Guided Snorkel Travel to the Most Alive Reefs in the World
Join the amazing snorkeling trips below, to experience some of the most abundantly alive reefs in the world. Come home with beautiful memories and lifelong new friends. These group snorkel vacations are arranged and led by a tour company owned by friends of ours (we are just promoting them, not running them). We join one or two of these trips each year ourselves. We wish we could go on all of them!
- Professionally Guided – Effortless Planning and Travel
- World’s Best Snorkeling Destinations – See the Last Remaining Reefs Full of Life
- Snorkelers Only – 100% Focused on Snorkeling Spots (Not Diving), and Friendly Camaraderie
Get Notified of New Trips and Dates
These trips tend to fill quickly. But don’t be discouraged. New snorkeling trips, and new dates are regularly added. The first thing to do is sign up for our newsletter. New trips are announced there first. Second, use the contact form near the bottom of this page and let our snorkeling trips partner Ben know what you are interested in. You will get first notice of new dates from them.
Featured Trip
Palau Resort and Liveaboard
Join this Palau snorkeling adventure that combines a stunning resort stay, along with a seven night liveaboard cruise of the islands. Remote Palau is extremely abundant with sea life underwater, with over 500 corals, and 1500 species of fish, all surrounded by beautiful islands and culture. This trip will be a wonderful way to explore everything Palau has to offer, underwater and above. Learn all about this trip here.
Watch This Highlights Video From the 2022 Group Snorkeling Trips
The snorkeling trips are organized in two ways, by world location with a mini description, or further down there is a list of the trips by date. Click on each trip for a full description.
Snorkeling Trips by World Location
Coral Triangle Snorkeling Trips
Many of these snorkeling safaris are focused on the Coral Triangle, a marine area in the western Pacific Ocean that is the epicenter of marine biodiversity of the world, including nearly 800 types of coral, and 2200 species of colorful fish, and six of the seven types of marine turtles. The Coral Triangle region includes the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands. Check out the snorkeling trips on offer in this region below.
Banda Sea Liveaboard, Indonesia
Explore a remote chain of volcanic islands in the Banda Sea of Indonesia on this unique 13 day liveaboard snorkeling trip. Aboard the well-appointed Mermaid II yacht, you will traverse a large area, beginning in Maumere and ending in Ambon, snorkeling a variety of places along the way. On numerous snorkels per day you will get to see incredible coral reefs full of fish and interesting creatures, in an astounding variety and abundance. Learn all about this trip here.
Alor and Komodo, Indonesia
Join this fantastic resort based snorkeling safari to Alor and Komodo in Indonesia. This 15 day small group snorkeling trip will visit two distinct and biologically lush areas of the Coral Triangle, with the opportunity to see a variety of interesting marine life, vast coral fields and walls, and some interesting top side attractions like Komodo Dragons! We went on this trip in 2019 and absolutely loved it! Read all about this wonderful trip here.
Alor and Komodo and Raja Ampat, Indonesia
12 lucky snorkelers get to experience some outstanding snorkeling on this 23 day trip that visits three fabulous areas of Indonesia: Alor, Komodo and Raja Ampat. Alami Alor Resort, Komodo Resort, and Papua Explorers Resort are all waterfront resorts with beautiful house reefs. They are also ideally situated for you to explore the abundant reefs and sea life near the resorts on your daily boat snorkel excursions. Let the experts take care of the details and you can enjoy your vacation snorkeling in the incomparable Coral Triangle! Find out all the details and inquire with the organizers here.
Alor Snorkeling and Freediving Workshop Trip, Indonesia
This very unique snorkeling trip combines an exploration of the stunningly abundant reefs of Alor, while also learning shallow freediving skills in a workshop format. You will be based out of the beautiful Alami Alor Resort, which has a perfect house reef for learning freediving skills from your world renowned teacher and guide. Your group will be taken out twice a day by boat to many different types of reefs that are close by, that are packed with healthy and colorful corals, as well as tropical fish galore. In Alor you also have the chance to see dolphins, Mola Mola, and whales. Learn all about this unique trip here.
