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Have you been inspired by Blue Planet II recently? Us too. So we decided we’d take a look at some wonderful places to snorkel. Unlike the post we wrote recently about The World’s Finest Snorkelling Spots, we thought this time we’d take a look at a few destinations that are a little more unusual. You might not see clown fish or turtles at the locations on our list, but you will get an underwater wow when you swim between tectonic plates or discover an underwater sculpture park.
So… come with us on an epic adventure under the sea. And don’t forget your travel cover, of course! Snorkelling is covered by our Activity Pack 1 so you’ll be covered automatically with your policy! Scuba diving to 30 metres is also covered, so if you decide to go deeper when you get there you’ll be fully insured.
Image ©Tobias Friedrich
Snorkel the tectonic plate, Iceland
Have you ever wanted to snorkel between two continents? At Silfra, Iceland’s National Park Thingvellir, you can! The Silfra Fissure is a crack between the North American and Eurasian continents. As well as being the only place in the world that you can do this, Silfra is also famous for having some of the world’s best visibility, which, at 100m or more, is pretty incredible. That’s because the water is meltwater from a glacier that’s been filtered by underground lava for up to 100 years. It also means it’s going to be chilly, at around 3 degrees centigrade, so don’t bother packing your bikini. Go on a tour with Dive.is, leading tour operators in the area.
Snorkel art at the underwater sculpture park, Grenada
In Grenada’s Molinere Beauséjour Marine Protected Area there is a snokeling site like no other. Created not only as a place for underwater art, but also to enhance the local reefs and take pressure off some of Grenada’s more sensitive reefs, the sculpture park offers a habitat for marine animals and an awe inspiring place to snorkel. The sculptures are based on original sculptures of British sculptor Jason de Caires Taylor and aim to encapsulate Grenada's colourful history, culture and folklore.
The Jellyfish Lake in Palau
Snorkeling with jellyfish might be last on your list of things to do with your mask and flippers, along with getting up close and personal to sharks and killer whales, but it’s not as bad as it might seem. Why? Because the jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake in Palau are of the non-stinging variety. That’s okay then! Jellyfish Lake is a saltwater lagoon on the island of Eil Malk in Palau. It was once connected to the oceans but is now separated, with a unique ecosystem that enables millions of jellyfish to survive. There are no natural predators for the jellyfish so no need for them to sting or defend themselves. Diving in the lake is prohibited so snorkeling is the only way to see it.
Meet the rays at Stingray City!
There are a series of sandbars in the North Sound of Grand Cayman where once fishermen cleaned their catches. Attracted to the fishy bits on offer for free, stingrays began to gather, soon developing a pavlovian response to the sound of boat engines. Fast forward a few years to the now and the stingrays are still hanging out here, except now they are fed by hand by tourists looking for a truly unique snorkelling experience. It’s Grand Cayman’s number one tourist attraction and you can see why. Where else can you snorkel among a couple of dozen ‘tame’ stingrays?
Go underground in Mexico
The Yukatan Peninsula in Mexico contains a huge number underground rivers and natural channels and sinkholes that are known as Cenotes. There are around 6000 of them on the peninsula, so there’s plenty of choice. Some offer the chance to fly on zip wires and then swim and snorkel, while others keep it a little more real with just swimming or snorkelling. The sinkholes are fresh water and warm enough to swim with no wetsuit. One of the most famous is just outside Playa del Carmen, at the Xcaret Eco-Park. Here you can snorkel as well as explore ancient ruins..
Find out more HERE.
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5 of the world’s most interesting snorkelling destinations | World First Travel Insurance Blog