A few times a year we travel to the Caribbean Sea, and whenever we do, we always make an effort to get underwater! This year, we were able to snorkel in Grand Cayman, Aruba and Jamaica. Snorkeling is a great way to see wildlife, even at the busiest beaches. Most snorkeling is centered around reefs, coral or manmade, both of which support all kinds of marine life!
Please enjoy our underwater photos of our excursions under the Caribbean Sea and a few helpful tips for booking and enjoying your snorkel excursion.
Tips for Snorkeling
First Timer? Better to book a private excursion than take a large group excursion. Although some instruction and safety tips are given, the bigger the group the less personal attention you’ll get and also, the water gets crowded and can be overwhelming for a new snorkeler or weak swimmer when many inexperienced swimmers are flailing and knocking flippers together.
If you have several options or ports on a cruise; do some research to determine which port is best for snorkeling. Most islands and atolls are created by ancient volcanic activity, but some are newer than others, and the newer islands will have more black volcanic sand, I’m not a geologist, but in general, I’ve found fine white sand beaches are “old beaches” and don’t often have the kind of terrain that encourages coral (or its been dredged out long ago) The “newer” beaches have more interesting formations and coral off of the shore to see. You might also pay attention to where the most protected and large reefs are. Grand Cayman, and many Mexican Caribbean ports are part of the MesoAmerican reef and offer fabulous snorkeling. Other areas might have created manmade reefs, such as ship wrecks and construction debris.
Wear reef safe sunscreen and a UV protection shirt in the water. It’s easy to get burned with your back at the surface of the water. Many ingredients in sunscreens can cause “sun block” to the coral, which is a living organism that needs light to survive. Seeing white, bleached coral is often the result of damage from sunscreens and over crowding, and warming oceans.
Pull your hair back off your face to make a good seal with the mask and don’t wear lotion , which can affect the seal, or flashy jewelry which can be lost or attract fish to you for a nibble!
You can bring your own mask and snorkel and use the tour operator’s fins to save room in your luggage.
I make a general rule not to touch anything underwater. A good guide might be able to help you gently handle some safe animals or objects, but I often say the ocean is a wilderness you can see from the shore. There are wild animals and plants that have many ways to protect themselves, and they will if disturbed, so a good guide is essential. Every country has its own rules for protection the environment and animals in it, and it’s important to know those rules and ensure your guides follow them! For instance in Hawaii, there is a minimum distance to keep between yourself and any sea turtle.
Want to take some photos underwater? We use a SeaLife micro 3.0, which is a dedicated dive camera which is sealed so it won’t get water inside. Olympus Tough Series, makes underwater cameras, but they will eventually fail and leak and need to be replaced. Another option is a housing for your own camera, but this can be expensive and risky if the housing leaks. An easy choice is to use your waterproof cell phone in a plastic bag or water case, using the widest lens available on your phone. Hold the plastic tight, straight across the lens, when you shoot, so you don’t get wrinkles in your photos. Give any camera a few minute to adjust to the cooler water from the arm air to prevent fogging.
More Snorkeling Destinations
〰️
More Snorkeling Destinations 〰️
Did we say we like snorkeling!? Check out other places we've been snorkeling around the world. Click the buttons below to see more …