Komodo and Misool, Indonesia
This trip combines the stunning reefs and large creatures of Komodo National Park, with the most abundant reefs in the world at Misool, in southern Raja Ampat. Both areas of Indonesia offer world class snorkeling underwater. Your guided snorkeling group will stay at two amazing resorts that have stunning house reefs. And you will also be taken by boat each day to close by islands and reefs. You will be treated to very colorful and healthy corals, and a massive abundance of fish, and many large creatures such as sharks, manta rays, and sea turtles. Not to mention getting the opportunity to see Komodo Dragons in their native habitat. Learn all of the details about this amazing trip here.
Sulawesi and Raja Ampat, Indonesia
This unique itinerary takes you to two wonderful areas of the Coral Triangle and Indonesia, Bunaken National Marine Park in north Sulawesi, and Raja Ampat. Siladen Resort in Sulawesi and Papua Paradise Eco Resort in Raja Ampat serve as your comfortable home bases for snorkeling the numerous abundant reefs nearby. In addition to unlimited house reef snorkeling, you also get two snorkeling boat trips per day at each resort. And, in between the two resorts, you get to explore a volcano and see wildlife in the rainforest in Sulawesi. Read all about this wonderful trip here.
North Indonesia Resorts
Bunaken – Halmahera – Raja Ampat
This extraordinary trip explores three areas of the Coral Triangle, in North Indonesia. You will get to see huge variety in sea life, from shallow reefs full of lush and healthy corals brimming with colorful tropical fish, to sea turtles, manta ray feeding stations, and larger pelagic fish like sharks. The snorkeling excursions will be based out of three different stunning island resorts. There are excellent house reefs to explore, with night snorkeling opportunities, and you will also be taken out by boat to close by reefs to snorkel three other reefs each day. Find out all the details about this trip here.
Sulawesi Photography Workshop, Indonesia
The aim of this tour is to improve your snorkeling photography skills while exploring the abundant reefs of Bunaken National Marine Park in northern Sulawesi Indonesia. This 12 day trip includes a 10 night stay at the stunning Siladen Resort. You will have unlimited access to the house reef and two snorkel boat trips per day. Your guide is an award winning underwater photographer and will help you get the most you can out of your camera. Get all the details here.
Papua Explorers Resort, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Raja Ampat should be at the top of your list of must-visit snorkeling destinations and this 9 day trip to the Papua Explorers Resort is the perfect way to get there. Visit the most abundant area of the Coral Triangle from this fabulous over water resort. It is located on the edge of Dampier Strait in the center of a Marine Protected Area. You will have three snorkeling boat trips per day plus unlimited house reef snorkeling. Get all the details and inquire about this great trip here.
Raja Ampat Liveaboard, Indonesia
We were lucky enough to snorkel in incredible Raja Ampat recently and we urge you to get there too! This 12 or 14 day liveaboard trip is an outstanding opportunity to snorkel two of the best areas in the region aboard the gorgeous Coralia yacht.
After departing Sorong, you will head south to Misool to explore the most alive reefs in the world with healthy abundant corals, massive quantities of fish, and populations of pelagics like sharks, and manta rays, not to mention many sea turtles. Then, you will head north to the Dampier Strait, known for its incredible reefs full of life and manta ray cleaning stations too. Get all the details about this trip and sign up here.
Raja Ampat and Wakatobi, Indonesia
This fantastic itinerary combines resort stays in two of the Coral Triangle’s best destinations for abundant reefs chock full of life. It starts in Raja Ampat which has the highest bio-diversity in the Coral Triangle. You will spend seven nights in a dreamy overwater bungalow and snorkel the house reef to your heart’s content. You will also have three boat snorkels per day to close by reefs.
This trip continues in Wakatobi, with its bountiful reefs full of life to see. You will spend seven nights in an Ocean Bungalow with direct access to the beach and the house reef that is open all the time. There will also be three boat snorkels per day to other wonderful reefs in the area. Find out all the details and sign up here.
