Snorkelling holidays

[bazzabear]

Many years ago, before children, me and the missus had a Maldives holiday which was superb. One opf the most memorable bits was the ability to snorkel right out of your room in water that was deep enough to happily float around the top and see loads of wildlife, but shallow enough you could stand up in it.

Now my daughter is a teen, I think she would love that experience, so was wondering about planning something for the next couple of years. But it leaves me wondering if that means planning a Maldives holiday, or if there are other places (maybe cheaper or less of a slog to reach!) that can supply a similar experience?

Any experiences or suggestions that can be shared?

 

[Vandle]

Accommodation wise or sea life? Or both? Maldives is in the middle of the ocean and I think you'll struggle to get that level of biodiversity away from the equator or close enough to the shore to be able to just jump in. I've been to the Maldives and not been anywhere else like it. Some amazing sea life in parts of Thailand I have scuba'd in, as well as the barrier reef but they are lengthy boat rides from shore. The Northern part of Western Australia has a reef you can walk into from the shore but not an easy place to get to.
Sharm El Shiekh seems to be the holy grail of scuba but I've not been so not sure on accessibility. The region is also what you may call a little unstable at the moment too. Maybe look at places like Philippines and Indonesia but not easy reach from UK.

 

[NickK]

I've snorkelled in a few places.

I found the Med a little bit 'sanatised' on the seabed. I've scuba/snorkelled off Kas in Turkey which is about as interesting as watching paint dry as there's nothing but sand and black stick looking fish and that's it. Rhodes has little crustations that cruise along the sand and some little fish in the rocks seabed but little else.

The best snorkelling I've done was off the Cook Monument in Hawaii. It had everything from eels, tangs, trigger fish, coral you name it. It's like snorkelling in a tropical fish tank. An example: https://konasnorkeltrips.com/blog/where-is-captain-cook-monument/ (we didn't use this company but they have some good shots).
The hotel we stayed at closed a month after we visited (google maps still shows it: https://maps.app.goo.gl/v7QZZk9LfS1VACg16) but it was meant to be replaced by hut style accommodation. It was a literal 5 minute walk to a small sandy beach north and scuba bliss (although the wife nearly stepped on a baby moray eel sat between the rocks at the beach.

 

[bazzabear]

Thanks, that's really useful.

 

[bainbridge]

Get a surfing T-shirt for her.

I burned my back snorkelling and didn't realise at the time as the water kept cooling me as I cooked.

 

[tom_nieto]

The best for me was Komodo national park without a doubt. We stayed at the Komodo Resort and Diving Club. The scuba was sensational, but the most memorable trip out was snorkelling. We followed a group of manta rays and it was incredible. The reefs are shallow as well, so easy to dive down to if you have a snorkel.

Would love to go back one day.

Edit - we flew there from Bali, which isn’t bad either for a visit!

 

[NickK]

Get a surfing T-shirt for her.

I burned my back snorkelling and didn't realise at the time as the water kept cooling me as I cooked.

You can get 'factor 50' long sleeved tops that have a water-camo pattern. That worked really well during 37degC heatwave in Rhodes! I assume these are surfing tops!

 

[Penfold101]

Just do the Maldives again - there’s hotels for every budget and although the reefs will vary with each one there’s hundreds to choose from.

It’s worth doing properly once instead of coming back disappointed!

 

[NickK]

If you do go to Hawaii... I can recommend Big Island for a slower more relaxed pace that's less American. We spent a week there before moving to Kawaii (the garden state island) which is basically America on the beach.

Although expensive, if you can grab the morning commute from Kona to Hilo flight and back in the evening with Paradise Helicopters (https://www.google.com/maps/place/7...try=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYwMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==)
We did this - with the heli taking the south of the islands and the volcano in the morning, a day with a Mustang convertible on the east side of the island and Hilo. Then a helicopter takes the north of the islands including the waterfalls etc on the way back 'commute'. We got to see the entire island in a day, then spent the rest of the week on public bus up and down the west side before getting a hire car to go up Mauna Kea.

Oddly I would say Madera has the same 'island vibe' but I only got todo some kayaking and didn't snorkel.
We stayed here at the Saccarum: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3EB1hRweKVqPLYkg6 which is a rather plush and upmarket spa hotel.. but we got it cheap last minute. There's a number of other cheaper hotels in the same marina with really really good food! Only down side is it took 45 minutes to get to Funchal on the bus. I would suggest if you do want to explore get a 4x4 tour - we did one Green Devil tour, loved it so much that we did 2 more! (covering the other areas of the island): https://greendevilsafari.com the beauty was they picked up and returned us to the hotel so no cost or time wasted getting to Funchal! The guide spoke multiple languages fluently and they really mean 4x4 great to meet other holiday makers on the trips too
The Saccum has a small private beach with a bar etc that may be good from some basic snorkelling too, although perhaps not on the same league as Hawaii.

