Short answer, definitely yes! Without a doubt. Why is Raja Ampat worth the long haul flights from the Americas and Europe? Well, it just so happens that Raja holds the world's most biodiverse marine life, including the most species of coral and tropical fish. For five years I spent six months a year living on a boat diving and snorkeling Raja Ampat and I still feel like I've just scratched the surface of the area. With over 600 islands and who knows how many reefs you could quite literally spend years exploring the area and still find new things. Not only that, but it's supremely beautiful both above and below the waters surface. Here's a little break down of what I most look forward to about snorkeling in Raja Ampat and reasons why Raja is totally worth the jet lag. 5. The Islands The islandscape is really like something from another world, especially when viewed from above where you can get the full perspective of intricate network of little lagoons and reefs. 4. Piers or Jetties Whether you are in the north or south of Raja Ampat there will always be a jetty or pier to snorkel around. What's so special about these wood structures? They act as a unique safe haven for marine life and the older piers will have a surprising amount of coral encrusting the vertical pilings which only adds to the beauty and uniqueness of this snorkeling experience. 3. Mangroves There are very few places in the world where you can snorkel around the mangroves and actually enjoy the it. Most mangroves systems are in silty bays and estuaries where the visibility is not much further than the tip of your nose. Raja is unique as it has several mangrove forests that offer phenomenal snorkeling
Short answer, definitely yes! Without a doubt. Why is Raja Ampat worth the long haul flights from the Americas and Europe? Well, it just so happens that Raja holds the world’s most biodiverse marine life, including the most species of coral and tropical fish. For five years I spent six months a year living on
Snorkeling with the aid of a liveaboard boat has become increasingly popular over the years. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this type of snorkeling, allow me to explain. A liveaboard is a large boat built and equipped for the sole purpose of taking people snorkeling. Not only that, but it also functions as a sort of floating resort. They boats are large, usually one hundred feet or more, and will have enough space for each couple to have their own air conditioned cabin and ensuite bathroom. A restaurant or dining area is also something you'll find on board as well as indoor/outdoor lounging areas and sun decks for those of you who are working on that perfect tan. Many liveaboards will have even have their own camera room. You will by no means be roughing it should you choose the liveaboard option for your snorkeling holiday. Why would someone choose a liveaboard over a resort? Well, it depends a bit on the location, but certain snorkeling destinations have reefs that are just not accessible from the land based resorts. Belize wold be a great examples of when a liveaboard would be a good option for your snorkeling safari as the barrier reef in Belize is not only far from the mainland, at least an hour by speed boat, but also because the reef is so extensive you'll only be seeing a small portion of this fantastic reef system. With a liveaboard you'll be able to cruise to the next site in comfort and dry cloths while enjoying a nice meal, or taking a siesta in your private cabin. Yes, despite the large size of the vessels there will be a bit of rocking compared to the stability of a land based resort. However, if you take the
Snorkeling with the aid of a liveaboard boat has become increasingly popular over the years. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this type of snorkeling, allow me to explain. A liveaboard is a large boat built and equipped for the sole purpose of taking people snorkeling. Not only that, but it also functions
Finding the best reefs for snorkeling may seem a bit daunting considering how much ocean is out there. Or, it may seem relatively simple considering over seventy percent of the earth is ocean. Despite the amount of salt water on our planet, shallow coral reef's are in relatively short supply and can really only be found on a narrow belt that extends just a bit above and below the equator. Now, just because you you decide to go for a swim within this tropical beltway doesn't mean that every inch of coastline is covered in coral reefs. There's still a lot more that goes into the ongoing productivity of coral reefs beyond geographic location. Rather than get into the specifics if it, I'll just go ahead and point out where the best reefs suitable for snorkeling can be found. Caribbean: Belize, Cuba, Honduras, and Cayman Islands Caribbean is easily one of the most iconic tropical destinations in the world and with seven-thousand islands to choose from it's hard to know where the best snorkeling may be. While the Caribbean as a whole doesn't have the staggering diversity of marine life that the Indo-Pacific does, both Belize and Cuba really do offer some truly exceptional snorkeling. Not to mention a whole lot closer if you are coming from North or South America! Belize is actually home to the second largest barrier reefs in the world which seemingly offers endless shallow reefs full of purple sea fans, hard coral, and tube sponges in crystal clear waters. Larger marine life like nurse sharks, groupers, and turtles are also prevalent in this vast reef system. Where Cuba is concerned, the best snorkeling can be found sixty miles off the of this iconic island in a protected marine reserve known as La Jardines De La
Finding the best reefs for snorkeling may seem a bit daunting considering how much ocean is out there. Or, it may seem relatively simple considering over seventy percent of the earth is ocean. Despite the amount of salt water on our planet, shallow coral reef’s are in relatively short supply and can really only be
