How Is the Snorkeling in Antigua?

by Joe Laing
(Airdrie, Alberta, Canada)

I was wondering how the snorkeling is on Antigua? Is it worth taking a snorkeling trip there or should we go to a different island in the Caribbean? Can we snorkel from the beach or is it all by boat tour? Thanks for any information. We love to snorkel.

Comments for How Is the Snorkeling in Antigua?

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Nov 04, 2014
 Poor shore snorkelling
by: Anonymous

Hi! We snorkeled Antigua 2 years ago. We were quite disappointed with the shore snorkeling. We didn't do any boat trips so I can't comment on that. We went to basically all of shore sites all week and none were great. Very damaged reefs and not many fish. I wouldn't recommend Antigua as a good shore snorkeling island. We found Curaçao and Bonaire to be 100 times better.
Nov 04, 2014
 Antigua and other Caribbean Snorkeling
by: Older Couple

The only "from the shore" snorkeling we found on Antigua was at Hawksbill Beach. It is a beautiful beach and is frequented by nudists. Just go there, respect any beachers, and head for the water. Snorkel out to and carefully around the Hawksbill Rock. We found no shore snorkeling elsewhere after a week in Antigua. We did not experience any boat trip snorkeling in Antigua.

We returned the next vacation to British Virgin Gorda where snorkeling is from the shore just a few steps from our door.

We found no shore snorkeling on St. Kitts and Provo had very limited shore snorkeling. But in Provo we took two boat trips to the breakwaters where there was an abundance of sea life including nurse sharks and large rays, but not so pretty coral.

In our experience shore snorkeling seems to be rare except for Virgin Gorda. We have been back six times. Good luck. :)
Nov 06, 2014
 Antigua was disappointing
by: Anonymous

We were in Antigua in January 2014. The beaches are beautiful but we drove around the whole island and found no good snorkeling. We went out on a boat day trip which turned out to be very rough so all I can say was disappointing snorkeling!

Bonaire and Curacao were awesome!
Nov 07, 2014
 Antigua snorkelng a no-go
by: Music mom

Went to Antigua in July 2013 for our 20th anniversary, fabulous resort, great food, nice water, but the snorkeling was terrible! The coral is all bleached white-gray, very small amount of fish to be seen, very rough waters. The boat ride was the best part. After the Disney-like colors of Roatan, we were terribly disappointed with the blah. It is not worth the trip if that's what you're after!
Nov 08, 2017
 Snorkeling 2017
by: Peg

Has anyone tried to snorkel in Antigua in 2017? We have been going to St John, VI for over 20 years but now the island is practically destroyed, so we are looking for another good snorkel island, going in January 2018.
Dec 27, 2017
 Know Where to Go
by: Anonymous

We stayed at the Veranda Resort and walked to the nearby bay down the road to the east. It was very good snorkeling off the beach on the right hand side. We saw all the usual reef fish, plus large sting rays, turtles, and barracuda.

Also near the Veranda Resort is the natural bridge. Before you get there the road narrows and you can see water on both sides in bays. We snorkeled there as well. It's a little deeper, and though not as good as the other place, there were many fish to still see. There was no coral but still quite a few fish.

If you want great snorkeling and are tired of Mexico, head to Roatan!
Jan 15, 2018
 Re: Know Where to Go
by: Anonymous

Would the bay to the east of Verandah be Long Bay? Near the Grand Pineapple Resort? Or is it the bay the Verandah Resort is on? Thanks for any clarification.
Nov 03, 2019
 Antigua updates?
by: Mamie

Any updates on beach snorkeling in Antigua? It's appealing cause it's nonstop flight from where I live but not if there is no beach snorkeling!

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