renting the boat again next year.

BEST DAY TRIP IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD

EMM0811 / Rockville, Maryland

Reserve your spot now! This trip to Culebra, Flamenco Beach is SO much fun and is so beautiful! We sat outside on the Eco Isleno and enjoyed the beautiful views leaving Fajardo cruising to Culebra. Our amazing team of Alexis, Mariel and William took the best care of us – from safety tips, to snorkeling equipment, to a great lunch, and even better drinks – they were so much fun! We would ABSOLUTELY use East Island Excursions again!!

OUR FAVORITE DAY IN PUERTO RICO!!

Anne B / Charlotte, North Carolina

The captain and crew were awesome and not afraid to join the fun, snorkeling and sights were breathtaking! The water was clear and they do not cheat you on the rum. Plenty of fish to be seen!

Amazing!!

jbuckley13 / Woburn, Massachusetts

I was in Puerto Rico with 9 of my friends and we were staying on the other side of Puerto Rico. We drove 3 hours to the place and it was definitely worth every minute. We choose to snorkel in Culebra island and go to Flamenco beach. The staff on the boat were great they checked on you constantly. The food was perfect for the type of excursions. We jumped off the side of the boat and went swimming, took amazing pictures. Snorkeling in Culebra was beautiful, but Flamenco beach was the best part, most beautiful beach I have seen. The music on the boat was great, Alexis was very entertaining and helpful. It was 100% worth our 3 hour drive.

Breathtaking!

thalia1621 / Perth Amboy, New Jersey

Just great, we had a trip and was better than expected, snorkeling was an outstanding experience, flamenco beach it was stunning. Also the food its was really good. In addition the Crew of the spirit are super, William the captain , Coral and the others, they are the best, they are welcoming, kind, and they show professionalism and respect for the environment, and they educate people in how to protect the reef. I think if u are in PR u must book a trip with them, u will have not regrets. We will be back

Great trip!

ernest1988

Snorkeling in Culebra Puerto Rico

Culebra is an island that belongs to the Puerto Rico Archipelago, and forms the Spanish Virgin Islands along with Vieques. It was a US naval base in the past, therefore has barely been touched by the hands of development. With its stunning unspoiled miles of coastline, it boasts reams of healthy coral formations and abundant sea life to enjoy. This is why guides and locals alike agree that the island’s beaches belong to the finest Puerto Rico snorkeling places. Should you decide to go snorkeling in Culebra -that we highly recommend doing- here we list the best places to visit that are encircled by coral reefs and overflowing with tropical fish, rays, and of course sea turtles!

Table of Contents

• Flamenco Beach
• Tamarindo Beach
• Playa Carlos Rosario
• Melones Beach
• Playa Sardinas
• Luis Pena Beach – Cayo Luis Pena

Flamenco Beach

Flamenco has an envied and justifiable reputation of being one of the most beautiful beaches of Culebra. Its white-colored sand and incredible Caribbean blue shade of water attract tourists to come and spend the day here enjoying the sun and sea. As a local attraction, you will find two abandoned army tanks too so it is not a surprise why it is often called The Tank Beach.

But Flamenco is not only famous for its tanks but also because it is a prime place to go snorkeling in Culebra. The first reef is easily reachable from the shore, it lies a bit to the left of the beach when facing the water. The crowd of snorkeling enthusiasts there makes it hard to miss. Although the 2017 hurricanes caused damage on the reefs near the shore, but the large corals survived and there are signs of recovery in the shallows too.

A better reef is situated more to the left as you leave from the tank along the beach. The very best part lies along the extreme right of the beach where the rocks start. The locals call this place the Shark Cages.

All types of beach gear are available to rent at Flamenco like chairs, sun umbrellas and also water sports equipment, but it is always better to bring your own snorkeling googles, snorkel and flippers due to hygienic and safety reason.

Tamarindo Beach

Tamarindo, just a short drive away from Flamenco, is known for the incredible vistas of Cay Luis Pena and also for being one of the best spots to go snorkeling in Culebra Puerto Rico. Locals consider this spot to be beloved because of its protected, calm waters, moderate depths and wide range of submarine life.

