The best snorkeling in Caribbean islands
Ready for sunshine, sweet piña coladas and swaying palm trees? There’s no better way to unwind and enjoy a tropical paradise than to set sail with Princess Cruises® to your perfect Caribbean getaway. The Caribbean is warm and sunny almost all year round with ocean waters that feel as warm as a bubble bath. Anytime is the best time to visit the Caribbean!
When you’re sailing with Princess, you’ll want to experience the adventure and beauty you can only find in the Caribbean, like snorkeling among the coral reefs and schools of colorful fish.
No matter where you’re sailing with Princess, there’s going to be a good snorkeling spot nearby. Read on for the definitive guide on the best snorkeling in the Caribbean and what you can expect at each of these stunning places.
Table of contents
Best snorkeling beaches in the Eastern Caribbean
St. Maarten
There’s a legend that a Dutchman and Frenchman divided this island by doing a walk-off to see who could cover more distance, yet the French ended up with more than half of the area. There’s no formal boundary between the two countries either, so you can easily experience both halves. When you come here to snorkel on your Eastern Caribbean cruise, you can expect to see shipwrecks surrounded by bright colorful tropical fish and turtles.
Little Bay
Beneath the sparkling waters of Little Bay Beach, you’ll see reefs, fish, sea turtles and maybe even squid. The bay also has six shipwrecks, including a sunken helicopter and tanker, to explore. Plus you can experience all of this while riding on a beautiful wooden schooner!
Simpson Bay Lagoon
Simpson Bay has a large shipwreck that juts out of the shallow water and attracts a wide array of exotic fish. You can also get close to a colorful collection of corals, sea fans and sponges just beneath the warm water.
U.S. Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands offer some of the Caribbean’s best snorkeling, with crystalline waters teeming with vibrant tropical fish and coral reefs. On land, explore lush mountain landscapes and white-sand beaches framed by gently swaying palms and discover one of America’s 63 spectacular national parks.
Trunk Bay
Trunk Bay in St. Thomas is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and one of the Cruise Wonders of the World. Beneath the waves you’ll discover there’s a snorkeling trail that extends for 225 yards through the coral and lavender sea fans along the reef. The water is clear and calm, and you’ll likely spot a rainbow of fish, hermit crabs, stingrays and sea turtles.
Magens Bay
Magens Bay Beach on St. Thomas is the most photographed and recognizable beach on the island — and for good reason. Its pillow-soft sand and shallow, tranquil waters makes it the perfect place for beginner snorkeling. Keep your eyes peeled for hawksbill sea turtles, stingrays and eagle rays floating through the serene waters around St. Thomas.
Turtle Cove
Turtle Cove is filled with turquoise waters, and when you dive beneath the waves, you’ll spot coral reefs that are home to tropical fish such as snapper, hamlets, parrotfish, surgeonfish, squirrelfish and other sea life. Lucky visitors will spot a glimpse of the stunning sea turtles that frequent the area.
Honeymoon Beach
Honeymoon Beach, located within St. John National Park, is a highlight for guests on cruises to St. Thomas with Princess, as the island is easily accessible from St. Thomas. Its sun-kissed shores and blue-green waters make it a must-see destination with Princess. The water is shallow, which makes it easy to see corals and tropical fish up close before swimming out a little further to catch glimpses of rays and turtles.
Grenada
Grenada is one of the world’s biggest producers of nutmeg, mace, clove, cinnamon and cocoa, which is why it’s nicknamed the “Isle of Spices.” On the island, no building can be taller than a coconut tree, so you’ll easily be able to take in all the lush green scenery. Underneath the clear waters, you’ll find a unique sculpture garden that dazzles snorkelers.
Molinere Bay
If you’re looking for a chance to spot tropical fish and see some unforgettable art, Molinere Bay is the perfect place. Beneath the waters in Molinere Bay, there’s an Underwater Sculpture Park where you can swim between 68 unique sculptures covered in sea growth and coral.
Flamingo Bay
Flamingo Bay’s clear turquoise waters make it easy to spot the dazzling array of colors among the coral, sea fans, sponges and tropical fish. As you swim among the reefs, you might also glimpse other frequent bay visitors: rays, octopuses, seahorses and sea turtles.
Antigua
Antigua is the largest of the British Leeward Islands, and you can still see the sugar mills that dot the hills from that era. This island is home to some of the Caribbean’s most spectacular coastlines, and you’ll find the waters here are filled with stingrays.
