10 Best Places To Go Snorkeling in the US

You don’t need to go to a far-flung Pacific island or the Caribbean for a snorkeling vacation; some of the best snorkeling places are in the USA.

It’s not enough to find a gorgeous beach to push off; the best places to snorkel should have coral reefs that are alive and teeming with fish and other aquatic wildlife.

Also, you may be planning a snorkeling vacation, but maybe some of your companions don’t want to snorkel or can’t.

Most of these places have other water activities for non-snorkelers, like sailing, kayaking, and glass-bottom boat tours.

Here are the 10 best snorkeling sites in the USA.

Best Snorkeling Sites In The USA

1. Hawaii

Of the 50 states, Hawaii is probably the one that comes to mind first when you say “snorkeling vacation.”

And Hawaii certainly doesn’t disappoint.

As it’s difficult to narrow down a single best place to snorkel in the whole of Hawaii, here are 5 of the best sites to snorkel in Hawaii.

Kona, Hawaii (as in the Big Island) offers a variety of snorkeling spots, and the main attractions are swimming with dolphins during the day and swimming with manta rays at night.

Molokini Crater, Hawaii — Photo Credit: clickfarmer

Molokini Crater on the island of Maui is a remote attraction only accessible by boat. The old volcanic crater has 250 species of fish that you can clearly see, as the visibility is up to 100 feet.

Kaanapali Beach in Maui is another great snorkeling site. Head on over to Black Rock on the northern end of this beach so you can snorkel with Hawaiian green sea turtles. Be careful not to touch or crowd the turtles, as they are a protected species.

Honolua Bay, also in Maui, is a marine sanctuary surrounded by cliffs featuring dense coral growths in waters about 10 to 40 feet deep. You can take a side trip to nearby Lahaina to get a dose of history and culture.

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve in Oahu is a marine life conservation area protected from the ocean swell. There are plenty of fish to see, and if you’re lucky, you can see the famed Hawaiian Green sea turtles or even a whale or two.

If you want to make a one-day snorkeling vacation into a three-day Hawaii trip, here are the best places to visit in Hawaii.

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2. Florida Keys, Florida

The Florida Keys is an archipelago off the southern tip of Florida, north of Cuba.

Aside from being one of the best places to snorkel in the USA, they’re also a well-known destination for water activities, such as boating, fishing, and scuba diving.

Here are 4 of the best places to snorkel in the Florida Keys.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo is the first undersea park in the country and remains a spectacular place to go snorkeling. It features a 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium and the Christ of the Abyss, a 4,000-pound statue of Jesus submerged in 25 feet of water.

Sombrero Key in Marathon is a marine sanctuary featuring elkhorn coral and a spur-and-groove reef formation.

Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary in Big Pine Key is another marine sanctuary, which got its name from the HMS Looe that supposedly ran aground in that spot in the 1700s. It boasts of rich wildlife and undersea fauna.

Dry Tortugas National Park in Key West is a remote 100-square mile park that boasts of clear waters and spectacular coral reefs, as well as various sea turtles, after which it is named. While you’re in Key West, you might want to visit the southernmost point of the continental US.

Want to snorkel and take a road trip? Check out our Florida Keys road trip guide.

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3. Santa Catalina Island, California

Santa Catalina Island, sometimes called Catalina Island or just Catalina, is an island off the coast of Southern California, accessible via ferry, catamaran, or helicopter (if you want to splurge).

In particular, the town of Avalon offers plenty of jump-off points for snorkeling to choose from, such as Casino Point Dive Park, Lover’s Cove Marine Preserve, and the waters around Descanso Beach.

Not a fan of snorkeling, or couldn’t?

Go sailing on a glass-bottom boat to see a variety of colorful fish and other vibrant sea life without even having to leave the boat.

Or if you want to have a closer look, you can go on an undersea expedition via a submersible craft and take an underwater cruise. You get your own seat and porthole, plus you can explore the cabin and explore other viewpoints.

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Explore Santa Catalina Island

4. Block Island, Rhode Island

Northeastern states aren’t normally popular for snorkeling.

But this little island in between Montauk and Martha’s Vineyard is considered one of the best snorkeling spots in the US, if you can take the cold.

The abundance of reefs near the coast, relatively clearer water than its surroundings, and the warm Gulf Stream all mean that colorful tropical fish are visible to snorkelers during the summer.

The beaches on Block Island are all gorgeous, but Surf Beach is generally considered to be the best place on the island for snorkeling, due to the rock formations where fish congregate, and a breakwater that keeps strong waves away.