Triton Bay and Raja Ampat, Indonesia
This wonderful combo trip starts in Triton Bay in West Papua, Indonesia, where you will have several trips out to snorkel with the Whale Sharks that like to hang out around the fisherman’s platforms. After four nights there, you will move to the beautiful over water Papua Explorers Resort to explore the outstanding reefs of Raja Ampat. With seven nights at this resort you will have plenty of opportunities to snorkel around the renowned Dampier Strait and see the abundant sea life this part of the world is famous for. Don’t miss out on this unique and exciting itinerary. Read all the details and inquire about this trip here.
Misool Eco Resort, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
You should not miss this opportunity to visit the outstanding Misool Eco Resort in Raja Ampat Indonesia. Located in the epicenter of marine biodiversity and within a 500 square mile Marine Protected Area and No-Take Zone, the fish numbers cannot be beat. With the most types of fish and corals in the world, you will see something new on every snorkel. This 12 or 15 day trip includes 9 or 12 nights at MER with unlimited house reef snorkeling and many boat snorkel trips. Experience the abundance of the reefs of Misool, the most alive and biodiverse in the world. Get all the details about this trip opportunity here.
Misool and Wakatobi, Indonesia
This once in a lifetime trip combines our favorite snorkeling spot on Earth, Misool Eco Resort, with Wakatobi Resort, another extraordinary Indonesian snorkeling spot, with some dates offering a couple nights of relaxation and a cultural half day tour exploration on the lovely island of Bali. Both Misool and Wakatobi are in the Coral Triangle in Indonesia, and they have incredibly abundant fish and coral populations and varieties. In fact, we don’t think you can find two better spots to snorkel! And not only is the snorkeling out-of-this world, these two resorts stand out in their luxury and service. Click here to learn all about this not to be missed trip.
Togian Islands and Lembeh Indonesia Liveaboard
This unique new 13 day snorkeling trip explores the remote Togian Islands National Park, along with the Lembeh Strait, critter capital of the world. You will board the comfortable Mermaid II Liveaboard in the Lembeh Strait and then make your way down the east coast of Sulawesi. You will snorkel two places on your way to the Togians, including a bay where whale sharks regularly feed.
The Togian Islands are a remote grouping of islands, volcanoes, and atolls that can be considered one of the final frontiers of exploration in the Coral Triangle. The islands are rarely visited by divers, and this is the first trip that the Mermaid II liveaboard has offered to snorkelers. We are confident their experience and that of your guide will lead to an exceptional snorkeling focused trip. There will be 3-4 snorkel sessions per day included. Read all the details and inquire with the trip organizer here.
Lembeh, Halmahera, Raja Ampat Indonesia Liveaboard
This snorkeling only liveaboard trip explores some of the best reefs in the world, on a one-way trip through an amazing part of Indonesia. Your trip will begin by exploring the famous Lembeh Strait in search of unique creatures. Then, you will explore the Halmahera Islands, between Raja Ampat and North Sulawesi. And last, in Raja Ampat, you will be blown away by the volumes and variety of sea life you will see on these vibrant reefs. The Mermaid II is one of the few boats that has pioneered snorkeling the abundant and uncrowded reefs here. Don’t miss this special trip opportunity. Learn all the details and find out how to sign up here.
Halmahera Resort, Indonesia
Halmahera has recently opened up to tourism and this is your opportunity to explore the abundant reefs of the area. The beautiful Kusu Island Resort will be your base for this 10 night trip. Join this group of 16 lucky snorkelers in this pristine area, so remote that most of the snorkel sites are not even named yet. The house reef is healthy and open all the time and your group will also be taken out by boat to local reefs for three more snorkel sessions each day. You will also have many chances to see larger pelagic fish like sharks, manta rays, and big schools of barracuda. Learn all the details and contact our trips partner here.
Wakatobi Resort, Indonesia
Join this once in a lifetime opportunity to snorkel Wakatobi, which is in the heart of the Coral Triangle in Indonesia. Wakatobi has high biodiversity in fish and corals making the reefs a pleasure to explore. This resort sits in a national marine park, and has perhaps the best house reef for snorkeling in the world. On this nine day trip you also get 18 boat based snorkel trips out to the best reefs in the area. And the resort, although remote, is a luxury experience in itself. Learn more about how to join this trip here.
