Contrary to what scuba divers might think, a lot of action underwater happens close to the surface, so snorkellers aren't missing out by not diving, in fact, a whole different underwater world opens up. Reef sharks, dolphins, turtles and colourful reef fish can be seen just as easily when snorkelling and even divers wanting to see whale sharks and dugongs turn to their trusty snorkel for these incredible encounters.

Snorkelling is also a great way to build confidence in the water, which makes it a perfect accessible and affordable activity for all the family, young and old, to enjoy on holiday. So whether you're an avid longtime snorkeller, interested in trying it out as a first step to diving, or want to give snorkelling a go because you love the ocean, dip into Regaldive's guide to our five best places for snorkeling around the world. Embark on your underwater adventure today!

Indonesia

At the heart of the Coral Triangle lies Indonesia, with arguably the richest marine biodiversity in the world and warm waters. Snorkellers are treated in this area with fringing reefs stretching for kilometres right on many resorts' door steps. In Raja Ampat green sea turtles, giant clams, and giant manta rays are commonly spotted in season. The shallow waters provide an excellent home for the reef fish, and hours can be spent in the water over various snorkeling spots. Further south in Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, resorts such as Kalimaya Dive Resort have extensive house reefs with stronger currents allow the coral reefs to thrive and boat trips are available to swim with majestic manta rays.

Ideal for island hopping Bali is a great addition to any itinerary, the northern coast of Tulamben offers Balinese style accommodation and reefs that bustle with tropical fish, macro and marine critters. The wreck of the USAT Liberty is in surprisingly shallow waters, coming up to around five metres, on a clear day the whole 110 metre wreck is visible while snorkelling and is truely a site to behold. To add a taste of culture, a night or two in Ubud promises to deliver as does a sunrise trek up Mount Batur.

Red Sea (Egypt)

Egypt offers a truly unforgettable experience above and below the water. Visitors cannot fail to fall in love with the unique combination of historical and cultural treasures, and the outstanding underwater scenery and abundant marine life here. Egypt's Red Sea offers some of the finest coral reefs and ship wrecks to explore on the planet. It's also the ideal destination for UK holidaymakers with just five hours flying time, excellent value for money, year round sunshine and crystal clear warm waters.

Snorkellers have plenty of choice of Red Sea resorts to get the most out of their holiday. For ease, a resort with a house reef allows you to snorkel just off the beach and many have the option for boat trips further afield if you wish. The majority of resorts that stretch down the Red Sea's entire coastline from Soma Bay all the way to Hamata in the deep south offer excellent fringing reefs and plenty of incredible snorkelling spots in shallow waters directly from the shore, including Safaga, El Quseir, Shams Alam and Marsa Alam. Similarly on the Sinai Peninsula, Dahab is well-known for stunning coral reefs.

The Breakers Diving and Surfing Lodge in Soma Bay has been specially designed for water sports fans and guests can make full use of the hotel's spectacular location right on the water's edge. An incredible turquoise blue lagoon, and one of the most beautiful stretches of house reef along the Egyptian coast lay just metres from your hotel room. An extensive jetty allows you access straight onto the reef in either sheltered waters or on the fringing reefs drop off. Alternatively, in the deep south of Egypt, Hamata’s Lahami Bay Beach Resort house reef is like it has been designed for snorkellers, the several reef systems in the resort's surrounding waters act as defence from the waves and help calm the waters. There's always a protected area to snorkel in while being close to the coral reef system. There's even a few resident dugongs that live in the adjacent bay that many snorkellers see. Travellers have the option to take a day trip by boat to Sataya Reef (Dolphin House) where spinner dolphins are seen reliably.

Mexico

On the Pacific Ocean coast you’ll find the Sea of Cortez, the two separated by the Baja Peninsula, where snorkelling is adrenaline filled! Here sea lions in their hundreds join the Sardine Run of Magdelena Bay. Sailfish, mahi mahi (dorado), and dolphins join the party out at sea whizzing pass you at incredible speeds. If you’re in the right place at the right time a whale could pop up too. Alternatively fevers of rays reaching their hundreds flock to the Sea of Cortez between May and July, at this time orcas and sperm whales are also spotted. These marine and sea life encounters are conducted from liveaboard, many of which are dedicated to snorkellers.

The Caribbean coast of Mexico offers a much more relaxed approach with miles of white sand beaches, an array of cultural attractions and one of the most well-developed tourist infrastructures around. Underwater, Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula sits at the very tip of the world's second largest barrier reef. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef stretches south for over 1,000 kilometres, and is considered unique in terms of both its vast length, and its stunning biodiversity with blacktip reef sharks and nurse sharks.

