While snorkeling is an activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels, when choosing a snorkel vacation, it's a good idea to choose one that is more suited to your own particular skill level. As you may have seen on our site or in our newsletter, we offer a ton of different options and destinations for snorkeling safaris. If you are new to snorkeling or have never been on a snorkeling safari before there are a few things to look out for. For example, if you have never been on a multi-day snorkel-specific trip before, or really have not spent much time on or around the water, I wouldn't suggest a liveaboard or a multi-destination snorkel safari, no matter how easy the conditions may be. Second, I wouldn't go for a snorkel safari that involves a lot of travel logistics or is overly remote. We have plenty of great snorkeling trips that offer fantastic accommodation on solid ground, easy travel logistics, and world-class snorkeling, that don't involve overly strenuous conditions—not that many of our tours do. Here is a list of snorkeling trips we recommend for those that would consider themselves to be beginner snorkelers. Resort Based Belize Snorkel Week – Turneffe Island Resort | 8 Nights The Caribbean in general is a great place to start out if you are new to snorkeling. Travel is easy, and the sea conditions—current—are very very mild to none at all. Our Belize Snorkel week is all about relaxation, great snorkeling, and just enjoying being on your own private island in the middle of the Caribbean. This tour is based on the fantastic Turneffe Island Resort located in the south of the Turneffe Atoll where some of the best snorkeling is found. Reefs are easily accessed from the
While snorkeling is an activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels, when choosing a snorkel vacation, it’s a good idea to choose one that is more suited to your own particular skill level. As you may have seen on our site or in our newsletter, we offer a ton
If you've looked through our website or seen our newsletter you'll notice that we have a pretty extensive inventory of snorkeling safaris available all over the world. Not only that, but the snorkeling safaris range in length from one week to one month. We know, based on inquiries and guest feedback, that many of you are interested in longer trips, or even combining multiple snorkeling trips together to make one long snorkeling adventure. However, we also know there are a good number of you who are more interested in quick snorkeling trips that don't involve a ton of travel logistics or planning. Here are our recommendations for quick snorkeling safaris to world-class destinations that are one week to ten days in length. Shorter Flights (from The States) Mexico Mobula Expedition | 6 Nights This is the shortest snorkel safari that we currently offer, and also one of our most unique. This tour is all about finding fleets of mobula rays as they congregate in the Sea of Cortez during their bi-annual migration. This is a fantastic adrenaline-pumping snorkel safari that is unlike any other snorkel safari out there. Belize by Liveaboard - Belize Aggressor IV | Length – 7 Nights This fantastic liveaboard snorkel safari is one of our easiest trips when it comes to travel time, while still delivering some outstanding snorkeling. Basically, arrive at the airport, board the vessel, and you're off on an extraordinary snorkeling adventure around some of the best reefs in Belize. Belize Photography Workshop – Belize Aggressor IV | Length – 7 Nights This tour runs nearly identical to our Belize by Liveaboard snorkeling safari, same easy logistics, the same great snorkeling, same great liveaboard. The only difference about this tour is that it's aimed at those interested in improving their underwater photo skills
If you’ve looked through our website or seen our newsletter you’ll notice that we have a pretty extensive inventory of snorkeling safaris available all over the world. Not only that, but the snorkeling safaris range in length from one week to one month. We know, based on inquiries and guest feedback, that many of you
When we first started Snorkel Venture, we didn't have any liveaboard snorkeling safaris. All of our snorkel tours were land-based at resorts. As interest in snorkel travel grew, and our many repeat guests were looking for different snorkeling itineraries and destinations, we ventured into the realm of liveaboards. Personally, I was excited about this as I spent five years living and working on a liveaboard in Indonesia prior to joining Snorkel Venture. But more than just having a background with liveaboards, I genuinely believe the snorkeling options and overall travel logistics can be more favorable in many ways, here's why. Travel Logistics: Liveaboards typically depart from larger port towns that have quick and easy access to airports and supplies. In order to arrive to the boat, you just have to meet the team waiting for you at the airport and let them shuttle you to the harbor where you'll board the vessel. With a liveaboard, you can explore much further than you can at a resort as you have the ability to sail through the night and also during surface intervals. With liveaboards, there is also the option to snorkel in several different destinations without having to do the whole pack, transfer, and unpack routine as you would if you were land-based and moving from resort to resort. For example, our Raja Ampat-Halmahera-North Sulawesi liveaboard snorkel safari takes us from Raja Ampat through Halmahera and into Lembeh in North Sulawesi, or vice versa, all without having to step foot in an airport or transfer boat. Snorkeling: Sea and weather conditions are always changing. With a liveaboard, in most locations, we have the ability to move the boat so we're in the most accommodating conditions for that area. For example, in Belize, if the weather is unfavorable around the Turneffe Atoll,