Cenderawasih Bay Liveaboard, Indonesia
Snorkeling with whale sharks is a memorable experience and this trip makes it easy to get up close and personal with these marine giants. Cenderawasih Bay National Park is the largest marine park in Indonesia and is very remote. The best way to access the waters of this remarkable place is by liveaboard. With 10 nights aboard the beautiful Coralia yacht, you will get your fill of snorkeling with whale sharks and exploring the abundant reefs of this protected area too. Don’t miss this opportunity! Learn all about the trip and find out how to sign up here.
Epic Indonesia
Alor – Komodo – Bali – Wakatobi – Misool
If you want to experience the very best that Indonesia has to offer, in the heart of the Coral Triangle, this is the trip for you. Join just 12 snorkelers on this extraordinary journey, for 27 nights, visiting Alor, Komodo, Bali, Wakatobi, and Misool in Raja Ampat. On one trip you will have the opportunity to experience the best snorkeling on Earth.
Each of these locations is very unique, but all have an astounding variety and numbers of both beautiful and healthy corals, and fish life, not to mention larger creatures like Manta Rays, whales, dolphins, turtles, and pelagics. This trip is resort based, each with fantastic house reefs, wonderful accommodations, service and food. See more pictures and learn all the details about this epic trip here.
Epic Indonesia
Wakatobi – Alor – Komodo – Bali – Misool
This 2025 itinerary offers 32 days exploring many of Indonesia’s best snorkeling destinations, including Wakatobi, Alor, Komodo, and Misool, with some rest and relaxation in Bali. Indonesia is in the heart of the Coral Triangle, the home of the most abundant and biodiverse reefs in the world. If you can only visit Indonesia once, this is the trip for you.
Each of these locations is very unique, but all have an astounding variety and numbers of both beautiful and healthy corals, and fish life, not to mention larger creatures like Manta Rays, whales, dolphins, turtles, and pelagics. This trip is resort based, each with fantastic house reefs, wonderful accommodations, service and food. Get all the details about this epic trip here.
Caribbean Snorkeling Trips
The Caribbean Sea is basically located between North and South America, to the east of Central America. A widespread range of islands and barrier reefs make up the Caribbean. While not as biologically diverse as the Coral Triangle, the Caribbean still offers some stunning snorkeling opportunities, in selected areas that are still very healthy.
Big soft corals like sea rods and sea fans are a wonderful feature of Caribbean snorkeling, as are numerous hard corals, and a nice variety and size range of fish and other creatures. Check out the snorkeling trips on offer in this region below.
Dominican Republic Humpback Whale Encounter by Liveaboard
Nothing is like the experience of snorkeling with 50 foot (15 meter) long humpback whales. Your snorkeling group will cruise on a comfortable liveaboard yacht to the Silver Bank Marine Sanctuary, just north of the Dominican Republic. Here the humpbacks gather for winter, to breed, rear their calves, relax and socialize. You will watch incredible displays of breaching, lob tailing, spy hopping, and fin and tail slap, from a safe distance in a boat, and you will also have lots of opportunity to snorkel close to curious whales, mother and calves, and other solitary whales. Learn all about this trip and how to join here.
Belize Liveaboard – Glover’s Reef and Turneffe Atolls
Explore the incredible outer atolls of Belize, on this seven day liveaboard snorkeling adventure aboard the Aggressor IV. Glover’s Reef and Turneffe Atolls offer some of the healthiest remaining reefs in the Caribbean, with a great variety of soft and hard corals, colorful sponges, and abundant fish life. Your luxury private yacht will take you to three to four different snorkel spots each day, and will pamper you with service and all inclusive delicious meals. Learn more about this exciting trip here.