You will find here various coral species and many kinds of Caribbean fish such as trumpetfish, trunkfish, but also octopus, squids, sea stars. And the best is that stingrays and sea turtles are almost guaranteed!

The spot is not only ideal Culebra snorkeling spot, but perfect for paddle boarding and kayaking too so the whole family can have fun. Although it is good if you bring swim shoes because there are many pebbles and rocks on the shore and also sea urchins.

Tip: it is a common question which is better, Vieques or Culebra for snorkeling? Well, it is difficult to decide, the best is to visit both islands, so make sure to read our Vieques snorkeling guide too!

Playa Carlos Rosario

The secluded stretch of sand at Carlos Rosario has a deserved reputation for being the most fantastic Culebra snorkeling spot. Its secluded location and the fact that it is part of the Culebra Nature Reserve explain why the underwater life is so amazing here.

Reaching this beach requires a boat trip, but you can reach it from Flamenco too. In this case, you need to hike in down a trail that leads here from the parking lot. There are also great picnic facilities so make sure to bring some snacks and drinks to recharge your batteries after you finish your exciting snorkeling expedition.

Once you make it down to the water, head right until it turns sandy. The better reef lies is to the right of this sandy spot. There is a huge variety of colorful fish and a diverse collection of corals and sea fans in relatively shallow water. The max depth is about 40ft/12m.

Tip: Culebra doesn’t relay have big fancy resorts but lovely small hotels, B&B and guest hoses. Should you look for a place to stay, we recommend Aleli Cottages that offers villas with fantastic view and that is Casa Robinson Guest House that is situated near Ensenada Honda bay.

Melones Beach

The Luis Peña Channel Natural Reserve includes a stunning stretch of sand called Melones. Entering the water to snorkel off the beach is easy here from behind the picnic table.

If you swim over towards the right heading to the rocks emerging from the water there are stunning submarine rock formations and accompanying coral reef to enjoy here. The bottom is covered over by soft coral and sea fans as well as hard coral in about 15-25ft/4.5-7.5m deep water. There are also seagrass fields nearby that attract all types of turtles.

Melones is also convenient in being an easy quick drive away from the island ferry terminal. While it is an ideal Culebra snorkeling spot, swimmers will not especially enjoy it because of the rocky bottom. The beach itself is narrower and comprised of pebbles, coral, and sand. A little shade comes from the few trees here.

Playa Sardinas

Those who look for a quiet place to relax and snorkel should check out Playa Sardinas. Visitors can enjoy the thrilling combination of natural beauty, peace, and pristine water.

The sand may be narrow but it stretches in a beautiful snaky crescent shape that provides enough front to the water to launch a great snorkeling expedition directly from the beach. Thanks to the calm waters, Playa Sardinas is a prime location for paddle boarding too!

It is worth remembering that the bottom is rocky so swimmers will want to bring water shoes. If you have time, stay after sunset too to enjoy the serenade of the birds, coquis, and waves merging in a magical combination.

Luis Pena Beach – Cayo Luis Pena

Thanks to the marine reserve status that Cayo Luis Pena has enjoyed since 1999 as the first such designated protected natural area in the commonwealth, the small yet beautiful Luis Pena Beach on it is one of the most stunning places to snorkeling in Culebra. You need to take a boat to get here, but it is definitely worth the time and effort.

The coral and sea flora are extremely healthy and harbor a wealth of sea creatures including eagle rays and barracudas. You can count on enjoying sea grass beds, coral reefs, and mangroves all sheltering and supporting an enormous amount of submarine life here.

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Culebra Island, Puerto Rico — Frankazoid’s Travel

I had read about Culebra Island on TripAdvisor and heard from the hostel residents. Among the latter, there was even a certainty that the beaches of Culebra were in third position in the ranking of world beaches, which the top ten rating sites in Google were not aware of. This small island (3 miles by 7 miles) is just east of Puerto Rico, just half an hour away by ferry.

Departure from the town of Fajardo is designed in the form of two lighthouses, of course, no longer working.

