16 Most Stunning Snorkeling Destinations In The US, According To Travelers

As any swimmer, snorkeler, diver, or even casual observer of a nature documentary knows, a whole other world exists under the water. There, life beats to a different drum, and humans are just visitors. Exploring the shallows can be a thrilling adventure, like traveling to another planet. However, while diving allows for deep explorations beneath the surface, it also comes with stringent time constraints. Snorkeling, on the other hand, is a much less complex endeavor.

At the best places to snorkel, you can spend hours gazing at coral, looking for fish, or hoping to spy a turtle without checking depth gauges or keeping an eye on your air levels. Thankfully, many fantastic snorkeling locations exist in places like the South Pacific. However, you don't need a passport to take in these wonders.

By scouring travel blogs, tourism sites, and review platforms, we've highlighted spots in the U.S. worth snorkeling. While our selections are not entirely based on personal experience — we'll explain our methodology more at the end — the majority come from travelers, snorkelers, and visitors who have left reviews and written blog posts about these stunning destinations.

One of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix, has some sensational beaches, including those on Buck Island. But more than just sizzling sand, Buck Island Reef National Monument is a snorkeling superstar. "For visitors to St Croix in the US Virgin Islands, snorkeling at Buck Island Reef National Monument is a must," wrote The Thorough Tripper on his blog. "Seeing [the coral reef] in person was awe-inspiring. Walls of coral, long branches of ellkhorn coral rising from the ocean floor, mounds of coral that looked like big brains, and then all the different kinds of tropical fish." 

This national treasure has grottos that visitors can snorkel along as part of an underwater trail. Since guides cap the number of participants to six at a time to ensure everyone enjoys the trail, there is never overcrowding. Signs along the way describe the sights snorkelers will encounter in the park, which sits 5 miles northeast of St. Croix. Among the highlights are the healthy sections of elkhorn, star, and brain coral. In terms of fish and other sea life, there is no shortage. Water babies will see swimmers of many shapes and sizes, from green sea turtles and eagle rays to large gatherings of parrot fish, blue tangs, and maybe even some skittish reef sharks.

On Florida's Gulf Coast side, Crystal River is a low-key realm of lakes and rivers fed by natural springs. It's also one of the few places in the world where visitors can swim and snorkel with manatees, and doing so is listed on Tripadvisor as one of the top outdoor activities in Crystal River. A languid, lovable mammal that looks like a cross between a walrus and a cow, manatees are darn cute, even if they can grow to 14 feet long and weigh over a ton.  From personal experience at Crystal River, when looking under the water at these gorgeous creatures, you feel this warm glow. You just want to give them a big hug. 

Time in the water with them is always part of a tour to control numbers and ensure that the manatees aren't harassed or stressed. The excursion takes place within a manatee refuge, and participants might find the manatees approaching them with a sense of curiosity. While the temptation to pet or touch them can be overwhelming, visitors should not do either; these wild animals should be treated with the utmost respect and given space. In general, it's crucial that you don't touch anything while snorkeling to avoid disrupting the local ecosystem.

While the winter of 2024 dumped many feet of snow on the shores of Lake Tahoe, the body of water remains a prime summer destination. Part of that has to do with the gorgeous natural surroundings, with forests and mountains all around, but it's also because of the water. Anyone who has seen Lake Tahoe will remember the extraordinary clarity of the liquid layer — some parts are so clear, it's as if the onlooker is peering through glass to the bottom of the lake.

Emerald Bay is an inlet southwest of Lake Tahoe and sits within a state park. It is notable for an underwater heritage trail. Launched in 2018, it was the state's first maritime underwater heritage trail, with several sunken wrecks sitting on the lake bed. Some are better suited to exploration by divers, but others, like the Barge Dive Site, are perfect for visitors with a snorkel. In fact, LakeTahoe.com lists Emerald Bay as one of its top places to snorkel, with "incredible" views and endless fish sightings. 

