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
Alor and Forgotten Islands Liveaboard, Indonesia
Explore wonderful snorkeling in the Maluku Province of Indonesia on this unique 13 day liveaboard snorkeling trip. You will snorkel Alor and the Forgotten Islands, a remote chain of volcanic islands in the Banda Sea. 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.
Watch This Highlights Video From the 2023 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.
Solomon Islands Liveaboard
This remote Coral Triangle destination is not to be missed. The Solomon Islands sit in the southeast corner of the famed Coral Triangle and offer outstanding snorkeling, full of abundant reefs, lots of colorful reef fish, and schools of larger fish too. There are also pelagics like manta rays and sharks to see.
This 15 day trip starts and ends with a night in Fiji, and then 12 nights aboard the Bilikiki, the most experienced liveaboard in the Solomons. In addition to the wonderful snorkeling, you will have a number of experiences with the residents of this uniquely isolated country, including seeing them sing and dance, and also see their renowned hardwood carvings. Get all the details about this incredible trip here.
Forgotten Islands Liveaboard, Indonesia
Here is another wonderful opportunity to snorkel the renowned and remote Forgotten Islands in Indonesia. This one-way voyage will use the outstanding Coralia Liveaboard. You will board the yacht in Saumlaki and disembark in Ambon, exploring the Inner Banda Arc chain of the Forgotten Islands. Float over reefs that are abundant with corals and reef fish, along with large fish and creatures. You will explore Banda Neira, a town that was the origin of the spice trade, giving these islands the moniker of “Spice Islands.” The last day will be spent looking for interesting critters on the shorelines of Ambon. Read all the details about this fantastic trip here.
Forgotten Islands and Misool Liveaboard, Indonesia
If you love to explore very remote areas of Indonesia that few snorkelers have ever seen, then this 13 day cruise of the Forgotten Islands and Misool Islands is for you. This trip starts in Saumlaki, Indonesia, aboard the beautiful Amira liveaboard yacht. You will cruise north, in the Banda Sea, snorkeling remote atolls and semi-volcanic islands, where you can see rare creatures over black sand bottoms, and find coral reefs so dense you can’t see the sea floor. Continuing north you will also snorkel the Misool Islands, a huge marine protected area of no-fishing, and home to more abundance of sea life than anywhere else on Earth. Learn all about this trip and how to sign up here.
Alor and Forgotten Islands Liveaboard, Indonesia
Explore wonderful snorkeling in the Maluku Province of Indonesia on this unique 13 day liveaboard snorkeling trip. You will snorkel Alor and the Forgotten Islands, a remote chain of volcanic islands in the Banda Sea. 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 West Komodo, Indonesia
This resort-based trip explores two incredible areas of Indonesia where you will have the pristine reefs all to yourself. It starts in wonderful Alor for six days of boat snorkeling and unlimited house reef snorkeling at the waterfront Alami Alor Resort. The diversity and colors of these reefs is a joy to see, and on the way to the sites you could see giant ocean sunfish, dolphins, and even a blue whale.
Then the trip moves to eastern Sumbawa, where you will stay at the Kalimaya Resort. From there you will snorkel four regions previously only accessible by liveaboard, including the west side of Komodo National Park and Sangeang Volcano. Enjoy four full days of boat snorkeling and unlimited house reef snorkeling. You will also have a tour to see Komodo Dragons in their natural habitat.
Get all the information about this exciting trip here.
West Komodo and Alor, Indonesia
The itinerary of this trip is the reverse of the one above and is one day longer. This resort-based trip explores two incredible areas of Indonesia where you will have the pristine reefs all to yourself. It starts in eastern Sumbawa, where you will stay at the Kalimaya Resort. From there you will snorkel four regions previously only accessible by liveaboard, including the west side of Komodo National Park and Sangeang Volcano. Enjoy five full days of boat snorkeling and unlimited house reef snorkeling. You will also have a tour to see Komodo Dragons in their natural habitat.
Then the trip moves to wonderful Alor for six more days of boat snorkeling and unlimited house reef snorkeling at the waterfront Alami Alor Resort. The diversity and colors of these reefs is a joy to see, and on the way to the sites you could see giant ocean sunfish, dolphins, and even a blue whale. Get all the information about this exciting trip here.
Alor, West Komodo and Raja Ampat, Indonesia
14 lucky snorkelers get to experience some outstanding snorkeling on this 24 day trip that visits three fabulous areas of Indonesia: Alor, West Komodo and Raja Ampat. Alami Alor Resort, Kalimaya 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, Bunaken and Raja Ampat, Indonesia
This wonderful combination trip includes snorkeling the vibrant reefs of three different areas of Indonesia: Alor, Bunaken and Raja Ampat. The three waterfront resorts, Alami Alor, Siladen and Papua Explorers, are fantastic all-inclusive bases to explore the sea life and reefs present in these three renowned areas. Each resort has a lively house reef that you can explore at any time. There are also daily boat snorkel sessions included. You will be delighted with the snorkeling in the Coral Triangle, with its high biodiversity and incredible density of life. Read all about this fabulous trip here.
