Best Sandals Resort for Snorkeling and Diving
Which is the best Sandals Resort for Snorkeling and diving? When you’re done with history, when you can’t stand the thought of going to another museum, and when you’ve seen every open-air market, the only thing left to do is go underwater.
If you want to go snorkeling, you don’t have to be a scuba diver to do it. It’s easy enough for kids, and even the most jaded traveler will enjoy it. Snorkeling is a great way to truly immerse yourself in nature, whether you’re taking your child to see an underwater ecosystem or just want to get up near and personal with a welcoming shark.
But unfortunately, climate change is putting the watery wonderland at risk. Coral bleaching has already hit many of the world’s reefs. Coral is disappearing worldwide, and some scientists think it could be gone by 2050. Starting to plan your dream snorkeling trip is much more of a reason.
So, without further ado, let’s begin!
The Best Sandals Resorts for Snorkeling and Diving
1. Montego Bay, Jamaica
It’s one of the crowd’s favorite ways to have fun while on vacation, and there are a lot of great snorkeling spots on the island of Jamaica!
Jamaica is absolutely gorgeous all over, but it’s even more beautiful in the turquoise water. In Montego Bay on the north coast, you can discover a handful of the best snorkeling in Jamaica. The island is excellent for swimming, too.
Snorkeling in Montego Bay can be a lot of fun, but you should know that it’s going to be a lot of work. There’s a lot to see and do in Jamaica, from the beach to the sea. If you want to go snorkeling in Montego Bay, read on for all the information you need about the best places, the best weather, and the best depth for snorkeling.
Montego Bay is a great place to snorkel. Even though snorkeling in Jamaica is excellent all year round, a few months stand out above others as being particularly good for diving and snorkeling — such as between March to May.
All in all, Jamaica has a primarily sunny climate with temperatures that range from 73°F to 89°F, so you’ll have plenty of good days to go snorkeling.
You’re more likely to have strong visibility while snorkeling in Jamaica if the weather is good.
It all depends on where you decide to go snorkeling in Jamaica. If you’re snorkeling near the coast or around one of the more fabulous depth reefs, you’ll have more chances to see a plethora of sea creatures.
In general, when you snorkel in the clear waters of Jamaica, you can anticipate seeing things like sea urchins, angelfish, and parrotfish. Snorkelers may even see clownfish, large-eyed squirrelfish, dartfish, kingfish, jack, mackerel, whiting fish, tuna, and sometimes turtles because the northern coast is a place where turtles lay their eggs.
You may not often see stuff like the four-eye butterflyfish or sharpnose puffers, but they are still there.
The more colorful and flowery coral you might see around Montego Bay is likely to be soft coral, which involves bubble coral. Two main things set soft coral apart from hard coral: this species often looks like one big thing, while hard coral can be found in groups. Brain coral and elkhorn coral are two types of hard coral usually found in Jamaica. If you don’t see sea fans, star coral, or torch coral often, keep an eye out.
Book your Vacation at a special discount rate in Sandals Montego Bay
Top Snorkeling Spots near Montego Bay, Jamaica
People who go snorkeling in the Bahamas will have some of the best moments they’ll ever have. Most of the time, when the best beaches and reefs in the Bahamas are talked about in the news, they talk about how great they are and how many exciting things you can see, like golden beaches, pink sands, and swimming pigs. The 700 or so islands that constitute the Bahamas are great for snorkeling or scuba diving, no matter what you do.
Most of the places you can go under the sea aren’t as memorable as those in The Bahamas.
When you go snorkeling in the Bahamas, it’s essential to know that where you go will affect what you see and do. Much tropical fish and coral can be found in some places, but you might see seahorses, angelfish, and lionfish in other areas. You might also see sea turtles, squid, and small stingrays while you’re out on the water.
Doctor’s Cave Beach
The first thing you can perhaps hear about Doctor’s Cave Beach is that the water has healing power. Because of this long-standing belief, even if there’s no truth to this long-running myth. Even if you just go in for a quick dip, this belief adds a self-care element to even the most casual dive.
Protected coral reefs are found at Doctor’s Cave Beach, and you can get to them on foot. Many people absolutely adore diving on this beach because the environmental rules have really helped keep the reefs here beautiful.
Doctor’s Cave Beach costs about $6 per adult per day and about $3 per child. That fee allows you access to beach bars, changing rooms, and a wide range of water sports, which you can pay extra for. Snorkeling gear will also cost extra, adding up to more funds for your beach day.
Additional Tip: It looks like you’re getting ready for a trip to Jamaica that includes a lot of snorkeling. Sandals Resorts gives free snorkeling trips to all of its guests. The best part is that people who stay at both Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Royal Caribbean all-inclusive resorts can use the same things. Enjoy unlimited food and drinks at 21 diners, an over-the-water bar, and many swim-up and beach bars. Getting to and from each of the two resorts is included, and the resorts are only a 5-minute drive apart.