The fifth-biggest island in Hawaii, Molokai sits between Maui and Oahu. It might not have the name recognition of the latter two, but it does stand out for many other reasons. This island is home to some of the most striking and tallest sea cliffs in the world, and off Molokai's southern edge, a long fringing reef unfurls. It extends for a substantial length, almost 30 miles in all, and teems with finger coral and tons of fish that live and feed along the reef.

While those are all excellent reasons to make a trip to the reef, what makes the formation even more remarkable is the chance to see local wildlife. According to The Hawaii Vacation Guide — a blog run by ex-Hawaiian locals — the fringing reef in Molokai is one of the best places to snorkel in Hawaii. "You will find vibrantly colored reef fish, Hawaiian green sea turtles, and you might be so lucky to see manta rays that live in the area."

Reservations are required for entry to Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, a popular snorkeling site near Honolulu, and the park is closed for two days every week: Mondays and Tuesdays. Even when it's open, entry cuts off around lunchtime, and visitors must leave by 4 p.m. All this has helped the park maintain a balance between appeasing tourists and staying in peak condition. It's a highly-rated spot, as showcased in the over 10,000 five-star reviews on Tripadvisor. "The bay's pristine waters and vibrant coral reefs provided an unforgettable snorkeling experience," one reviewer raves. "Swimming alongside colorful fish and encountering the diverse marine life was a true adventure."

Visitors could easily spend hours exploring the various sections of Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, from the lagoons and channels to the outer reef, where beginners might struggle to snorkel safely. Wherever they go, travelers will spot marine life, including vibrant corals, tropical fish (there are 450 types of fish in the bay), crabs, eels, and octopi. Also, keep your eyes peeled for the occasional green sea turtle that drops by.

Under a bridge that connects the Florida mainland to Singer Island might not seem like a fabulous place for a snorkel excursion, but don't judge a book by its cover. The Phil Foster Memorial Park sits by an inland waterway with abundant marine life, and to take advantage of this rich environment, a snorkel trail was launched here. Using giant boulders made of limestone and artificial reef structures constructed from prefabricated materials (the whole project required 600 tons of rock to complete), the 2-acre site sits in a patch of shallow water.

Depths never go above 10 feet, so kids can easily navigate the snorkel trail, though they should always be supervised, with currents sometimes swift and sudden. Snorkelers can marvel at some surprising sights on a sortie around the park, including starfish, spotted rays, squid, and octopi. There are even sharks — rock sculptures of them, that is (and the occasional real deal).

This beach, with dual personalities on the south coast of Kauai, consistently has good snorkeling, as reported by the Snorkeling Report. The eastern side of Poipu is more protected, where the lifeguard is stationed, and is popular with families with young kids who enjoy the calm water. In the western part, the water is also calm, but the snorkeling is much better. Slide into the ocean, and there is a good chance you'll see parrot fish, flounder, butterfly fish, and devil scorpion fish.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to encounter "honu" (green sea turtles), either there or at the neighboring Brennecke's Beach. During the winter, when large swells buffet the island's north, the beaches are said to be lovely and tranquil, making a snorkel excursion an episode of pure joy. This is even true at Brennecke's Beach, which usually draws boarders for its fine, rolling barrels.

The Laguna Madre Marine Estuary is a fascinating body of water. Sandwiched between the Texas mainland and barrier islands and reaching down as far as the border with Mexico, it's a lagoon of hyper-salinity — it has a higher salt content than the sea — only one of six in the world. It's also a rich, varied environment, with wetlands, marshes, bays, and important birding areas.

There is much to see for snorkelers, with the shallow waters home to ⅘ of the state's seagrass areas. "Laguna Madre is a beautiful and protected lagoon with no reefs, so you can snorkel everywhere and see the marine life from the area," wrote the seasoned travelers behind Worldwide Travel Tips, who claim Laguna Madre is the best spot to snorkel in all of South Padre Island. 

This ecosystem contains a wealth of fish, including flounder, redfish, and spotted sea trout. Travelers can encounter many of them during a snorkel trip to the estuary. The waters are usually less than six feet deep, making them a great testing ground for young kids or adults with little snorkeling experience. Guided trips often leave from South Padre Island, the main tourism nexus in the region.