Alor and Misool, Indonesia
For us, this would be the perfect snorkeling trip. These are our two favorite snorkeling places. This trip starts with 7 nights at the Alami Alor Resort snorkeling the stunning reefs of the Alor Islands. Then it moves on to 7 or 9 nights at the Misool Eco Resort, snorkeling the abundant reefs of southern Raja Ampat.
Alor has reefs that are unbelievably colorful and every one is different from the next. There are so many colorful reef fish sometimes you cannot see the reef beneath them. Misool shines due to the protections they provide the reefs and their inhabitants. They have established and police a large no-take zone that has resulted in an incredible increase in diversity and quantity of sea life. Read all the details about this extraordinary trip here.
Alami Alor Resort, Indonesia
Alami Alor Resort is a wonderful place to base yourself for exploring the astounding reefs of Alor, Indonesia. This 12 day trip includes two boat snorkel trips per day to the best reefs in the area along with unlimited house reef snorkeling. The resort has seven well-appointed waterfront bungalows and a common space for meals and discussing your snorkel day with your fellow travelers. Don’t miss your chance to visit this untouched place! Learn all about this unique snorkeler only trip here.
Alor Liveaboard, Indonesia
This unique 11 day liveaboard trip explores the northeast part of East Nusa Tenggara, from Maumere to the Alor archipelago. The diverse and colorful reefs in this area will delight you as will the abundance of colorful reef fish, interesting critters, and schools of fish you will see. Aboard the beautiful Mermaid I liveaboard yacht, you will find all the luxuries and amenities of a comfortable resort. There are also high chances of seeing marine cetaceans along your journey, with dolphins playing in the yacht’s bow wave and whales making their way through the islands. Learn all the details of this trip here.
Komodo and Beyond Liveaboard, Indonesia
Explore renowned Komodo National Park by liveaboard! This 11 day trip is a one-way journey where you will explore the wonderful snorkeling opportunities in Komodo and Sumbawa from the luxurious Mermaid I liveaboard yacht. See the vibrant reefs, swim with huge schools of fish, manta rays, and even whale sharks in Saleh Bay. You will also snorkel around Sangeang Volcano, where bubbles rise from the black sands and hyper-rich colorful reefs pop against the black sand background. Find out all the details here.
Best of Komodo Liveaboard, Indonesia
This wonderful 13 day trip explores the very best Komodo has to offer aboard a brand new liveaboard. You will explore the stunning reefs of central Komodo and then make your way to the north end of Komodo Island and the vibrant islands of Gili Banta and Sangeang Volcano. Underwater sightings will include anemonefish, cuttlefish and octopus, manta rays, turtles, and reef sharks. Other highlights will include floating over reefs bubbling from the volcanic activity below, watching thousands of flying foxes take to the sky at sunset, hiking Padar Island, dinners on the beach under the stars, trekking with the Komodo Dragons, and so much more!
Read all the details about this fabulous trip here.
West Komodo, Bangka and Raja Ampat, Indonesia
This fantastic 21 day trip visits three areas of Indonesia and the Coral Triangle, based from three beautiful resorts. Starting on the east coast of Sumbawa, Kalimaya Resort is your base for exploring four areas normally only reached by liveaboard in West Komodo. The next stop is Bangka Island off the northeast coast of Sulawesi for a stay at Coral Eye Resort, snorkeling the vibrant reefs of this small archipelago. The final stop is exploring incredible Raja Ampat from the Papua Explorers Resort.
You will see an incredible amount of sea life on this tour, from diverse and abundant hard and coral reefs teeming with colorful reef fish, to large pelagics like manta rays and sharks, to the unique creatures of the mangroves and black volcanic sands. Check out all the details about this trip here.
North Sulawesi and Raja Ampat, Indonesia
This outstanding trip takes you to two wonderful areas of the Coral Triangle and Indonesia, Bunaken National Marine Park in North Sulawesi, and Raja Ampat with its incredible marine park. Siladen Resort in North Sulawesi and Papua Explorers 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 three boat snorkeling sessions per day at each resort. Check out all the details about this trip here.
Bunaken, Bangka and Raja Ampat, Indonesia
This fun 20 day trip starts in North Sulawesi, at the wonderful Siladen Resort. You will stay there for five nights and have four full days to snorkel the beautiful, turtle-filled reefs of Bunaken National Park. After a boat transfer that includes snorkeling two spots, you will have five nights at the newly renovated Coral Eye Resort on Bangka Island. There will also be four full days of snorkeling in this gorgeous area, including a day in the critter capital of the world, Lembeh Strait.