Resources:
Block Island | Surf Beach
Block Island Tourism Council

5. Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin

Yes, Wisconsin.

So far, we’ve only been looking at seawater snorkeling, but freshwater snorkeling can be equally fascinating.

Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, doesn’t seem a likely site for snorkeling. It’s a pretty lakeside town surrounded by nature, providing a respite from the hustle and bustle of big cities.

But within this tranquil town, guided snorkeling and diving tours are offered to explore the nearby shipwrecks beneath Lake Michigan.

Believe it or not, Lake Michigan is host to approximately 1500 shipwrecks. Quite a few of them are accessible from Baileys Harbor, such as the Christina Nilsson and the Emeline.

Don’t want to go into the lake? Clear bottom kayaking tours are also available, so you won’t have to dive in the water.

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Baileys Harbor

6. Possum Kingdom Lake, Possum Kingdom State Park, Texas

Possum Kingdom Lake is another freshwater snorkeling destination.

Nestled at the foot of the Palo Pinto mountains, this lake is sometimes called the Great Lake of Texas.

With its clear waters, scenic shoreline, and mysterious coves, Possum Kingdom is one of the most gorgeous lakes to go fishing and boating, as well as diving and snorkeling. Keep your eyes peeled for sunken cars, boats, and if you’re at the right place at the right time, a drive-through burger restaurant sign.

The lake is also teeming with life; watch out for blue crabs, sunfish, catfish, and all kinds of bass.

Aside from probably the best inland snorkeling you’ll ever do in Texas, Possum Kingdom State Park offers plenty of other outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, picnicking, and camping.

Resources:
Possum Kingdom Lake
Possum Kingdom State Park

7. Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia

Snorkeling in an aquarium?

Better believe it.

At the Georgia Aquarium, the biggest aquarium in the US, you can either snorkel or scuba dive with whale sharks, manta rays, and other sea creatures.

Three guides will be with you at all times, so you don’t have to worry about your safety, and friends, family, and other aquarium guests can watch you through one of the exhibit windows.

This is a good option if you don’t want to go to a beach or an island just to snorkel or want to snorkel during an off-peak season (e.g., in the winter).

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Georgia Aquarium

8. Bonne Terre Mine, Bonne Terre, Missouri

Bonne Terre is a small city an hour away from St. Louis that once had the world’s largest lead mine.

When the mine was depleted, groundwater trickled in to fill the lower three levels of the five-level mine, forming a 1-billion gallon, 17-mile long subterranean lake, which is now the world’s largest freshwater dive resort.

The upper two levels are where guided walking tours are held, where visitors can make their way along the old mule trails and see where miners used to dig with nothing more than a pick and a shovel.

The owners installed 500,000 watts of stadium lighting, giving the water an electric blue haze and allowing visibility of up to 100 feet.

Boat tours and dive tours are available to observe the archways, pillars, and abandoned mining trains and equipment.

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Bonne Terre Mine

9. Haigh Quarry, Kankakee, Illinois

Yet another unique place to snorkel is in a quarry.

Haigh Quarry in Kankakee, Illinois started out as an abandoned limestone quarry that was bought by Jim Haigh in the 70s.

He unplugged the pumps that the former owner left in and the quarry was filled with spring water. It then became a place where people can hang out and swim.

Fish and fowl made their way here and it became a scuba diving and snorkeling spot. Divers are treated to the sight of schools of pike, bass, and catfish.

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Haigh Quarry

10. Homestead Crater, Midway, Utah

Thought it was a volcano, didn’t you?

The Homestead Crater in Midway, Utah is not actually a volcanic crater; it’s a geothermal hot spring surrounded by a rock dome.

The Crater formed when melting snow from the Wasatch Mountains seeped within the earth, heated by the earth’s interior, and percolated upward.

The Crater prides itself on being the only geothermal hot spring in Utah, and the only warm scuba diving destination in the continental US.

Rapelling through an opening at the top used to be the only way in this spring, but a tunnel was drilled horizontally for easier access.

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Midway Crater

Where do you think is the best snorkeling place in the US?

Snorkeling is a fun water sports activity; you don’t need too much equipment, you don’t need too much training, and it’s a great introduction to the underwater world.

Now that you have this list of the best snorkeling spots in the USA, you’re all set to plan your snorkeling vacation!

Going snorkeling soon? Which of these places are you most interested to visit? Tell us in the comments!