The ferry only costs $4.50 round trip and there are more than enough people willing to take it. Half an hour flew by unnoticed, the excitement was moderate and no one got sick, and now we are in the port. By the way, on the way they offered to rent a Jeep Wrangler at a price of only $55 per day, promising that prices would be much higher on the island itself, but I courageously refused, because I heard that you can rent a boat or a bicycle. Given the size of the island, both seemed to me a worthy replacement for a jeep.

At the exit, drivers are rushing to take visitors to Flamenco Beach, the most popular here. Only 3 dollars. Again, I refuse and, having broken through, I go to look for rental boats / bicycles.

Several people told me about the boats that there used to be such a service, but now it is long gone, and the bike rental is located 100 meters from the pier – that’s where I’m heading. For $15 a day, I get a moderately decent mountain bike (with an 8 on the back wheel), I attach a tripod and go to the nearest point – Ensenada Malena – a harbor with supposedly good snorkeling and an observation deck.

The road, contrary to my (however, absolutely unreasonable) expectations, goes up and down, and not exactly horizontally, and I arrive in 40 minutes, pretty tired, although the ride is less than 4 kilometers. Here the remaining inconveniences of the bicycle are clarified – it does not go along the beach (the car, however, too) and there is nowhere to leave things to dive. By the way, I didn’t find the way to the observation deck, so I just walked to the cape and took a few shots.

Having driven back to the port, I decisively turn into the nearest car rental – Avis, where for $ 50.5 (cheaper than offered on the ferry) I still take the Wrangler, and the food itself is great to rent. There is no one in the office, so the money cannot be returned.

Things went much more cheerfully with the jeep, although I was very surprised that it was carefully washed at the box office. Where does the dirt come from, I thought? And he went to look for her. A lot of unpaved roads depart from the asphalt road, which the wheels itch to explore. Here’s the first one I turned into. Another almost clean car 🙂

And then I climbed a specific mountain (by local standards, of course, something like 160 meters high).

I really liked the view of the hermit’s house.

I was very impressed with the cross-country ability — despite the stock tires, the car cheerfully climbed up the mud. Then I somehow believed in all the commercials about the jeep’s non-planting, which, of course, backfired on me a little later.

There was not much time left before the return ferry, and I decided to get to the most remote beach of Zoni (Zoni Beach), smoothly turning into Long Beach (Larga Beach). There are very few people and it is beautiful, yes . ..

Moving away, I took a swim without soaking my swimming trunks)) The water is very warm.

Having left the beach, I noticed another dirt road and went there. Sign “Attention! Some roads require 4×4, drive at your own risk” didn’t bother me at all, but rather encouraged me, and I rushed into the mud. While it was all more or less horizontal, the car showed its best side. However, after a couple of kilometers, the road to the beach appeared at a decent downward angle, and only halfway did I feel that the wheels were blocked, and I continued to drive down the thick layer of wet clay. Halfway there was a horizontal platform, after which another long descent was observed.

Suspecting something was wrong, I tried to drive back at least from the first part of the road, and then the most interesting thing began – the car got stuck before reaching hundreds of meters to the end of the climb! After trying several times, I got bored – there were 3 hours left before the car was handed over, I didn’t really look at anything, and even got stuck. Judging by the GPS, the road was circular, but before driving even further, I went to look at this case on foot. I did not think that it was so far there and went without water and a T-shirt through the scorching sun. Well, at least I got my camera.

On the other side, a tractor was practicing on the hill, heaping a meter-high barrier of branches and mud. It became clear that I panicked not in vain – there is no way to pass here either. I went for help…

After about 20 minutes of climbing uphill through the mud, I reached an empty house, but noticed a shovel there just in case. Another hour on the way back and in the branch I noticed several houses.

Living here is beautiful, to be sure. He barely shouted to the deaf old woman, trying to figure out how to explain in Spanish what had happened. True, the old woman did not speak Spanish, so she explained in English, and we began to call her brother with a large SUV. While they waited, I was treated to a very tasty cold juice, although I would drink anything after such walks.

