Where should I go snorkeling.
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Hmmmm. Tough call. I've been to Hawaii and there are some outstanding snorkeling spots on the Big Island. You can even do the manta ray dive as a snorkeler. Not quite the same as being on the bottom with those big boys but still really cool.
That said, there is nothing like the Great Barrier Reef. That's where I would go!
Have you thought about getting scuba certified? That is a long and expensive trip and diving instead of snorkeling would make it even more memorable! Check out the scuba thread in the lounge forum.
That said, there is nothing like the Great Barrier Reef. That's where I would go!
Have you thought about getting scuba certified? That is a long and expensive trip and diving instead of snorkeling would make it even more memorable! Check out the scuba thread in the lounge forum.
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You can do either! There is just a lot more to see when you can scuba unless you are an accomplished free diver. Lots of the cool coral and fish are out of reach for me when snorkeling (about 15-20 feet is as deep as I go snorkeling). With scuba you can see more things and do it much more leisurely than free diving. I like to take video and pictures too and that's a bit easier when diving rather than snorkeling.....at least for me it is.
cracker
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if I may change the subject for a question for @saltyhog , I see your in Arkansas . Do You have cavern & cave diving in your state? I did quite a bit of cavern,little bit of cave diving (found it too close in ).
Now back to the subject . I'd think the Great Barrier would be my choice !
Now back to the subject . I'd think the Great Barrier would be my choice !
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Having been to both, I would probably recommend Hawaii for snorkeling. If you were diving, I'd say the GBR. Snorkeling was a bit limited in Cairns and most of the close to shore stuff was pretty damaged. The diving was great, but it was a day out of Cairns at least. There is an island (Green Island) which you can take a boat to, but the snorkeling is limited. Maui has a lot of great snorkeling easily accessible from shore. Cost from the US for Hawaii would be considerably cheaper as well. On the flip side, Australia is an awesome place to visit and tour.
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Lots of caves in the state but none are flooded. The closest thing would be Bonne Terre mine in southern Missouri. It's pretty cool and lots to see for non cave divers.
Ron Reefman
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Have you given any thoughts to picking other sites to snorkel?
We (my wife and I) snorkel 3 to 6 long weekends a year in the Florida Keys (just because it's close and I can do a little collecting there). I've snorkel off the west coast of the big Island (near Kona) and it was very nice and even good from off the beach at the hotel! As a bucket list trip, I used to say the Great Barrier Reef, but I've changed my mind. I think I'd rather go someplace more colorful and easier access for snorkeling rather than diving like Fiji, the Philippines, Indonesia, or my new favorite the Maldives (southwest off India).
We (my wife and I) snorkel 3 to 6 long weekends a year in the Florida Keys (just because it's close and I can do a little collecting there). I've snorkel off the west coast of the big Island (near Kona) and it was very nice and even good from off the beach at the hotel! As a bucket list trip, I used to say the Great Barrier Reef, but I've changed my mind. I think I'd rather go someplace more colorful and easier access for snorkeling rather than diving like Fiji, the Philippines, Indonesia, or my new favorite the Maldives (southwest off India).
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If you do go to Hawaii I recommend taking a boat over to Lanai from Maui. I've snorkeled multiple sites on Kaui, Maui, Oahu, and Big Island. Lanai was by far the best experience for us.
Either is going to be great, but the reefs are better in the Coral Sea than in Hawaii. Soloman, Vanatu, Fiji, etc. Hawaii, however, has all of the comforts that you expect in the US. In the end, it is not always about the best reefs for a lot of people.
We saw a cool reef west of Key West on our honeymoon, but that was many years ago. I would go back.
We saw a cool reef west of Key West on our honeymoon, but that was many years ago. I would go back.
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I am going to Cairns in April. That being said I have snorkeled Maui and it was worse than what I have seen in the Virgin islands. The water was rough and what coral I saw was sparse compared to many places I have been. The best part of Maui was the road to Hanna. Take it all the way around. It may be forbidden by the rental company but the views were amazing.
