These Caribbean Islands Have the Best Snorkeling—Here’s Where to Go

There’s no better entry point to the Caribbean’s underwater world than snorkeling.

You don’t need a certification. You don’t need a boat. All you need is a mask, a pair of fins, and a sense of wonder. Then you’re off—floating above coral gardens, chasing shafts of light, face to face with sea turtles and parrotfish.

It’s one of the most accessible adventures in the Caribbean—and one of the most rewarding.

Lately, snorkeling has only grown more popular. Full-face masks have made the experience easier than ever, drawing even more travelers beneath the surface. And resorts across the region are leaning into it, offering guided snorkel excursions, house reefs, and beachfront access to world-class spots.

But not every island is ideal for snorkeling. Some are built for divers. Some require long boat rides. The best snorkeling destinations in the Caribbean? They’re the ones where the reef is just offshore. Where the current is gentle. Where you can walk in from the sand and find magic in minutes.

These are the places where snorkeling isn’t just an option—it’s part of the rhythm of the island.

These are the best snorkeling destinations in the Caribbean right now.

Antigua and Barbuda A bit of a well-kept secret among enthusiasts, Antigua is the region’s great undiscovered snorkeling destination, both onshore and offshore. And it’s not a surprise when you have 365 beaches to choose from, many of which are tucked away in secluded coves teeming with undersea flora and fauna. The island’s best snorkeling hotel? The St James’s Club.

Bonaire

This is what snorkeling was meant to be. No boats, no hassle—just you, the shoreline, and a pair of fins.

On Bonaire, the reef starts right at the edge. You can pull off the road, step into the water, and within moments you’re drifting over coral, wrapped in silence and color. It’s that easy.

The island is a snorkeler’s paradise—laid-back, wild, and beautifully protected. Nearly the entire coastline is part of the STINAPA marine park, one of the best-managed in the region. The water is clear, calm, and packed with life.

Whether you’re checking in at the upscale serenity of Harbour Village or the effortlessly cool Delfins Beach Resort, you’re never more than a few steps from the reef. This is Bonaire—pure, simple, and made for the mask.

Saint Lucia The water near Sugar Beach at the base of the Pitons is one of the great snorkeling spots in all of the Caribbean, one of a host of spectacular snorkeling options right off the beach in Saint Lucia. Whether you’re exploring the obsidian waters of the UNESCO World Heritage Site or snorkeling the reef at Anse Chastanet, you’ll find crystal-clear water and hundreds of species of fish. Anse Chastanet also happens to be the most snorkeling-friendly resort on the island. And all Sandals resorts are great, too.

St John This island feels like it was built for snorkeling.

Two-thirds of St John is protected as national parkland—and nearly half of that park is underwater. What that means for you: untouched reefs, crystal-clear water, and marine life that feels like it’s never seen a boat.

You can float with sea turtles in Maho Bay, drift past swaying tube sponges in Francis Bay, or follow the iconic Underwater Snorkel Trail at Trunk Bay, a 300-foot guided path along the west side of Trunk Cay, complete with submerged signage.

There are few places in the Caribbean where the water feels this clean, this wild, this alive.

On St John, you don’t visit the reef—you become part of it.

Martinique It’s not the first thing you hear about Martinique. But maybe it should be.

Yes, there’s the rum. The beaches. The rainforest. But just beneath the surface lies one of the island’s best-kept secrets: an undersea world bursting with life and color.

Snorkeling here is vivid and alive—schools of sergeant majors, flashes of lionfish, the strange glide of a flying gurnard. And if you’re lucky, a sea turtle or two drifting alongside you in the calm, clear waters.

For the best snorkeling on the island, head to Anses d’Arlets—a postcard-perfect stretch of coastline where the reef is close, the current is light, and the experience is unforgettable.

Martinique may be French above the water. But below? It’s pure Caribbean magic

Saba The Caribbean’s “Unspoiled Queen” has long been a haven for advanced scuba divers; but this island a spectacular marine park to explore and a strong day-boat snorkeling operation. If you make the trip, you’ll discover everything from sharks and rays to myriad tropical fish; visibility is outstanding, too, nearing 100 feet around much of the island.

Grenada They call it the Spice Island—but the real flavor might be just offshore.

Grenada is a quiet stunner for snorkeling, anchored by one of the Caribbean’s most surreal underwater experiences: the Moliniere Underwater Sculpture Park, a haunting, beautiful gallery set beneath the sea on the island’s west coast.

But it doesn’t stop there. Just up the coast, spots like Dragon Bay and Flamingo Bay offer some of the island’s best reef snorkeling—calm water, bright coral, and the kind of marine life that makes you linger a little longer.

Grenada doesn’t boast. It doesn’t need to. Slip into the water and you’ll understand.

Curacao It doesn’t get the same hype as its sister island, but maybe that’s exactly why it feels like a discovery.

Curaçao is quietly one of the best islands in the Dutch Caribbean for snorkeling—thanks to 33 dive sites, many of them accessible right from the shore. That’s the magic here: no need to gear up or go far. Just step off the sand and you’re in it.

The water is calm, the reefs are close, and the visibility? Caribbean clear.

You’ll find snorkeling-friendly spots all around the island, but for something special, check in at Baoase Luxury Resort, Curaçao’s top hotel, where the reef is literally steps from your villa.

Snorkeling in Curaçao is effortless, abundant—and beautifully under the radar.

Bimini, The Bahamas This island was built for explorers.

Bimini is raw, untamed, and endlessly fascinating—and beneath the surface, it’s just as wild. This is a snorkeler’s dreamscape: the Bimini Road, a trail of underwater monoliths cloaked in mystery. The Sapona, a half-submerged concrete wreck straight out of an action movie. The Healing Hole, said to be the true Fountain of Youth. And Rainbow Reef, teeming with color and life.

It’s not just variety—it’s the sense of discovery. And with Bimini’s laid-back, uncrowded vibe, you’ll often have the reef all to yourself.

Base yourself at the iconic Bimini Big Game Club, where the on-site Bimini Scuba Center can outfit you with gear and guide you to the best spots across the archipelago.

Bimini doesn’t feel curated. It feels alive. And the snorkeling? It’s unforgettable.

Turks and Caicos

It’s not just beach. It’s reef—endless reef.

The Turks and Caicos Barrier Reef is the third largest on the planet, wrapping the islands in a halo of underwater wonder. That means world-class snorkeling is never far, whether you’re on Grace Bay, exploring the waters off North and Middle Caicos, or drifting off the coast of Grand Turk.

If you’re staying in Providenciales, the go-to is Bight Reef, just steps from the sand in front of Coral Gardens. It’s marked, mapped, and packed with life—an underwater trail where the fish outnumber the people.

Turks and Caicos may be famous for its powder-soft beaches. But just offshore? That’s where the real beauty begins.

Snorkeling in the Caribbean isn’t just an activity—it’s an invitation. To slow down. To float. To see the region from below, in its purest form. From quiet coves in Antigua to sculpture gardens in Grenada, from roadside reefs in Bonaire to the vast barrier waters of Turks and Caicos, these are the islands where the sea comes to you. So grab a mask, take a breath, and step into the blue. The Caribbean is waiting—just beneath the surface.