My brother arrived in a pretty dead pickup truck, and inside it was incredibly dirty, but in my situation I didn’t have to be capricious 🙂

Having arrived at the beginning of the descent, he said that it’s better not to go further, because the road is completely wet there, but to my comment, that we exactly need to go there, grinned and offered to take a walk. Specifically, the excavated road gave ground for reflection for both of us, and the lonely standing jeep below was a reason to mourn. However, near the car, the uncle perked up – and let me, he says, I will try to leave. I didn’t mind at all, and turning off the A/C (“we’re going to need all the power”) he stomped on the gas pedal. Of course, I also tried to get out of this hole on my own, but I didn’t accelerate to such a speed – the car was sausage all over the road, and he smiled contentedly. And, characteristically, got out the first time! Shame on me, I need to improve my SUV driving skills!

He didn’t take any money, even though I dragged him out of work and ruined the road on his personal plot, but only wished not to get into the mud again. The remaining hour and a half I devoted to one simple primer with a trip to the coast and Flamenco Beach.

Flamenco for partygoers – there are bars and restaurants, equipped parking with an asphalt road, and a lot of people. Didn’t like it at all.

Although having gone to the far end of the same beach (now it’s not the season and there are relatively few people), I swam again 🙂

In general, the island is cool, you can spend a couple of days here just riding a jeep, or you can lie down on a dozen beaches. One day (and even with my cycling ordeals) is clearly not enough, I didn’t dive anywhere, although there are more than enough places on the map. Refueled, having difficulty finding the only gas station, and returned the car in a thoroughly polluted state, although it is obvious that this is the norm there 🙂

Review of the best places for snorkeling in the world

Snorkeling involves diving to a shallow depth using simple equipment. However, in order to fully enjoy this type of water recreation, it is advisable to explore the most picturesque corners of the underwater kingdom.

List of all articles

• Good old Europe
• Equatorial exotic
• Southern Hemisphere
• US Territory
• South Asian Region

Snorkeling is a type of scuba diving that involves the use of simple equipment – a mask, fins and a breathing tube. This allows the diver to be very mobile and enjoy the beauty of the underwater world for a long time. Unlike scuba diving, snorkeling does not create noise when a large number of gas bubbles are thrown out, and therefore snorkelers do not scare off underwater inhabitants.

Snorkeling is one of the most popular types of water activities – it does not require expensive and bulky equipment or complex training. To start swimming, simply put on fins and a snorkel mask. There is no need to dive to great depths – you can enjoy coastal swimming, which makes snorkeling popular with beginners and children.

In order to best feel the charm of underwater observation, it is necessary to visit places that have a rich underwater flora and fauna. There are a great many such locations on our planet, however, there are a number of the most popular destinations that can be considered classic. Many snorkelers seek these places, as it is there that you can enjoy the amazing water world.

Good old Europe.

Despite the fact that hot tropical islands or African countries are associated with sea holidays, a number of European countries also boast picturesque corners that attract many divers.

The Spanish islands of Les Medes are one of the most popular snorkeling destinations. This archipelago, which is located just a few kilometers from the mainland, is famous for its very rich underwater life. Some researchers believe that it is here that the most diverse and numerous underwater flora and fauna in all of Europe. Be that as it may, seven uninhabited islets and many sea cliffs and reefs create a unique landscape in which exuberant marine life flourishes. Divers have the opportunity to see barracudas, several species of rays, octopuses, water eels and the richest vegetation.

And this place quickly attracted fans to watch the delights of the ocean through underwater masks. An important advantage of this location is its proximity – very close to a huge and comfortable Spain with many hotels, airports and roads, which can be easily and quickly reached. Also, due to proximity, there are fewer problems with getting used to the new time zone and acclimatization. This area is protected from industrial activity and is accessible to visitors all year round.

Not far from this place there is another attraction – Praia da Marina, although it already belongs to Portugal. A beautiful beach is located near a small cozy town with the beautiful name of Carvoeiro. It is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Portugal, however, getting to it is not very easy. Therefore, there are not too many vacationers there, and they do not scare away the inhabitants of the depths. In addition, there is a magnificent view of the coastal cliffs and the ocean.

