Snorkeling Blog

We’ve been snorkeling just about everywhere, but when we saw this piece, it reminded us that we haven’t been snorkeling in Puerto Rico is a long, long time.

Last time we were there, we kayaked in one of  PR’s bioluminescent bays and snorkeled at Mona Island off the west coast of Puerto Rico. There is a lot to do in Puerto Rico – snorkeling is but one of many fun and entertaining things on offer.

We had so much fun the last time we were there, it’s a wonder we haven’t returned sooner. We need to find a free spot on the calendar so we can go back and enjoy snorkeling in Puerto Rico.

If you’re looking for an eco-tour destination, consider the U.S. Virgin Islands. We are big fans of St. John, where we feel like we are immersed in the natural, untamed beauty of the island. Instead of the high-rise hotels and heavy tourist trade you’ll find on the other islands, the vibe here is highly eco-friendly and there are countless places to find great snorkeling.

Eco-tours abound. You’ll have your choice of providers, but this article about a tour that goes to the Maho Bay Camp caught our eye. If you want to strike out on your own (as we generally do), you can certainly do it on St. John. But if you want someone else to organize your trip and take care of everything, this sounds like a good way to go.

Key Largo’s John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park has long been one of our favorite state parks, so we’re happy to write about this amazing park on the 50th anniversary of its opening. The coral reef is the main reason we love snorkeling here.

Every year up to about a million people visit the park to enjoy canoeing, kayaking and – of course – snorkeling. If you’re anywhere near Key Largo, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park should definitely be on your list of places to spend a day or two. You’ll keep coming back for more.

One of the great things about snorkeling is that you never know what you’ll see – or what you’ll find – when you’re exploring the undersea world.

Case in point:  snorkelers off the coast of the Puerto Rican island of Vieques happened across a set of U.S. military dog tags in the roots of a fallen palm tree.

The tags, belonging to a U.S. Marine, were lost during training exercises in the Spring of 1961. Almost 50 years later, the lost dog tags have now been returned to the original owner.

When you’re snorkeling, you never know what you’ll find.

The last few times we’ve been snorkeling, we’ve thought about bringing a camera. We used to have a simple point and shoot that we liked, but we lost that in an unfortunate catamaran incident a few years ago (don’t ask).  We also tested an Olympus that we liked. Now we’re thinking about getting a new camera of our own.

There are so many options out there, from disposables to point and shoots to waterproof housing for traditional cameras.

We’re going to have to do some research. Will advise.

If you’ve never been night snorkeling, this describes it pretty well.  We’ve never done it ourselves, but it sure sounds interesting. It also sounds……   dangerous.

We want to look into trying this, while following the rules of snorkeling safety, of course.

If you’ve ever been night snorkeling, we’d like to hear from you.

We’re starting to think about where we might like to go for a snorkeling vacation later this year. Should we go someplace totally new to us? Seek out an under-the-radar, exotic locale? Revisit an old favorite?

As we begin to assemble our list of contenders, Hawaii comes to mind. Though we’ve snorkeled a few idyllic spots in the Hawaiian Islands, we’ve never spent much time around Waikiki.

It sure sounds interesting. Let us know what you think.

We all know the basics of snorkeling safety, don’t we?

Being mindful of your surroundings at all times is of paramount importance.

We don’t know if this snorkeler had floated a diver-down flag when he was struck by a 25-foot boat in a hit and run accident recently. But it’s a good idea to use a diver-down flag (whether its legally required or not) so you’ll be easier to spot in the water.