Montego Bay Marine Park
If you’re going to Montego Bay, you should make sure you visit the Montego Bay Marine Park. It has some of the best places to dive and snorkel in Jamaica. In 1991, this was the first marine park in Jamaica. There are 12 miles of coastline inside the park. You’ll also find mangrove ecosystems and seagrass beds. Coral reefs are also found there. If you’re a diver, this is a great place to go. You’ll be allowed to snorkel here because most reefs are close to the shore. Under the waves, you’ll find healthy coral reefs and a lot of fish because of strict environmental rules.
Cornwall Beach
Cornwall Beach isn’t far from Doctor’s Cave Beach. It’s one of those beaches where you can snorkel close to the shore, which is excellent if you want to. This is a great place for snorkelers of all age ranges because the coral reefs aren’t too deep. You’ll have to pay about $5 to get into this beach. It’s a small charge that goes toward the beach’s upkeep, but it’ll be worth it when you plunge into the serene environment. On some days, there are sunset parties on this beach with a lot of rum to get by.
Bloody Bay
Known as a “hidden gem” by some, Bloody Bay is a good place to go if you want to relax on the beach and do some snorkeling. A lot of Seven Mile Beach goes into Bloody Bay. This beach is right next to it. Here, under the serene and clear water, you’ll find a vibrantly colored reef that divers of all levels of skill can go to see. If you want to go snorkeling, you can take a catamaran trip into the deeper waters of this beach. As part of that trip, you can also look for caves in the vicinity or perhaps even canoe into the Negril Great Morass.
2. Nassau, Bahamas
People who go snorkeling in the Bahamas will have some of the best moments they’ll ever have. Most of the time, when the best beaches and reefs in the Bahamas are talked about in the news, they talk about how great they are and how many exciting things you can see, like golden beaches, pink sands, and swimming pigs. The 700 or so islands that constitute the Bahamas are great for snorkeling or scuba diving, no matter what you do.
Snorkeling in The Bahamas is best done during peak season, from mid-December to mid-April each year. Because the Bahamas is always sunny, you can go snorkeling there almost any time of the day.
Most of the places you can go under the sea aren’t as memorable as those in The Bahamas.
When you go snorkeling in the Bahamas, it’s essential to know that where you go will affect what you see and do. Much tropical fish and coral can be found in some places, but you might see seahorses, angelfish, and lionfish in other areas. You might also see sea turtles, squid, and small stingrays while you’re out on the water.
Book your Vacation with our special offer in Sandals Emerald Bay, Nassau, Bahamas.
Top Snorkeling Spots around Nassau, Bahamas
Gambier Deep Reef
Some of the best places to snorkel in Nassau may cost money. As part of the tour, this implies that it carries you to just the perfect destination. Because it could save you some time trying to figure things out on your own, paying extra isn’t always a bad thing. A place called Gambier Deep Reef is one of these places. It is on the northwestern edge of New Providence Island.
A boat is the only way to get to Gambier Deep. The beautiful snorkeling spot is about nine miles from the center of Nassau. The reef itself goes about 80 feet down, which is something that scuba divers like. It’s a great place to go snorkeling, and those who want to see the coral reef from above will be just as happy. There are a lot of different kinds of fish to see there.
The Andros Barrier Reef
In the Bahamas, the Andros Barrier Reef is among the best places to go diving. It is 190 miles long. It is one of the best places to snorkel in Nassau because it is the third biggest reef complex in the world. It flows perpendicularly to Andros Island and is positioned to the West and South-West of New Providence Island. The Andros Barrier reef can only be reached by boat, so you’ll need to plan ahead to go on a tour.
The reef is about 124 miles long, and it’s broken up into parts like the shallow lagoon, the back reef, and the inner fore reef. More than 150 kinds of fish live at this place, including marlins, tarpons, sailfish, and many other kinds of fish. There are also many kinds of coral. The Tongue of the Ocean “drop-off” is also part of the Andros Barrier Reef. It’s an underwater cliff about 65 feet below the surface, and it’s 6,000 feet down over the edge. A fast ferry takes about two hours to get from Nassau to Andros, and it costs about $45 every way.
Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park
It will be hard to find a better place to snorkel in the Bahamas than the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park in the Bahamas. If you want to have an all-encompassing snorkeling experience while visiting the islands, this is the place to go. It’s a 22-mile long park with many other things to do. At the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, which is 176 square miles, you’ll find a lot of blue holes with freshwater, caves both on land and underwater, and a lot of jaw-dropping underwater drop-offs.
Near to Sandals Emerald Bay, this celebrity-inspiring location has been used in movies like James Bond’s “Thunderball” and “Never Say Never Again.” It’s a must-see if you’re planning to snorkel in this area. Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park is the best place to snorkel. By ferry, it takes about 2.5 hours from Nassau to Staniel Cay in Exuma, which is in the Bahamas. The fare is about $45 for each trip.