Deep Bay
Deep Bay Beach is a stunning oasis with clear blue waters where you can dive beneath the waves to see a wide variety of fish, sponges and corals. You might even spot lobsters, crabs or sea turtles — or a friendly ray might swim right up to you.
Barge Reef
Underneath the water by Barge Reef, you’ll find Stingray City, home to dozens of rays that are very friendly. Your Princess guides will be there to assist you as you touch and feed them — all while surrounded by tropical fish.
Green Island
Green Island is a private island tucked away from the crowds, perfect for relaxing and exploring the nearby coral reef. Check out the Green Island Jetty and see if you can spot the green turtles that frequent the area.
Best snorkeling in the Western Caribbean
Mexico
On the eastern side of Mexico, you’ll find an area called Cozumel, which a Mayan myth claimed was home to the gods. It’s easy to see why: This coast is covered in white-sand beaches, ancient Mayan temples, exotic jungle wildlife and crystalline waters that are perfect for snorkeling. There’s a reason this port is a staple for Western Caribbean cruises.
Bay of Akumal
Bay of Akumal means “Place of Turtles” in the Mayan language. Here, you’ll enjoy a swim with these resident turtles. You’ll also be surrounded by schools of colorful fish and corals — and nearby a tranquil beach awaits.
Turks and Caicos
The Grand Turk regions currently reign as the world’s premier diving location, so if you’re cruising through this area, snorkeling is the perfect excursion.
Horseshoe Reef & Round Cay
Your Princess guides will take you out to sea where you’ll find a 7,000-foot wall, home to the world's third-largest and deepest barrier reef system. At the reef, you can spot colorful fish and coral, as well as stingrays that are known to swim right up to you. At Round Cay, keep an eye out for Lucky, the resident friendly nurse shark.
Gibbs Cay
Gibbs Cay is a secluded island that attracts a wide array of stingrays that you can swim with on this Princess excursion. While you’re getting up close and personal with these majestic creatures, enjoy the views of pristine corals, sea fans, sponges and an entire rainbow of fish.
Jamaica
Jamaica is home to Blue Mountains, lush green hills, white-sand beaches and valleys of wildflowers. It’s truly a natural paradise, and the same applies when you’re beneath the water. You can expect snorkeling in Jamaica to involve crystal clear waters, majestic stingrays and dazzling coral reefs.
Runaway Bay
Step into a little slice of Eden at Runaway Beach where the clear waters allow you to see schools of kaleidoscopic fish, as well as some stingrays, barracuda, lionfish and sea urchins. An expert Princess guide can point out the history and natural wonders of the area as you soak in the beauty of Jamaica.
Doctor’s Cave Beach
The pristine beaches and turquoise waters at Doctor’s Cave Beach are said to have curative powers, so dive into them on your Princess excursion in Jamaica. Beneath the waves, you’ll see a bustling reef that’s home to stingrays, blue tangs, grunts and butterflyfish.
Bamboo Beach
Enjoy the sunshine and stunning blue waters at Bamboo Beach when you go ashore with Princess, and then take a swim to see what sea creatures you’ll find. Many visitors have spotted octopus, porcupine fish, lobster, blue tang, needlefish, barracuda, queen conch, sea urchins and more while snorkeling at this stunning Jamaican beach — one of the best beaches in the Caribbean.
Best snorkeling options in the Southern Caribbean
Aruba
On your Southern Caribbean cruise, you’ll find the small but stunning island of Aruba. Formerly part of the Netherlands Antilles until its independence in 1986, Aruba is now a peaceful vacation destination. The land here is covered with cactus and windswept divi-divi trees. You’ll enjoy calm and clear waters when you snorkel with Princess in Aruba.
Boca Catalina
Boca Catalina is an area filled with reefs and deep seagrass meadows where you can see marine life like sea turtles and the queen angelfish. The waters are calm and shallow, which is perfect for beginner divers.
The Antilla Shipwreck
The Antilla was a 400-foot vessel built in Hamburg, Germany in 1938 and sunk in the Caribbean during World War II. Most of the wreck is still intact, so you can swim around it and watch the pelicans dive nearby for a meal.
Bonaire
Bonaire is a Dutch island off the coast of Venezuela, and it’s a major producer of sea salt, with large “white mountains” of it waiting to be shipped out. This tiny island is also a world-class diving area, so the snorkeling here is some of the best anywhere.
