The 10 best places to snorkel in the USA

Interested in snorkeling inside a cave with a prehistoric spring? Pleistocene fossils from this dramatic underground spring are on display at the University of Florida’s Museum of Natural History, proving that you’ll be accessing very old waters (if you want to go deeper—it extends 54 feet—you can also scuba dive here). The surface pool is only 120 feet in diameter, but the water expands under the surface in an inverted mushroom shape. This incredible experience lasts 90 minutes and must be reserved in advance. The $18-25 admission does not include the required mask, snorkel and fins; you can bring your own or rent for $12.

These four snorkel reefs are manmade but thrilling because they still host sealife as an adopted habitat. The reefs were created by the South Walton Artificial Reef Association. Each includes reef pods arranged to form sealife shapes when viewed from above: a dolphin at Miramar Beach, a seahorse off of Topsail Hill State Park, a sea turtle at Grayton Beach State Park, and a grouper at Inlet Beach. Each is roughly 700-1,000 feet from the shore, which is about five to eight laps out and best approached by kayak or SUP. Perfect for snorkelers, they are only at a depth of about 6 to 12 feet under the water. And best of all: they’re free.

Hanauma Bay shows up on any list of snorkel spots because it boasts a profusion of fishy lives: more than 400 species! That includes the humuhumunukunukuapua‘a state fish. You’ll also see coral and giant turtles. The bay is a volcanic crater that was designated a protected marine life conservation area and underwater park in 1967. There’s a sizeable entry fee ($25 for anyone 13+) and parking charge ($3), but a tram ride is included if you prefer to ride rather than walk down to the beach. Reservations are required to watch a short video beforehand about sea life and safety rules, and only 1,400 guests can visit per day to lessen the impact on the important habitat.

Just outside of Monterey’s Cannery Row is Breakwater Cove, popular with snorkelers and scuba divers. With abundant sea life, the cove may offer glimpses of sea lions, octopus, seals, jellyfish, starfish, anemones, kelp forests and lots of fish varieties. In particular, sea otters are known to be friendly and unafraid of humans in the water. Watch out for boats, and algae may affect your visibility. The area is free; you will just need to get a parking permit from a machine in the lot. Best hint: you may see bioluminescence here if you snorkel at night.

With an evocative name like this, we know it’s going to be an adventurous snorkel! The wreck is an old Spanish rum runner who smuggled in rum when it was illegal. All that’s left of it now is a 3’ high part of its hull, but if you can catch a glimpse through shifting visibility, consider yourself as lucky as someone in the past slugging back a bootleg shot. The 200’ foot long vessel lies in relatively shallow water (15-20 feet), while visibility is about 10-15 feet...you can do the math. It’s not good. But hey, at least you weren’t on it when it sank! The wreck should be accessible from the shore, right in front of Bahama Bob’s Beach Side Cafe and about 150 yards into the water.

While there are four beaches within the national seashore, the ones along the Pamlico Sound hold calmer and warmer water. Here at the protected beach, there are plenty of underwater habitats. You’ll be sharing the shallow waters (usually not deeper than six feet) in this lagoon with windsurfers and kiteboarders. Under the water, you’ll find hermit crabs, mullets, sand dollars and lots of shells, and maybe even a sea turtle—while above the water, you’ll want to stay for the gorgeous open water sunsets.

The whole island is great for snorkeling for free, but you can can also take a guided snorkel tour. The waters are clear enough to see a great variety of fish, including the Garibaldi state fish, halibut, giant sea bass, sardines and several kinds of sharks (leopard, blue and horn)—and if you are lucky, you might also see bat rays and harbor seals. You can snorkel year round at this island, but in the winter you might want to wear a wetsuit. Check out the Catalina Island Marine Protected Areas where some of the best snorkeling happens.

Sea urchins, striped bass, crabs, red and green seaweed wafting with the waves...and maybe a lobster hiding under the rocks! That’s what you can see here, and maybe even a beautiful purple starfish if you’re lucky. Above the surface, the Little Beach Lighthouse is a cool red and white tower perched on the rocks for that iconic Maine photo, too. The ocean water here is notoriously cold, so you may wish to wear a wetsuit. Another Ogunquit spot for snorkeling is Israel’s Head Point with a cute, short lighthouse.

The Trunk Bay Underwater Snorkel Trail is a very cool experience that takes about half an hour (or you can double it if you’re lingering and fascinated). Here at the Virgin Islands National Park, you snorkel along a trail marked with underwater signs that interpret the colorful coral reef below you, including the endangered elkhorn coral. You’ll learn about the creatures that live on the coral, like angelfish, puffer fish and yellowtail snapper, and how fragile the reefs are—for instance, you must be a good swimmer to do this trail because you aren’t allowed to rest your feet on the coral which would damage it. The trail is about 400 feet long. There’s a small entry fee ($4 for ages 17+) and you can bring or rent your gear.

The snorkel tours offered by this company guarantee you a dolphin or turtle sighting—or you return for free. Most tours involve a boat ride out to the snorkel site. The “Snorkel with Turtles” package leaves out of O’ahu or the island of Hawai’i and includes a meal. Bring your own snorkel and mask; the fins, boat vest, and in-water help from staff come with the package. If whales are in season, you’ll pause to watch them as well. Big props to this group for being Hawai’i’s first Dolphin Smart-recognized operator, which means guests will learn about dolphin conservation and how not to harass them, such as trying to swim with them in the wild. The company also follows the Coral Reef Alliance’s guidelines for sustainable practices that promote coral reef health.