If you’ve ever booked — or even just dreamed about — a Snorkel Venture tour, chances are you’ve already crossed paths with one of our travel experts: Bernita, Crystal, Graham, or Kelly. They’re the people behind the scenes bringing each journey to life, overseeing everything from the moment a tour is conceived to the final details before our travelers meet their tour leader at the destination. Let’s catch up with the Snorkel Venture travel team and take a look at where their adventures have taken them in 2025.
Bernita in the Dominican Republic
I was fortunate enough to tick off a bucket list trip in early 2025… a trip to the Dominican Republic to snorkel with the humpback whales that go there to breed and/birth their babies. The trip was liveaboard based. The Silverbank, the Marine Mammal Sanctuary where the humpbacks can be seen, is 80 nautical miles from Puerto Plata. Only 3 boats have permits to enter the sanctuary, each carrying up to 20 guests, so I felt very privileged to be there. The encounters are regulated to protect the humpbacks; much of the day is spent on the small tender boats looking for whales. They can be seen spy hopping, breaching, tail lobbing and sleeping. We also saw groups of males chasing females trying to mate or fighting amongst themselves.
The area is a shallow underwater plateau with coral formations coming up to the surface, but the trip is not about the coral and no time is spent snorkeling around the coral heads, unless there is a whale there to see. When we find a whale/whales that are slow moving or sleeping, we quietly enter the water and watch them. The moms are mostly relaxed and the babies are quite curious. The sleeping whales come up to breathe every 12 to 20 minutes and come very close to investigate the snorkelers. It’s incredible.
The trip is quite difficult in that the crossing to and from the sanctuary is often very rough and takes 9 – 12 hours. I recommend taking precautions for sea sickness. The days are spent on small tender boats, in varying conditions. While some of the area is very protected, the outer areas can be windy and choppy and the group can spend 2 to 6 hours at a time out on the tenders. People with back problems may find this uncomfortable. The days consist of long periods of looking for suitable whales to engage with, watching others breaching in the near and far distance and observing various behaviours. The group gets into the water a few to several times a day for anywhere from 1 minute (if the whales move away) to and hour (if they’re relaxed and happy) so there is a lot of getting into and out of the water.
All this is absolutely worth it for the time spent in the water with these magical mammals, often heard singing their melodic songs. This was one of my favourite marine experiences.
Crystal’s Trip to North Sulawesi & Raja Ampat
My most recent trip was to North Sulawesi & Raja Ampat, assisting one of our tour leaders, Dalton in October 2025. This was my first time joining this tour, and I was extremely impressed by both the resorts and the snorkeling. Our first resort, Siladen, offered a wonderfully warm welcome from Anna, Gabriel, and their team. Thoughtful personal touches, including welcome notes and a beautiful beachfront dinner, immediately set the tone for a very personalised stay. Entering the water was a true “wow” moment, vibrant corals, abundant fish life, and the use of underwater fish ID slates made the experience even more engaging, with guests eagerly discussing their sightings throughout the day.
Our second resort was Papua Explorers, and the arrival alone is unforgettable, without giving anything away, they make it incredibly special and memorable. From the very start, it’s clear you’re in the hands of a wonderful, fun, and welcoming team. Stepping into the overwater bungalows is another unforgettable moment; this resort truly is something special. The restaurant overlooks the house reef, where you can often spot blacktip reef sharks, lionfish, and stingrays in the shallows. If you’re lucky, you may even see a cuscus or tropical birds on the walk back to your bungalow. Snorkeling sites are just 10 – 20 minutes away along the Dampier Strait, and the house reef is accessible at any time of which I took full advantage of and snorkeled there every day.
I cannot finish this report without mentioning the guests! Each time I finish a tour, the hardest part is saying goodbye to another wonderful group. They came from the US, Canada, and the UK, we met as strangers, and by the end of the trip we had become friends. Thanks to the WhatsApp group, we’ve been able to keep in touch and share photos and videos from the tour. This group truly made the trip extra special!
Graham in Palau
In all honesty, I hadn’t given much thought to Palau until Ben suggested it might be a good choice for my annual SV trip. I am so glad he did. It is by far, one of the best destinations I have ever visited. As soon as we landed I felt welcome, relaxed and at home! The whole place oozes island vibes and reminded me a little of Hawaii. The snorkeling was incredible and rivals most places I have been in Indonesia!
In among 445 limestone islands, islets and reefs we had our pick of shallow perfect snorkeling sites. We were spoilt for choice of soft coral gardens, walls and drop offs, feeding stations and seagrass meadows. Incredibly varied and absolutely beautiful! Add to this the incredible history (especially war history) and various occupancies and you have a truly stunning and fascinating destination.
We’ve changed this itinerary to 2 weeks of liveaboard, so this really is for someone who enjoys boat life now. If you love vibrant, colourful snorkeling with myriads of fish, the chance to see Mantas feeding or cleaning, sharks and bigger species, dugongs and grass beds, tropical islands with pure white beaches and true island vibes then THIS is the place and the trip for you!
Kelly at Papua Explorers Resort
Snorkeling at Papua Explorers Resort, located on the island of Gam in Raja Ampat, was an unforgettable experience that blended vibrant marine life, pristine coral gardens, and calm turquoise waters.
The resort sits within one of the most biodiverse marine regions on earth, offering direct access to thriving reefs just steps from the overwater bungalows. And if you suffer from jet lag or are inclined to rise early you can experience some beautiful sunrises! The staff are great and very friendly, they will point out anything of interest they spot on your snorkels and are on hand to help when needed. The resort itself is very relaxed and has a bare-foot vibe about it. The food is very good, though the choices may be a little limited for some, usually consisting of two choices each of protein and carbohydrate, a vegetable dish and a small salad buffet. They have certain theme nights for meals too such as BBQ night and burger night. It was also a nice surprise one night to have a dance/song performance by the local village children.
The house reef alone teems with colourful parrotfish, angelfish, lionfish and swaying anemones. I was also lucky enough on a night snorkel to see a giant lobster and a walking shark. Nearby snorkel sites such as Cape Kri, Citrus Grove, and Manta Ridge reveal encounters with schooling fish, reef sharks and graceful manta rays. The clear, warm waters and excellent visibility make exploring effortless and hugely rewarding. Snorkeling in the Mangroves is another unique experience I had where the patterns of light create something particularly atmospheric.
I think Papua Explorers is most suited to anyone – nature lovers, underwater photographers, adventurous travellers seeking an immersive yet tranquil marine getaway. With me at the resort were couples of all ages, families and honeymooners. Whether you’re a seasoned snorkeler or a curious beginner, the resort’s guided trips, calm bays, and rich marine ecosystems make every dip into the water feel like entering a living underwater gallery.
