Shore-entry reefs — 23 sites, ranked

A small island with a walk-in fringing reef and shallow coral gardens — a gentle, beginner-friendly snorkel that's a common warm-up before the wilder outer sites.

A superb walk-in access at a sheltered lava shelf — the 'two-step' is a natural staging ledge that drops you straight into gardens of coral and clouds of reef fish, with green sea turtles commonly cruising the shallows.

A celebrated north-shore reef with sand channels and lava tunnels running through dense coral, and a long stretch where young green turtles forage. One of Hawaii's best-known shore reef systems.

North-shore winter surf can make conditions rough — aim for calm days (usually summer) and check local conditions.

A laid-back, family-friendly beach with easy shore snorkeling off the reef at the east end of the park, where green sea turtles are frequent visitors and the protected bay keeps the water calm.

The sister island's rocky shelves drop into clear water with fish, small reefs and seagrass — a quieter, less-art-directed snorkel than Sainte-Marguerite, still just a short boat hop from Cannes.

A protected, largely uninhabited island with rocky coves and clear water rich in fish — a half-day boat ride from Crete for a quieter, wilder snorkel than the crowded beaches.

Pebble and sand coves with clear water straight off the beach — easy shore snorkeling over granite shelves, seagrass and rock pools, sometimes with turtles around the beds.

A string of white-sand coves with clear shallows and seagrass — calm, family-friendly shore snorkeling that's a Menorca highlight.

Famously fish-dense and easy to reach from shore at the Bari parking site — a walk-in reef that has been the focus of local coral-restoration work, with a rewarding mix of reef fish and coral.

A shore site entered down a short staircase to a wall of healthy coral — one of Bonaire's most-loved drops, with rich coral growth and good depth variety for confident snorkelers.

A pristine offshore islet ringed by shallow reefs and huge, calm drop-offs, reached by a short boat hop. Turtle encounters are common and the coral is superb.

Dinghy access at marked moorings; it's a protected islet — no commercial development.

Snorkeling the pylons of the salt pier — a total contrast, with dense marine life aggregating on the structure and dramatic underwater light between the pilings.

Only accessible when the shipping schedule allows; verify local access before you go.

The Caribbean's classic self-guided underwater trail — marked buoys take snorkelers over a diverse stretch of coral, with interpretive signs, inside a protected national park.

A seagrass-filled bay where sea turtles graze just metres offshore — easy, shallow snorkeling that's perfect for slow turtle time without going deep.

A charming mix of seagrass, sandy shallows and fringing reef off a historic estate — turtles, rays and easy shallow snorkeling away from the busiest beaches.

A walk-in site with spectacular coral fingers, arches and marine life just off the west coast — often cited as one of Curaçao's best snorkels, and a favourite with divers too.

Blinding turquoise coves with an easy fringing reef straight off the sand — classic Curaçao shore snorkeling, often calm in the morning before the wind picks up.

A small desert islet with a lighthouse, shipwreck remnants on the sand and clear offshore shallows — a day-boat destination for beach, turtle and reef snorkeling in total seclusion.

Shallower-than-most shore reefs with coral gardens, swim-throughs and calm water — a favourite easy site for beginners and families near Seven Mile Beach's protected side.

A calm, rocky cove where turtles graze the shallows and small grouper hover — relaxed shore snorkeling with real personality and excellent visibility.

The snorkeling here is the surrounding flat crystal shallows and cays — absurdly clear, genuinely easy water — not the animals.

The famous beach-dwelling pigs draw the crowds, but the surrounding flat crystal shallows and cays offer genuinely superb easy snorkeling in absurdly clear water.

A blinding white sandbar in knee-to-chest-deep, glass-clear water famous for its starfish population and stingrays cruising the shallows. The postcard Cozumel photo stop — no current, just clarity.

A protected area: visitors are asked not to touch or stand on the starfish.

A developed marine park with a calm lagoon and a short shore snorkel along a paved, roped-off coral route — a friendly park-adjacent entry to Cozumel's reef life, with botanical gardens and sea-lion shows on land.

Entrance fee applies; the lagoon snorkel is separate from the open-water tours.