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Sunday, August 16, 2026
Lisa SchantzLisa Schantz·

Best Beaches for Snorkeling

The best snorkeling beaches have something most postcard beaches lack: a living reef close enough to swim out to.

Where the reef is healthy and shallow, you can float over coral gardens without a boat or a guide.

  • Look for beaches with protected house reefs
  • Hanauma Bay in Hawaii is a classic
  • The Gili Islands and Raja Ampat lead in Asia
  • Check visibility by season before you go

Find a beach with a living reef offshore and your snorkel becomes the best entertainment on the whole trip.