Bonaire National Marine Park
Bonaire National Marine Park has protected sea life in the area for over 30 years, and it’s the perfect place to swim with fish, including blue tangs, trunkfish, damselfish, angelfish, parrotfish, rays and trumpetfish — and sometimes sea turtles!
Klein Bonaire
Set sail to Klein Bonaire on the Samur, an authentic 56-foot Siamese sailing junk from Thailand. As you snorkel, notice Bonaire’s wide variety of soft corals that are common in the tropics and see if you can spot some dolphins (they regularly swim in the area).
Curaçao
Curaçao is a Dutch island off the coast of Venezuela, and it’s a colorful place with Dutch charm and houses in neat rows. The island was formed from volcanic activity, which created excellent reefs to explore while you snorkel here on your Princess cruise.
Caracas Bay
In this secluded bay, you can snorkel around a sunken Curaçao tugboat, which has been covered in coral and sponges since the 1970s and is home to a rainbow of fish. There are oceanic drop-offs where you can see deeper into the sea and maybe spot some large jacks, grouper and barracuda.
West Point Beach
West Point Beach is right next to Lagun, an authentic fisherman’s village situated along the beautiful turquoise water. Snorkeling in this bay is a great way to see wild sea turtles and explore the underwater reefs.
St. Lucia
St. Lucia is known for its twin peaks, called the Pitons, that rise over 2,600 feet above the Caribbean waters. This peaceful island has had a turbulent history with an invasion in the 9th century and unethical plantations in the 18th century. But today, St. Lucia is the ideal vacation spot, and the unique reefs and rock formations make it a snorkeling haven.
Pigeon Island
Pigeon Island is a national park that spans 44 acres and includes large stretches of ocean and reefs. When you snorkel here, you’ll see the usual tropical fish and colorful corals, and if you time it right, you could see flying fish jumping from the water to escape predators.
Marigot Bay
The visibility in Marigot Bay is spectacular, so you can expect to see fish from several feet away and pick out all of the colors. The area is also home to unique rock formations where you can spot sea whips and sea horses.
Barbados
Barbados is one of the few Caribbean islands colonized by only one nation, and it’s sometimes considered more English than the British Isles — names like Hastings and Worthing abound here. But unlike England, the turquoise waters around the island are home to dazzling arrays of tropical fish that you can see as you snorkel.
Carlisle Bay
Carlisle Bay, a crescent-shaped bay and natural harbor nestled within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to sea horses, rays, octopus, turtles, eels and fish in colors that rival a box of crayons. You’ll snorkel right over the shipwreck of the Cornwallis, a Canadian freighter that was sunk by a torpedo from a German U-Boat in World War II.
Bahamas
When you take a Bahamas cruise with Princess, you can expect to step foot in a tropical paradise — complete with pristine beaches and coconut trees. This destination is home to Princess Cays, the private beach resort only accessible to cruise guests and home to fantastic snorkeling.
Stuart Cove
Stuart Cove is located within a world-class diving resort and is known for being the wild shark hot spot in the area, drawing visitors from all over the globe. You’ll likely spot angelfish, blue tang, reef sharks, nurse sharks, sea turtles and lionfish both while snorkeling and SNUBA diving.
Princess Cays
Princess Cays is a resort island owned by Princess Cruises®, so you’ll have these crystal clear waters to yourself as you explore the reefs beneath the surface. You can see old and new strands of coral, sea fans, sponges, a dazzling kaleidoscope of fish and, if you’re lucky, an occasional turtle or ray.
Nassau
Nassau is home to warm, clear waters inviting you to see two different reefs surrounded by fire coral, bottlenose dolphins, nurse sharks, wild Atlantic spotted dolphins and more fish than you can imagine.
Exploring the Caribbean with Princess Cruises®
The Caribbean is a stunning destination, no matter which areas you pick to explore. The snorkeling here is unlike anywhere else in the world, and you’re sure to see some of the most beautiful arrays of fish as you swim in the turquoise waters. Princess Cruises® is the perfect way to experience the Caribbean: You’ll visit these stunning destinations while enjoying the luxurious Princess amenities.
You can cater your Princess Caribbean cruise to your liking and create your perfect vacation. On board, you can have ship-wide delivery anywhere and the Princess Luxury Bed that feels like sleeping on a cloud. You’ll enjoy some of the best food on the seven seas as you soak in the sunny beaches and perfect weather. When your ship is in port, you have your selection of Caribbean excursions that will help you find adventure and see these beautiful islands.
Plan a Caribbean cruise with Princess today.