 

[ahar]

My kids were 15 and 13 when we went to Pula in Croatia. They love snorkeling as do me and the missus (we both used to scuba dive, I did probably 350 dives mostly in the uk before having kids stopped me) so we got a air BnB and hired a car. Loads of good snorkeling directly off the 'beaches'. That's because around Pula there aren't any sandy beaches really, it's mostly rock, so you can go straight out to nice cliff faces with lots of life. Very little current, very small tides so nice and safe.

It won't be a coral reef like the Maldives, but still you get soft corals and loads of fish. We spent most of our time on the Verudela peninsula just south of Pula. If you use what3words, this is a good example of a spot

///empty.lifters.star

Nice flat area of rock that we set up our beach towels on, walked down a few meters to the sea and you've immediately got cliffs to snorkel along

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

Plenty of good snorkelling in the Caribbean as well, but by default is only average at best, you really need to pick carefully if thats the main driver for you

If its ALL about the snorkelling then Maldives
But if you want other stuff as well then find the right island/resort/hotel combo in the caribbean and IMO you will have a better holiday overall
Most islands you can fly direct so they are more like 11 hours on the plane rather than 20

Anse Chastanet Beach, St Lucia is very good (many people say a top worldwide location)
Added things you can do there is stuff like visiting the volcano, tree top safari (zip lines) etc if you think she would enjoy that

 

[neilw]

Koh Tao in Thailand is worth looking at. It's a bit of a pain to get to though

 

[Mark M]

The only place I’ve ever snorkled is Sharm El Sheikh so can’t compare it to anywhere else but I thought it was brilliant! You can get there pretty cheap too.

 

[NickK]

Update snorkelling in malta.

I took my own equipement, including travel friendly fins rather than the longer fins.

The natural areas are rock based around the islands, there are a few sand locations but those end up heavily tourist over populated and those with the beaches have a long shallow (1m) profile.
The norm is rock, reefs that drop quite quickly. For example:

* sliema front has ladders and immediately drops to 4-5m it then goes quite far out and slowly decends. Reef contains veg fauna, shoals of small damsel fish that will swim under/around you. Parrot fish/trigger fish arouns but less populated. Water temps didn’t need a shortly but shorts and rash top worked. Water state can make getting back onto ladders fun.

* nature reserve by the main norther ferry port is closed to boats and is used by divers and snorkellers. It has 2m, with the reef dropping to 5m that givens plenty of fish and wildlife to look at. The edge of the reef sees a drop from 5m to 25m presenting a “can make out detail on the bottom but depends..” plenty of interesting things on the reef.

* crystal lagoon by boat, dangers here are the tourist boats. Can see down to the bottom, I’d estimate 4-8m with plenty of fish shoals mid water. Not particularly diverse but clean bottom.

* blue lagoon by boat. The blue lagoon is pretty, but the “sandy bit” is like a scene from mad max thunderdome. I would strongly not bother with that bit however there is a much quieter reef with 0-5m with some dropping off further around where the boats dock. I did about 1h30 happily cruising around. Temps are cooler so add things to keep warm - you can feel the temp difference between the shallows and the reef. If you must snorkel rhe reef then you should get a boat that sits on the opposite side (smaller boats) but they can’t enter the lagoon so you can snorkel in from there.

* xlendi has a port that’s super quiet, the option there to snorkel could prove interesting.

If scuba learning then the inland sea in gozo is worth checking out. It also has a load of wrecks and a wide range of depths.

I got myself some cressi short fins at decathlon : https://store.cressi.com/products/palau-saf-fins?variant=54868684144984 which fit the hold luggage easily. I could have got the longer fins but decided on the shorter fins wouls make it easier for “my first fins”. Same with the mask and snorkel - decathlon plastic options (not the all in one - the normal goggle style).
They work well and I’m used to them but they have limitations when diving and ai think they could seal better. It may be they need notching up rhe strap.

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

Whilst not the same as swimming out of your room...

Malta and gozo do get a massive following for scuba and snorkeling.
I believe there's even some wrecks you can quite easily get to.

Theres a scuba hotel down xlendi bay that always seem.to be packed.

There's also the inland sea as well


Edit: and it was then I saw the post above hahahah

 

[NickK]

Saw my first octopus in the wild at sliema. It was getting annoyed at the local fish including some that seemed to think it’s job was a warning sign by sitting about an inch from the octopus’s eye. Depth was probably about 4 meters on the sunny reef just next to the drop off.

 

[Mark M]

Update snorkelling in malta.

I took my own equipement, including travel friendly fins rather than the longer fins.

The natural areas are rock based around the islands, there are a few sand locations but those end up heavily tourist over populated and those with the beaches have a long shallow (1m) profile.
The norm is rock, reefs that drop quite quickly. For example:

* sliema front has ladders and immediately drops to 4-5m it then goes quite far out and slowly decends. Reef contains veg fauna, shoals of small damsel fish that will swim under/around you. Parrot fish/trigger fish arouns but less populated. Water temps didn’t need a shortly but shorts and rash top worked. Water state can make getting back onto ladders fun.

