Travel & Hotspots

GRAB THAT SNORKEL

5 gems of places with the clearest seawater

My first time snorkeling was anything but a party. I was in Crete, which A: is definitely a terrible place to see anything underwater, and B: I had a panic attack. Somewhere my brain just couldn't comprehend that a person with some equipment can actually breathe underwater.

For years I tried in vain to snorkel on vacation, and last year I was completely done with it. It was time to face this panicked fear of water, so my partner and I took a private diving lesson in Curaçao. While I am terrified of deep water. Sharks. Jellyfish. Shortness of breath. Panic. Actually everything related to the sea. For ten minutes I cursed the entire ocean out of fear and then I found peace. I dove for three quarters of an hour - at 12 meters deep - without looking up for even a second. When we came back up, I of course sat there for over an hour just blubbering about this ultra-cool experience.

So for all snorkel/diver fans: YAHS, I can finally talk to you about it. And that's why it was high time for an overview of the most magical places with the clearest seawater in the world. You ready?

1. Great Barrier Reef, Australia

This is the largest and most famous coral reef in the world. In terms of area, over 334 thousand square meters where more than 2900 different species of coral live. According to snorkel and dive fans, really the BEST place in the world. (*Brainwave: what am I going to sell from what I have at home to afford a ticket to Australia right now...)

2. Bora Bora – French Polynesia

Yes, this is the paradisiacal beautiful land where all those professional footballers take their girlfriends. And where the Kardashians are pretty much always holiday to be found. The island consists of a lagoon surrounded by a reef and sodejo, the water is so crystal clear that you almost think that stuff is manipulated.

3. The Maldives

I hesitated again this year. But do you know how ridiculously expensive the Maldives are? The archipelago consists of 1190 coral islands that are ALL disgustingly beautiful. Always wanted to swim with giant mantas and whale sharks? Huphup, this is your chance.

4. Palawan – Philippines

I wrote here that this pearl has been declared the most beautiful island in the world for the second year in a row. With the most beautiful coral. Google it for fun. Multiple seasons of Expedition Robinson have been filmed here and if you have a chance to spot Nemo anywhere, it's here. You can also immediately go looking for Dory.

5. Egypt

I have had the pleasure of discovering the coral reef of Egypt myself. Especially the Red Sea area is crazy. And the water stays wonderfully warm and clear all year round. An absolute must: get a GoPro to capture those underwater treasures.