There is also a cozy place in France, near Marseille. The secluded beach of L’Ile de Riou is recognized as the best organization in France for the training of French divers. You can get there only by boat or ship that runs from Marseille, since this islet is located in the middle of a large national park. This ensures its safety and richness of wildlife, both terrestrial and underwater.

The flora and fauna in these places is surprisingly rich, in addition, back in the fifties, the remains of ancient ships with amphoras and jugs scattered around them were found at the bottom. Therefore, there is definitely something to do here. For the most active, there are whole tours of this archipelago, where L’Ile de Riou beach is just the starting point.

There are other places in France, Antibes is very popular. Of course, the marine life here is not as colorful or diverse as in tropical latitudes, however, underwater and seascapes are still beautiful. Of the marine inhabitants, attention is drawn to stingrays, octopuses and eels that live in beautiful rocks. Be wary of the numerous sea urchins and jellyfish.

If you wish, you can look for areas where beautiful red coral grows. In addition, this place is great for those who do not like to climb into the secluded and isolated corners of our planet for a long time. A large resort town is located very close, and there are many historical sights in the vicinity – Fort Carré, Grimaldia Castle, the old market and much more. Antibes is one of the largest French seaside resorts, second only to Nice, so you won’t be bored here.

Equatorial exotic.

One of the most picturesque corners of our planet is considered to be the Galapagos Islands. Among other things, they have a unique opportunity to observe the life of sea lions while diving. They live near the small island of Plaza Sur, which can be reached by boat from one of the main islands. A feature of this place is not only the abundance of young individuals of this species, but also the fact that they are quite familiar to humans.

Therefore, they not only do not run away from divers, but also swim towards them, playing with them. Of course, older individuals do not participate in such fun, pack leaders can even growl a little at incomprehensible visitors to their possessions, but in general they are quite harmless, and very interesting.

In the Bahamas, especially in the Bimini area, you can easily meet a dolphin that will not only swim by, but will also become interested in a two-legged diver, and even try to swim together. In order to increase the likelihood of this wonderful event, local instructors recommend that you be quieter at first, swim calmly, without making excessive noise or fuss.

It is best to fly here in the summer, when the waters are calmer, as the spotted dolphins living here do not like waves, and swim away from bad weather. But for those who wish, the place is open all year round, because in addition to dolphins there is beautiful nature, clean and warm water and beautiful picturesque beaches.

Another interesting place in these places is Culebra, Puerto Rico. Not the most popular beach attracts few tourists, however, this place is considered the best for those who want to swim with hawksbill turtles. In addition to them, you can also observe angelfish, octopuses, numerous fish, and all this between the fingers of the local coral reef. The beach with the musical name Flamenco is located near the town of Culebra, which is only 25 km from Puerto Rico.

The Dominican Republic has an unusual Champagne Reef. It is located in the west of the island near the town of Soufrière. Due to the proximity of nine active volcanoes at once, these waters are rich in various trace elements, and swimming in it you can observe bubbles of seltzer water that boil around the reefs. All this attracts a lot of unusual animals – here you can meet the gurnard, the Caribbean reef squid, and many others. Access here can be obtained both from the shore and from a boat, which is easy to rent right here.

Southern Hemisphere.

Lord Howe Island is home to a whole army of different animals and plants. According to experts, here you can find more than five hundred species of marine life belonging to both tropical and temperate latitudes. And all this splendor is located on the southernmost coral reef in the whole world. Therefore, this area is recognized as a UNESCO heritage, and is carefully protected from interference in its life.

In this regard, there is a limit on the number of people who can visit this location daily. However, if you still manage to get here, then you can fully enjoy the feeling of isolation and peace that comes when diving into untouched waters and walking through the pristine expanses of the island with its amazing nature.

Not far from Australia is another amazing place – the Solomon Islands. For lovers of underwater inhabitants, Uepi Island, located on the edge of the Morovskaya lagoon, is of particular interest. After all, it is here that you can see with your own eyes the majestic Nautilus Pompilius. This ancient cephalopod is famous for its incredibly beautiful shell. Due to its large size, it is sometimes referred to as the emperor of the nautilus.