Snorkelling (and diving) is big business in Mexico. In Cozumel, many visitors like to grab their kit and snorkel directly off the beach to spot wonderful and diverse marine life there. If you're serious about your snorkelling, you'll want to go out to the main reefs by boat ride. From June to September, a whale shark safari to Isle Mujeres is highly recommended and offers the once in a lifetime opportunity to snorkel with these gentle giants of the ocean sometimes alongside manta rays, turtles and dolphins.

Visitors to Mexico also have the chance to visit the world famous Cenotes, an underwater tranquil world like no other. The chance to explore this incredible submerged limestone cavern system is one of the reasons scuba diving is popular in the Yucatan Peninsula, but snorkellers are equally well catered for. Float in clear fresh water with up to 50 metres visibility amongst amazing formations of stalagmites and stalactites, exploring underwater caves bathed in sunbeams filtering through the jungle canopy above.

Maldives

The best snorkelling destination in the Indian Ocean are the islands and atolls of the Maldives. If your idea of holiday heaven is trickling powder soft sand through your toes, and venturing beneath the surface todiscover one of the most exciting and exhilarating marine snorkeling destinations on the planet, then the Maldives will definitely meet your needs.

The relative isolation of the Maldives has led to a fabulous variety of marine species. Seasonal oceanic currents through the Indian Ocean push channels of plankton rich waters into and out of the atolls, attracting many pelagics like manta rays, sharks and whale sharks. There's also plentiful smaller fish amidst the beautiful coral gardens and picturesque, sheltered lagoons. Snorkellers should opt for an island with a house reef to get the most out of their holiday. The islands of Ellaidhoo, Filitheyo and Reethi Beach are all encircled by excellent house reefs and provide snorkelling boat rides to outer reefs. House reefs are often home to a variety of marine life including nurse sharks, eagle rays, black tip reef sharks sea turtles and colourful coral. Vilamendhoo Island Resort and Spa, located in south Ari Atoll is close to the Maldivian Whale Shark National Park, offers one of the largest easily accessible house reefs in the Maldives and both whale sharks and manta rays are often spotted here.

Bonaire

It would be hard to think of a more complete scuba diving and snorkelling destination than the Southern Caribbean island of Bonaire. Bonaire's low-lying geography brings the reef drop-off close to the coastline, making shore entries common. This is ideal for snorkellers, who can enjoy over 90 snorkelling spots, most of which are accessible directly from the shore

Home to the Caribbean Sea's first protected marine park, Bonaire's warm and nutrient-rich waters boast an outstanding marine diversity with more than 300 different fish species. The lack of rain on the ABC islands has led to an impressive underwater visibility which regularly exceeds 30 metres and is particularly excellent for photography. The fringing reef lies close to the shore at usually no more than 10 metres depth, just brimming with colourful fish and incredible marine life. Seahorses, the island's emblem, thrive in Bonaire's waters, alongside the elusive frogfish.

Bonaire is known as the home of activity freedom and taking your own itinerary by the horns. Our holidays include vehicle hire, allowing you to snorkel and explore at their own pace. Many resorts offer additional activities including bicycle hire, kayak tours in the mangroves, and expeditions to see the vibrant flamingos.

Special mentions

Yes, we said we’d give you our five best places to snorkel, but there are two more places we have to mention. Grenada and Lanzarote have underwater sculpture parks designed by Jason deCaires Taylor that are well worth a visit if you are in the area! The Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park and Museo Atlántico include several statuses that attract local fish species and creating new ecosystems, and help prompt conversation on the topic of art, nature, politics and today's society. Within less than 10 metres of water, these underwater sculptures are easily accessible.

For more information about snorkelling holidays, please call the Regaldive Team on 01353 659 999 and we will be happy to help you choose the right destination for you.

Mantas, the gentle giants of the sea, kickstarted Marine Conservationist and Film-maker Danny's fascination with the oceans, and snorkelling with manta rays never gets old - the encounters rarely, if ever, fail to leave him awestruck.

There are plenty of reasons for visiting the Maldives, however for Danny it's the Maldivian reef manta ray. The Maldives are home to the largest known population of reef mantas in the world, and arguably the most extensively studied. There has been ID confirmation of roughly 5000 individuals, and that dwarfs many other places by a considerable margin! They stay local to the islands, meaning researchers such as the Maldivian Manta Ray Project have been able to extensively study them for 17 years, clocking up an astonishing 75000 sightings. 

It's precisely because of this research that we're confident our Maldives Manta Ray Extravaganza group trip has an excellent chance of locating the mantas. We visit the best location at the best possible time - coinciding with the full moon and coupled with a plankton boom, hundreds of manta rays flock to Hanifaru Bay in the Northern Atolls. This unique combination means our trip offers the opportunity to not only swim with the manta rays but to experience them in numbers that are considered rare or once-in-a-lifetime in other parts of the world. However, in the Maldives, it’s a pretty much daily occurrence! It truly is a life-changing and unique experience, witnessing the daily mass feeding events and having manta after manta swimming past you is unlike anything you've seen before.

