Snorkel the best reefs in the US. Leave them better.
Spot guides for Hawaii, Florida and California with maps, live conditions, the best months for every animal and tours that give back to the reef.
Footage: Pexels
Where should I snorkel next?
Spots where the water is warm and clear this season, each with local tours that meet the Guardian standard.
HawaiiHanauma Bay Nature PreserveA collapsed volcanic crater open to the sea holds the most protected snorkeling on Oahu, a shallow inner reef where the fish are used to people. It is a nature preserve, so you need a reservation and a short video first. Hanauma Bay is worth the effort.
HawaiiMauiReach a sunken volcanic crater by boat, watch green sea turtles graze in knee-deep water on the south shore, and walk into calm west-side bays straight from the sand. Pick the leeward coast and you can snorkel almost any day.
FloridaJohn Pennekamp Coral Reef State ParkHop on a boat from the marina, float over shallow Keys reef, then look straight down at a nine-foot bronze Jesus at Key Largo Dry Rocks. This state park is mostly water, and it is the easiest place in the Keys to snorkel with a guide.
CaliforniaLa JollaKelp, orange garibaldi and a no-take marine reserve sit beside a sea lion colony, which makes La Jolla Southern California's snorkel destination. In summer, leopard sharks gather in the shallows of La Jolla Shores. The water is cold, so bring a wetsuit.
FloridaCrystal RiverSlip into 72 F spring water and float beside wild West Indian manatees. Crystal River is the one place in the US where you can. Winter is the peak, and the rules are strict because the animals come first.
HawaiiManta Ray Night SnorkelAfter sunset, a boat from Kona drops you at a patch of ocean lit from below. Giant manta rays glide in to feed on the plankton your lights attract, some spanning well over 10 ft, rolling within inches of the surface. It is one of the few Hawaii animal encounters that works all year.What can I swim with, and when?
The moments that make a trip, the months they happen and the one rule that keeps them happening.
Year roundReef manta ray
Kona, Big Island
Rule: Float flat, lights down, never touch.
Summer to early fallLeopard shark
La Jolla Shores, California
Rule: Watch from above, let them pass.
Year roundGreen sea turtle
Hawaii and Florida
Rule: Stay 10 ft away, never block their way up.
WinterFlorida manatee
Crystal River, Florida
Rule: Passive observation only. Float and watch.
Best snorkeling in the US
148 snorkel spots researched so far, 24 with a full guide. Every one checked against official park and sanctuary rules.
Hawaii
Watch turtles graze in knee-deep water, float over a sunken crater on Maui, meet manta rays on the Kona coast at night and swim a north shore reef on Kauai. Each island has its own season, so pick the coast that is calm on your dates.
47 spots
Florida
Wild manatees drifting past your mask. Seahorses under a bridge. The only living barrier reef in the continental US. Florida packs all three into one state, so pick the region first, then the month.
78 spotsCalifornia
Forget coral. California snorkeling is swaying giant kelp forests, orange garibaldi, curious sea lions and, off La Jolla in late summer, harmless leopard sharks gliding over the sand. The water is cold, but the wildlife is worth the wetsuit.
23 spotsLook. Don't touch.
Leave only bubbles.
Do
- Wear a rash guardOr mineral sunscreen, applied well before you swim.
- Float flat over shallow reefKeep fins up so you never kick coral or stir sand.
- Book a local Guardian guideThey know the rules, the currents and the animals.
Never
- Touch, chase or feed wildlifeLet animals choose how close they come.
- Stand on or grab the reefTired? Float on your back or find sand.
- Take shells, sand or coralPhotos only. Leave it for the next swimmer.
Your trip funds the reef
We only list operators who meet the Guardian standard: small groups, no touching or feeding, a reef briefing on every trip, and a real link to local conservation. When you book through us, part of what we earn goes back to the Reef Guardians on each page.