Since he, like his ancestors, lives at a depth of about 400-500 meters, you can see him only in the morning, when he is brought to the surface for cleaning. This is a lengthy process that takes several hours, but the spectacle is worth it. The amazing picture of water pulsing through the intricate shell combined with the dance of the clam around the coral is mesmerizing.

Part of the Indonesian archipelago called Raja Ampat has long been known as one of the richest aquatic biomes. Thanks to the abundance of coral reefs and calm warm waters, a surprisingly diverse underwater kingdom has formed here. The archipelago is reliably protected from storms and cold waters, so rare types of corals grow here – fiery orange, red, purple, lavender, and all of them can be found just a few meters from the ocean surface.

Therefore, even simple snorkeling can bring a lot of pleasure, and even diving in these waters is completely amazing. Scientists who have studied this biome have calculated that it is home to about 1,700 different species of fish. Unfortunately, you can go here only by becoming a member of a special dive tour, however, the most beautiful underwater places await its participants almost immediately outside the threshold of their bungalows, so there is no shortage of people who want to.

US territory.

It’s no surprise that in a country as large as America, there are plenty of places to enjoy snorkeling and ocean life. Santa Catalina Island has the famous Lovers’ Cave, where one of the most magnificent seaweed forests is located. It has been established that the sea grass growing here can grow by a full meter per day. On the walls, bright Garibaldi burn with orange fire, creating an unforgettable underwater landscape. And it’s only 22 kilometers from hot Los Angeles.

A little south of Lahaina, in Hawaii, is Papalaua Wayside Park. In it, snorkelers gather on Maui, where there is a beautiful beach covered with trees. It gained its popularity thanks to the amazing coral garden located at its eastern end. Many corals turn their heads to the sun’s rays, and butterfly fish scurry between them, all in crystal clear water. Large sea turtles swim lazily here.

In addition, Hawaii has Kahaluu Beach Park, where everyone should go to swim with huge sea turtles. It is located immediately on a large island, just a few miles from Kaiula-Kona. This place is considered the best option for those who want to watch these amazing animals.

It is surprisingly clean here, as the sand perfectly filters the water from the springs that flow into Kaalu Beach. This mixture of sea and fresh water is perfect for algae, which grows very abundantly here. This attracts turtles that feed on them. It is here that you can see how these armored creatures dine.

In Florida, you should head towards the Dry Tortugas. This national park is located 70 miles from Key West and can be reached by special seaplane. Therefore, local reefs are not the most frequently visited, however, for snorkelers, this is rather a plus. After all, no one scares away the huge number of Caribbean fish that swim calmly in the reef maze. You can also see live corals here. In addition, the island has the remains of Fort Jefferson, which was built as early as 1846.

South Asian region.

The Maldives is sometimes called the natural aquarium, and for good reason. The richest underwater nature, clean and comfortable water for swimming, pleasant climate and beautiful landscapes of the archipelago will not leave anyone indifferent. On the shores of many islands, there are cute tropical houses on stilts that seem to have left the picture, and the waves are already splashing right under them.

For snorkeling, just take a mask, put on fins and dive right here on the beach – what is not paradise. Very soon the sand line ends, and behind it begins an amazing and colorful underwater kingdom. Moreover, tropical waters are famous for the fact that their inhabitants look much more colorful and brighter than anywhere else. The Indian Ocean in this regard is one of the most densely populated, plus in the Maldives you can swim among the coral reefs, which is also very exciting.

Also in this region is Kalimantan – one of the world’s largest islands (the third, to be precise), divided immediately between three different countries. To the northeast of Kalimantan is the island of Sipadan, which is surrounded by an amazing ring of hard corals, which, abruptly breaking off, go down immediately for six hundred meters. Thanks to this, thousands of various tropical marine life immediately settled here. In these places, you can easily meet not only shallow-water fish, but also large creatures that prefer to live in depth – barracudas, sharks, sea turtles and large sea urchins.

Since the island is considered a protected area, it is forbidden to create resort settlements on it, and since 2005 it has been possible to get to it only from the territory of neighboring islands – Mabula and Kapalaya.