It's not uncommon to see 20-50 manta rays during your holiday to the Maldives, however, on a good day at Hanifaru at the height of the season it's rare to see less than 40 or 50 on a given day, often at the same time! 100+ manta days are not uncommon here. If we're lucky we may be able to witness rare feeding behaviours such as the manta cyclone, as the mantas swim in a spiral, pulling the plankton in a circle akin to an underwater ballet, lasting from minutes to hours. It only really happens in Hanifaru Bay and is one of the most incredible things you'll ever encounter.

If that wasn't enough, the Indian Ocean may even spoil us with a friendly whale shark sighting. Again, there aren't many places in the world where you could see both of the species on the same day, or even during the same moment. Danny has been fortunate enough to experience this and we are hoping for similar luck on our trip.

The itinerary also includes some time diving Baa, Ari & Raa atolls. Here we explore cleaning stations and dive with manta rays. It's an entirely different encounter than the feeding mantas at Hanifaru Bay - the individuals are more inquisitive, yet just as special and magical, providing a different juxtaposition.

Hanifaru Bay holds a special charm. It's the place Danny's returned to year after year, and he wants to share it with us Regaldivers. Join us on this once-in-a-lifetime diving holiday to the Maldives, as we witness one of the great natural events of our oceans. Contact us to find out more or to book your place.

Diving with whale sharks ranks near the top of any diver’s bucket list. These gentle giants of the underwater world may look intimidating due to their enormous size but in fact they are known to pose no threat to humans, and munch their way through algae, plankton and krill, filtered from seawater through their enormous mouths. The largest fish on the planet, whale sharks can be up to 40 feet long and live for 80 years!

These enigmatic and beautiful creatures are more often seen close to the surface, making that elusive encounter all the more possible for divers and snorkelers alike. Despite their dwindling numbers and endangered species status, we are delighted to report that whale shark awareness is on the increase and we have recent sightings from Regaldive divers holidaying in Egypt, Oman, Philippines, Galapagos, Azores, Djibouti and other destinations around the world.

To mark this week’s International Whale Shark Day, we’ve put together a couple of options for those looking to maximise their chances of an underwater encounter with these gentle giants. Just don’t forget your camera!

The Daymaniyat Islands, off the coast of Muscat in Oman, have been placed under the protection of UNESCO and can offer less experienced divers the rare chance to swim with whale sharks, encountered from June to September. The islands provide divers with pristine coral gardens, walls and abundant fish life to admire, as well as other shark species including leopard sharks. Seven nights’ at the Nabucco's Al Sawadi Beach Resort, which proves easy access to the Daymaniyat islands, cost from £970 per person to include flights, transfers and seven nights’ half board accommodation, based on two people sharing. A three day dive pack costs from £173 per person, to include two unguided boat dives per day, air tanks and weights.

For more experienced divers, the Galapagos Islands are recognised as one of the world’s best locations to encounter whale sharks in large numbers, specifically between May and November. Regaldive’s eight day Galapagos Sky liveaboard journeys around Wolf and Darwin Islands, allowing divers the chance to swim alongside whale sharks, hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, dolphins and rays. The liveaboard includes two dives at Darwin’s Arch, where seasonal sightings of whale sharks are common. Costing from £4,591 per person, the package includes flights, transfers, two nights’ B&B hotel accommodation, seven nights’ Half Board boat accommodation on board the Galapagos Sky, some drinks, three dives per day on Wolf and Darwin Island, air tanks and weights.

Galapagos Special Offer

Book by 16 October 2013 for an incredible saving of up to £660 per person on liveaboard sailings aboard the luxuriously-appointed Galapagos Sky. This boat offers really incredible levels of service - they will even bring you tea in bed! This limited special offer is valid for sailings on 6, 20 and 27 December 2013, and 17 January, 7 and 21 February, 14 and 28 March 2014.

For more information call 01353 659 999.

Thanks to Simon Rogerson for the incredible imagery of whale sharks in Djibouti.

The stunning Meeru Island Resort & Spa is picture postcard Maldives. Lying on a protected beautiful blue lagoon, with a long white sandy beach, the stunning backdrop of lush vegetation creates a tranquil, relaxing atmosphere.

Meeru Island Resort & Spa is the eastern most resort of North Male atoll and provides access to over 50 fantastic dive sites. The island's protected lagoon also offers excellent conditions for learners and snorkellers. Meerufenfushi Island also offers a good range of other land and water sports, including windsurfing, pitch & putt and tennis - meaning that there is plenty on offer for non-diving family and friends!

This award-winning resort has recently won the coveted 2013 Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor. Packages including flights, transfers and 7 nights FB accommodation in a Beach Villa start from just £1629 per person. What are you waiting for?