These top global resorts with house reefs were selected from over 450 locations by Snorkeling Report, Resort Snorkeller and the Herald Tribune Magazine.
The selection process incorporated multiple criteria, which included the resort’s beachfront location, the initial visual impact, water clarity, the presence of remarkable habitats, as well as diversity and overall health of the marine life.
Lady Elliot Island, known the world over as « the home of the manta ray », is a coral cay located at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. The shallow lagoon fringing the eastern side of the island and the house reef located at its western side provides two very different snorkeling experiences. It allows snorkelers to easily encounter extraordinary marine life, including blacktip sharks, manta rays, turtles, and even dolphins, above an unspoiled coral reef.
2. Wakatobi Resort, Indonesia
With its reef flat covered with seagrass and its stunning reef drop-off full of coral, Wakatobi Resort’s house reef is a top snorkeling spot. Here, at the heart of Wakatobi National Park, snorkelers will discover vibrant marine life, including angelfish, green sea turtles, Maori wrasse, anemonefish, sea snakes, and around 150 easy-to-spot colorful reef fish species.
Dreaming of snorkeling Wakatobi’s reefs? Join Snorkeling Report’s Wakatobi trip, from 27 October to 4 November 2024. It includes 12 boat snorkeling sessions on remote coral reefs on our dedicated boat, unlimited snorkeling on the house reef, as well as a night snorkeling adventure.
3. Denis Private Island Hotel, Seychelles
Denis Island is a must for any travelers visiting Seychelles. This natural sanctuary, planted with coconut, takamaka and casuarina trees, and fringed by white sand beaches, have a taste of paradise. Surrounded by pristine waters and vibrant coral reefs, where it’s usual to come across hawksbill sea turtles, blacktip sharks, and eagle rays, Denis will bring you wonderful snorkeling adventures.
4. Raja Ampat Biodiversity Resort, Indonesia
Raja Ampat Biodiversity Resort’s house reef displays the extraordinary underwater life of the Coral Triangle. The reef flat and reef wall host vibrant marine life where hundreds of bright-colored fish swirl above the corals. Lucky snorkelers might also come across a sea turtle, a manta ray or a crocodile fish on the drop-off.
5. Grand Roatan Resort, Roatán, Honduras
A white sandy beach, palm trees, and colorful boats on a crystal sea – West Bay is an enchantment. But the show is at its finest underwater: multi-colored coral cascading in the deep blue water, parrotfish in abundance, shoals of tang and several species of angelfish, and all in exceptional visibility. West Bay is a must for snorkeling in Roatán, and certainly one of the most beautiful snorkeling locations in the Caribbean. The Grand Roatan Resort is just footsteps from this fantastic spot.
6. Siladen Resort & Spa, Indonesia
Siladen Island is part of Bunaken National Marine Park, one of the oldest protected areas in Indonesia. This tiny island located north of Sulawesi is entirely fringed by coral reefs offering fabulous coral drop-offs where soft corals, sea anemones, and sponges thrive. Siladen Island is in the heart of the Indonesian “Coral Triangle”, one of the world’s hotspots for biodiversity: the number of species inhabiting the reef is unparalleled and each snorkeling session will show you different wonders.
7. Velidhu Island Resort, Maldives
The small Velidhu Island is a concentrate of the more beautiful that the Maldives has to offer. His lavish reef has everything of a natural aquarium. Around this island paradise bathed by crystal clear waters, you will swim surrounded by rays, sharks, and hundreds of fishes, over a profusion of corals.
8- Sharm Plaza Hotel & Resort
Sharm Plaza Hotel & Resort stands out as one of the top resorts globally for snorkeling due to its breathtaking house reef and excellent visibility conditions in the Red Sea which lead to both relaxation and adventure. Guests seeking an unforgettable snorkeling experience will find everything they need at this remarkable destination.
9. Le Taha'a By Pearl Resorts, French Polynesia
Le Tahaa by Pearl Resorts is just footsteps from the Coral Garden, the most renowned snorkeling spot of Tahaa. This crystal clear water channel, which separates two motus (small coral islands), is located in an idyllic setting in the middle of one of the largest lagoons of French Polynesia. While let yourself drift over colorful and preserved corals, you will spot schools of butterflyfish, lionfish, brightly colored wrasse, clownfish huddled in their anemones and giant clams sunbathing right under the surface of the sea.
10. Las Casitas Akumal, Mexico
Looking to explore a single spot with a nice barrier reef that is well preserved and teeming with fish, and with seagrass beds full of green sea turtles and stingrays? Then head for Akumal Bay, the most famous and busiest spot in the Mayan Riviera. Facing a white sandy beach lined with coconut trees, the crystal-clear waters are the guarantee (despite the high visitor numbers and the restrictive turtles’ sighting rules) of great underwater sightings.