Belize Turneffe Island Resort
Explore the beautiful reefs of Belize, from the luxury of the stunning Turneffe Island Resort, on Turneffe Atoll. Twice a day your guided snorkeling group will take boat rides to close-by reefs in ideal depths to see the lush soft corals, colorful sponges, and schools of tropical fish that inhabit the second longest barrier reef in the world. On this nine day trip, you will also get to snorkel the famous Great Blue Hole of Belize, and see some Mayan ruins. Learn more about this exciting trip here.
Belize Snorkeling Freediving Workshop on a Liveaboard
This unique trip will improve your shallow freediving skills, while exploring the beautiful reefs of Belize. You will be staying aboard the Belize Aggressor IV liveaboard yacht for this week-long journey. Your trip will be guided by an accomplished freediving instructor, who will help you get better at your shallow freedives and teach you about what is safe and what is not. Learn more about this educational trip and inquire with the organizers here.
Belize Resort Snorkeling and Freediving Workshop
Spend 9 days at the beautiful Turneffe Island Resort in Belize, snorkeling the beautiful local reefs, while also learning shallow freediving skills from a world renowned freediving instructor. After this trip you will be much more skilled at safely diving down to 15 feet (5m), which will enable you to get closer to sea life, and take better pictures. Twice a day you will be taken out by boat to explore the reefs of Belize. Learn all about this trip and workshop here.
Cuba Liveaboard – Gardens of the Queen
Explore the healthiest reefs in the Caribbean on this week-long liveaboard trip to Cuba. Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) National Park is the largest protected marine park in the Caribbean and is home to hard and soft coral reefs, mangrove nurseries, large pelagics like Silky Sharks, and the American Saltwater Crocodile, to mention a few. This tour is designed to be educational with evening presentations by Cuban marine biologists. You will snorkel four times per day seeing the best the park has to offer including supervised encounters with sharks and crocodiles, if you wish. Get all the details and learn how to sign up here.
Pacific Islands Snorkeling Trips
There are countless Pacific Islands ranging over many thousands of miles. They are in geographic areas known as Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia. Some are wonderful snorkeling destinations. These islands are known for having some beautiful coral gardens teeming with fish, along with high chances of snorkeling with large creatures like manta rays, sharks, and even whales. Check out the snorkeling trips on offer in the Pacific below.
Palau Resort and Liveaboard
Join this Palau snorkeling adventure that combines a stunning resort stay, along with a seven night liveaboard cruise of the islands. Remote Palau is extremely abundant with sea life underwater, with over 500 corals, and 1500 species of fish, all surrounded by beautiful islands and culture. This trip will be a wonderful way to explore everything Palau has to offer, underwater and above. Learn all about this trip here.
French Polynesia
This exclusive trip for six snorkelers allows you to explore the famous passes in the Tuamotu Island chain of French Polynesia. These passes have schools of large pelagics like sharks, rays, dolphins, and others, that frequent these areas for feeding. This trip begins with a night in Tahiti. You then make your way to Fakarava where you board the Aqua Tiki II catamaran for your 10 or 11 day snorkeling trip. In addition to the passes, you will have time to explore the best hard coral reefs in the area. Find out all the details about this wonderful trip here.
Red Sea Snorkeling Trips
The Red Sea is located between northeastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is well known for its vibrant coral reefs with unique creatures only found there. Pods of dolphins are a common sighting there. There are both shore snorkeling opportunities and liveaboard options.
Red Sea Egypt – Resort and Liveaboard
This trip is a wonderful way to see some outstanding reefs! It includes six nights at the beautiful seaside Marsa Shagra Village with its vibrant house reef, and seven nights aboard the Red Sea Aggressor IV liveaboard yacht exploring the incredible offshore reefs in the southern part of Egypt. On this 14 day trip, you will get your fill of snorkeling the abundant reefs of the Red Sea. Get all the details about this wonderful trip here.