The final resort on this trip is the stunning Papua Explorers Resort in Raja Ampat. You will spend seven nights there and have six full days of snorkeling in the most biodiverse and abundant area in the world.
Read all the details about this wonderful trip here.
Raja Ampat Resorts, Indonesia
Papua Explorers – Misool
Snorkel north and south Raja Ampat in Indonesia, from two amazing resorts, Papua Explorers and Misool. On this 21 day trip, you will experience what we consider to be the best snorkeling on Earth. Located in the Coral Triangle, Raja Ampat has more species of corals and fish than anywhere else in the world.
The snorkeling spots you will visit around Papua Explorers are within a marine protected area, on the edge of the Dampier Strait. And the snorkel spots in Misool are within a huge protected area of no fishing. It is easy to say that you will see more fish volumes on this trip, and larger creatures like sharks, giant manta rays, other big fish schools, than anywhere else in Indonesia. Learn all about this 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 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.
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. 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.
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.
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 13 day 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 two 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.
Triton Bay and Raja Ampat, Indonesia
This wonderful combo trip starts in Triton Bay in West Papua, Indonesia, where you will have a couple trips out to snorkel with the whale sharks that like to hang out around fishing platforms. After four nights there, you will move to the beautiful overwater 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.
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 one of the best house reefs for snorkeling in the world. On this 9 or 13 day trip you also get 3 boat based snorkel trips per day 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.
Epic Indonesia
Wakatobi – Alor – West Komodo – Bali – Misool
This 2025 itinerary offers 32 days exploring many of Indonesia’s best snorkeling destinations, including Wakatobi, Alor, West 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.
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 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.
Belize Resort Photography Workshop
Improve your snorkeling photography skills on this workshop trip that takes place at the beautiful Turneffe Island Resort. This wonderful trip is guided by an award-winning underwater photographer, who will be helping you get better pictures through both daily workshops and one-on-one suggestions and feedback. You will have two boat snorkeling sessions per day to practice your new skills and explore the reefs of two remote atolls off the coast of Belize. Learn more about this trip and inquire with the organizers 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 Liveaboard
This unique itinerary offers two weeks of snorkeling the beautiful turquoise waters of Palau from a comfortable liveaboard. Underwater you will find a profusion of schooling fish, large pelagics like sharks and manta rays, and healthy coral reefs teeming with colorful fish. Snorkeling spots with gorgeous drop-off walls, bustling channels, and beautiful shallow coral gardens await you on this trip. You will have the chance to swim with the stingless jellies in Palau’s world famous Jellyfish Lake, too. See 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.
Snorkeling Trips by Date
2025
- March 20 – April 20
- April 8-23
- October 21 – November 5
- April 11-28
- April 12 – May 4
- April 20 – May 4
- May 16-30
- August 2-16
Misool Eco Resort – Raja Ampat
- April 25 – May 9
- October 5-19
- November 30 – December 11
- April 28 – May 18
- May 17 – June 1
- August 17-25
- August 18-30
- November 21 – December 2
- September 13-25
Alor & Forgotten Islands Liveaboard
- September 20 – October 2
- September 27 – October 11
Forgotten Islands & Misool Liveaboard
- November 9-21
- November 15-26
2026
- January 6-18
- November 26 – December 6
- January 9-21
- February 6-18
- February 13-21
- May 29 – June 6
Belize Resort Freediving Workshop
- February 20-28
- March 3-23
- March 7-23
- April 2-20 Reverse Itinerary
- April 30 – May 18
- April 4-19
- October 3-18
West Komodo, Bangka & Raja Ampat
- April 6-26
- April 13-27
- May 27 – June 10
- September 25 – October 9
- April 14 – May 3
- September 22 – October 11
Alor, West Komodo & Raja Ampat
- April 20 – May 13
- October 23 – November 15
- April 22 – May 6
- May 6-21
- May 10-20
- May 16-30
- May 16-30
- September 28 – October 12
- November 28 – December 9
- May 20-30
- May 20 – June 6
Belize Resort Photography Workshop
- June 5-13
- July 10-21
- July 15-26
- July 27 – August 7
- August 17-29
- September 13-25
- October 20 – November 1
2027
- January 8-20
- February 5-17
- February 15-26
- March 13-24
- November 16-27
- March 6-22
- March 10-24
- April 28 – May 9
- October 15-26
- March 23 – April 11
- October 5-24
- April 20 – May 9
- October 15 – November 4
- October 23 – November 11
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.