When we first started Snorkel Venture, we didn’t have any liveaboard snorkeling safaris. All of our snorkel tours were land-based at resorts. As interest in snorkel travel grew, and our many repeat guests were looking for different snorkeling itineraries and destinations, we ventured into the realm of liveaboards. Personally, I was excited about this as
On all of our snorkeling safaris, the resort or liveaboard will have a selection of alcohol. Some of the liveaboards and resorts will have a reasonable selection of beer, wine, and spirits, while others' selections will be quite minimal. Some of the resorts and liveaboards that we use for our snorkeling safaris will have it as an additional charge, while at other places it will be complimentary. Prices can also vary in countries like Indonesia & Palau where there is a hefty tax on alcohol, particularly liquor and wine. If you fancy an evening cocktail after your final snorkel of the day made with your favorite spirit without breaking the bank, it’s almost always possible to bring a bottle or two of your favorite spirit. Nearly all the resorts and liveaboards that we use allow guests to bring whatever they like. Just make sure you know how much you can legally bring into the country. Please note that alcohol and snorkeling do not mix. As a safety precaution, we do not allow guests to snorkel after they've had any sort of alcoholic beverage. Alcohol should only be consumed after your final snorkel of the day. Resorts and Liveaboards with Complimentary Alcohol Belize's Belize Aggressor IV Liveaboard Belize's Belize Aggressor III Cuba's Jardine Aggressor II Liveaboard Egypt's Aggressor IV Palau's Palau Aggressor II Liquor Allowances by Country Indonesia - 1 liter per person Belize - 1 liter per person Egypt - 1 liter per person Mexico - 3 liters of liquor or beer and 6 liters of wine French Polynesia - 2 liters of liquor and 2 liters of wine Palau - 1 Bottle per person, bottle cannot exceed 2 liters Cuba - 2 Bottles per person, the total amount can not exceed 3 liters in total *Please note that the
On all of our snorkeling safaris, the resort or liveaboard will have a selection of alcohol. Some of the liveaboards and resorts will have a reasonable selection of beer, wine, and spirits, while others’ selections will be quite minimal. Some of the resorts and liveaboards that we use for our snorkeling safaris will have it
Every year we run several snorkeling photography workshops in different destinations around the world. Currently, we have our Belize Liveaboard Photo Safari and our Alor-Komodo Snorkeling Photography Workshop. As the Snorkel Venture Photo Pros, Duxy and I started running these different tours in 2022 and we had a blast, and the guests, ahem, I mean students, were able to improve their underwater images significantly over the course of the workshop. We cover a number of topics in these workshops, from light, composition, and subject selection, to editing. One of the main principles that we really hone in on is wide-angle photography. You can find out why we spend so much time covering wide-angle photography here. Basically, it's the best, most practical tool for the job. Unless you are using a GoPro, the lens on a compact camera, even at its widest, is not a true wide-angle lens. The field of view on a TG-6 at its widest is around 60°. A true wide-angle lens will have a minimum FOV of around 100°, with most being 120° and wider. In the eyes of most underwater photographers wider is better. Now, if you just purchased an Olympus TG series camera or any other compact camera for that matter in preparation for your snorkeling trip or underwater photography workshop, don't panic, there are some fantastic wide-angle lens adapters for the TG series and just about any other camera model out there. While you by no means need to have a wide-angle lens to join or to get great results from a snorkeling photography workshop, it would be very useful, and practical since it is sort of the focus of the workshop. In the past, we never urged guests to purchase any aftermarket camera accessories as we didn't want them to feel they needed
Every year we run several snorkeling photography workshops in different destinations around the world. Currently, we have our Belize Liveaboard Photo Safari and our Alor-Komodo Snorkeling Photography Workshop. As the Snorkel Venture Photo Pros, Duxy and I started running these different tours in 2022 and we had a blast, and the guests, ahem, I mean