Egypt Resorts – Red Sea
This is a great opportunity to snorkel the colorful reefs of the Red Sea! This resort based trip begins with three nights in Cairo, where you will tour the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Egypt Museum of Antiquities. Then you are off for five nights at Marsa Nakari Resort, to explore their wonderful house reef and days of boat snorkeling tours. Next, you will stay at Marsa Shagra Resort for six more nights, with lots of time on the fantastic house reef and more days of boat snorkeling tours. Dolphins, dugongs, sea turtles, clouds of colorful reef fish, and much more await you in the Red Sea. Read all the details and inquire about this trip here.
Snorkeling Trips by Date
2023
- September 26 – October 15
- October 6-20
- October 27 – November 10
- October 12-20
Papua Explorers Resort – Raja Ampat
- October 21-29
- October 22 – November 1
- October 22 – November 5
- October 26 – November 8
- November 17 – December 5
- December 1-13
2024
- February 16-24
- February 23 – March 2
- February 17-24
- February 17-24
- February 24 – March 2
- March 5-15
- March 16-25
Lembeh, Halmahera, Raja Ampat Liveaboard
- March 7-19
- April 3-14
- April 3-17
- October 2-16
- April 3-24
- April 4-22
- April 12-26
- April 19 – May 3
- June 29 – July 13
- September 13-27
- October 4-18
- October 11-25
Misool Eco Resort – Raja Ampat
- April 18 – May 2
- October 4-18
- October 16-27
- May 5-18
- September 29 – October 12
- May 18 – June 1
- September 11-25
- May 20 – June 6
- July 14-25
- July 26 – August 6
- September 7-18
- September 29 – October 7
- October 26 – November 8
- November 9-20
- October 28 – November 24
- November 2-18
- November 2-24
2025
- January 21-31
- November 15-26
- February 1-8
- March 8-15
- February 8-15
- February 15-22
Togian Islands & Lembeh Liveaboard
- February 11-23
- February 14-22
- February 15-22
- February 22 – March 1
- February 21 – March 1
- February 23 – March 14
- April 11-28
- March 5-16
- March 20 – April 20
- April 12 – May 4
- April 20 – May 4
- May 24 – June 7
- August 2-16
Misool Eco Resort – Raja Ampat
- April 25 – May 9
- October 5-19
- November 30 – December 11
- May 11-24
- September 28 – October 11
- May 13-25
- August 17-25
- September 20 – October 2
Get Notified When We Announce New Snorkeling Trips!
The best way to learn about new snorkeling trips is to sign up for our newsletter.
Next, let our trips partner Ben know what you are interested in, because new snorkeling trips and trip dates are regularly being created based on interest.
What Are These Snorkeling Trips Like?
We are always looking to bring you exciting snorkeling trips to some of the best places on earth, like the ones above. Many of our readers have experienced the best snorkeling holidays of their lives on these trips. If you have never gone on one of these trips you can get a general idea of some of the types of adventures we like to share below.
Liveaboard Snorkeling Trips
There is a world of difference going on liveaboard trips designed for snorkelers, instead of a mixed boat with divers, because most of the time the boat is really focused on the divers, the reefs are too deep, and snorkelers are sometimes treated like second class citizens! On a snorkeler only boat, every spot you visit, from remote atolls to barrier reefs, has shallow snorkeling at perfect depths. And instead of being limited to only an hour on the water because of diving schedules, you normally spend and hour and a half to two hours at each spot.
And being able to be immersed in snorkeling two or three times a day, in a different amazing spot each time, for a week or two, is really a great way to explore the ocean. You get to see so many different ecosystems and types of fish and coral reefs. It’s a very different experience than snorkeling tours that go out for a few hours in popular tourist areas. These are more like snorkeling expeditions.
Most of the time these types of snorkeling trips are full service, where your food is prepared for you, your rooms are taken care of, and all you have to do is get in the water, rinse and repeat.
Resort Snorkeling Trips
There are also resorts with beautiful house reefs for snorkeling and small boats that can take you to wonderful nearby snorkeling reefs. You can choose whether you want to venture out or stay close each day. The best resorts are usually remote and include some meals with your stay. These spots make for great snorkeling trips too.
Snorkeling programs like these are hard to find though. But we have a fantastic partner we work with who creates these types of adventures.