* nature reserve by the main norther ferry port is closed to boats and is used by divers and snorkellers. It has 2m, with the reef dropping to 5m that givens plenty of fish and wildlife to look at. The edge of the reef sees a drop from 5m to 25m presenting a “can make out detail on the bottom but depends..” plenty of interesting things on the reef.

* crystal lagoon by boat, dangers here are the tourist boats. Can see down to the bottom, I’d estimate 4-8m with plenty of fish shoals mid water. Not particularly diverse but clean bottom.

* blue lagoon by boat. The blue lagoon is pretty, but the “sandy bit” is like a scene from mad max thunderdome. I would strongly not bother with that bit however there is a much quieter reef with 0-5m with some dropping off further around where the boats dock. I did about 1h30 happily cruising around. Temps are cooler so add things to keep warm - you can feel the temp difference between the shallows and the reef. If you must snorkel rhe reef then you should get a boat that sits on the opposite side (smaller boats) but they can’t enter the lagoon so you can snorkel in from there.

* xlendi has a port that’s super quiet, the option there to snorkel could prove interesting.

If scuba learning then the inland sea in gozo is worth checking out. It also has a load of wrecks and a wide range of depths.

I got myself some cressi short fins at decathlon : https://store.cressi.com/products/palau-saf-fins?variant=54868684144984 which fit the hold luggage easily. I could have got the longer fins but decided on the shorter fins wouls make it easier for “my first fins”. Same with the mask and snorkel - decathlon plastic options (not the all in one - the normal goggle style).
They work well and I’m used to them but they have limitations when diving and ai think they could seal better. It may be they need notching up rhe strap.

Thanks for the info, really useful. I’m looking at a 2026 holiday that’s includes some snorkeling but would have to be kid friendly too

 

[NickK]

Thanks for the info, really useful. I’m looking at a 2026 holiday that’s includes some snorkeling but would have to be kid friendly too

How young? There's a waterpark/slides near St. Pauls, and the sandy but packed beaches are in the north of Malta, the other alternatives are boat-lead (typically deeper water) or Gozo (northern island).

If you take shorty wetsuits then the airline costs are going to start to sting. However I would certainly advise factor 50 rash tops, neck protectors and possibly a hood to prevent sun UV cooking you.

Rhodes had more sandy beaches but it's a larger island.

Lastly when it gets humid season don't expect things to dry out on the balcony! (even in 30degC) so it may take a couple of days to dry. Factor into the swimwear equation.

 

[Mark M]

How young? There's a waterpark/slides near St. Pauls, and the sandy but packed beaches are in the north of Malta, the other alternatives are boat-lead (typically deeper water) or Gozo (northern island).

If you take shorty wetsuits then the airline costs are going to start to sting. However I would certainly advise factor 50 rash tops, neck protectors and possibly a hood to prevent sun UV cooking you.

Rhodes had more sandy beaches but it's a larger island.

Lastly when it gets humid season don't expect things to dry out on the balcony! (even in 30degC) so it may take a couple of days to dry. Factor into the swimwear equation.

9 and 13 so it won’t be a full day of snorkling but they are really keen on it.

 

[NickK]

9 and 13 so it won’t be a full day of snorkling but they are really keen on it.

It may be worth trying a SSI snorkelling course (they're online and give a good basis), alternatively try a local pool based course. Reason I say is it will help them sort out mask issues, get comfortable with a snorkel and the feeling of flippers (they feel slower than normal treading of water or swimming). Plus they can learn clear, etc. When they get there they're not fighting that and will be more confident and lower risk. You'll learn the hand signs, effects of water etc..

If you get a mask - something to be conscious of with "all in one" face masks. They need to fit PERFECTLY. The inner seal that pushes against your cheeks and nose needs to seal perfectly as well as the outer seal. If it doesn't then the mask becomes dangerous due to CO2 buildup from the breath not being expelled from the mask as the mask design causes it to simply recycle internally. They can't dive either so you're stuck on the surface.
My mrs likes hers as she pootles around on the surface, but she found that her face got hot due to not having some cooling water flowing around. I prefer mask and snorkel, I've dove to about 5-8m with the flippers - the difference in water pressure and your blood pressure goes up at depth so I think I need to work on that a bit..

When you get your new mask - you'll need to clean the mould release compound off it. It causes masks to fog up. I used washing up liquid a few times on the mrs' mask and mine. Then repeat a couple of times and it will slowly remove it. Then once you're actually in the water a couple of options but mine's matured enough now to simply wash with ocean water, spit in it (proteins prevent fogging), then wash with ocean water again.. put on and away you go no fogging for 2 hours..