Snorkeling

Honeymoon Beach sits on the Caneel Bay side of the national park and is reached either on foot by the Lind Point Trail from Cruz Bay - about a mile and a half, thirty to forty minutes, with real elevation change - or by water taxi. That walk is what keeps the numbers down, and it is also the thing to plan around: it is hot, exposed in stretches, and longer than it sounds. The bay is sheltered and shallow with good snorkelling along the rocks at either end, and there is a concession renting kayaks, paddleboards and floating mats with a bar and grill attached - unusual for a national park beach and very convenient with children. The trail is easy but has some uneven sections and heat, so carry water for the walk.

The Ichetucknee River runs six miles from a cluster of springs to the Santa Fe, and floating it is one of the great Florida family days. The water holds 72 degrees year-round and is clear enough to watch turtles and gar pass underneath you. Summer tube launches are capped and the north launch fills early, so arrive at opening. The shorter south launch float runs about 45 minutes and suits younger kids; the full north-launch float is around three hours and is better for ages 8 and up. Outside summer the tube concession closes but the park stays open for swimming and paddling.

Pennekamp protects the northern end of the only living barrier reef in the continental United States, and the snorkel trips are the point: a boat runs out to the reef, drops a line, and you swim over coral heads full of parrotfish and barracuda. The reef is two and a half hours round trip and can be choppy, so there is a real minimum age - roughly five for a confident swimmer, and a calm forecast matters more than the season. For younger children the park has two protected beaches, Cannon Beach with a scattered replica shipwreck to snorkel over in chest-deep water, and Far Beach, plus a glass-bottom boat for anyone who would rather stay dry.

Lindquist is the beach St. Thomas residents recommend when you ask where they go. It is a protected territorial park, which means a small entry fee, a gate, and consequently far fewer people than the free beaches. The sand is soft, the water is shallow and clear with almost no wave action, and there is snorkelling around the rocks at the eastern end. The view runs across Smith Bay to St. John and the British Virgin Islands beyond. Facilities are basic - restrooms and picnic shelters, no concession - so bring food and water. It closes on some days of the week.

Maho is the turtle beach. Seagrass beds start almost immediately offshore and green turtles feed on them daily, often within twenty or thirty feet of the sand in water barely deep enough to swim. Spotted eagle rays cruise through regularly too. Because the bay is protected and the water is flat and shallow, this is the most accessible wildlife snorkel in the territory - a cautious child in a mask can see turtles without ever being out of their depth. The road runs right along the beach so access is trivial. Keep the required distance from turtles and never chase or touch them.

Peanut Island is a spoil island in the Lake Worth Inlet reachable only by a short water taxi, which is half the fun for kids. On the north side a rock breakwater encloses a shallow snorkelling lagoon where the water flushes clean with the tide and holds a surprising amount of fish for somewhere this close to a city. The lagoon runs from about two to ten feet and is best near high tide. Onshore there is a twenty-site tent campground, a loop path and picnic pavilions. The concrete bunker built as a fallout shelter for President Kennedy when he wintered in Palm Beach is still on the island but is closed to visitors until further notice, so do not plan the trip around it. Bring everything; there are restrooms and very little else.

Red Reef put limestone boulders in shallow water close to shore, and the result is a reef you can swim to in under a minute with fish life that punches well above the depth - angelfish, parrotfish, snapper and often a green sea turtle grazing. Because it is only a few feet deep it suits swimmers who are competent but not strong, and you can stand between looks. There are two reef sections, north and south of the lifeguard stands. The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is across the road and runs a sea turtle rehabilitation facility worth pairing with the swim.

Sapphire combines things that usually do not come together: a genuinely good reef within easy swimming distance at Pettyklip Point, and a broad shallow sandy stretch in the middle where small children can play safely. The snorkelling holds turtles, rays and reef fish. Trade winds funnel through here, which is why windsurfers and kiteboarders use it and why afternoons get choppy - mornings are noticeably calmer. There is a beach bar, watersports rentals and a marina alongside. Public access is via the resort, which is legal and normal in the USVI, where all beaches are public.

The rock jetties at St. Andrews create a protected pool on the Gulf side where the water stays flat when the open beach is rough, and it holds fish - sheepshead, spadefish, small rays - close enough in that a child in a mask can see them standing chest-deep. That combination is uncommon on the Panhandle, where most beaches are beautiful but empty of anything to look at underwater. There is a second calmer beach on the lagoon side for younger kids, plus a campground, and a shuttle runs across to undeveloped Shell Island in season.

Tamarindo is not much of a sunbathing beach - narrow, some rock, modest sand - and that is not why anyone comes. Just offshore the bottom is turtle grass, and green sea turtles graze it reliably enough that a morning snorkel here is close to a guaranteed encounter. They are unbothered by swimmers who keep their distance, and the water is shallow and generally calm. There is also decent reef towards Luis Peña Cay. There are no facilities at all, so bring water and gear. Regulations require keeping a respectful distance from turtles; do not touch or chase.

Crystal River is the one place in the country with a sanctioned wild-manatee swim, and Three Sisters is its centre - a group of springs inside a refuge where the animals shelter through winter. There are two completely different visits here. The boardwalk looks down into the springs, costs a few dollars, needs no booking and works at any age. The in-water version goes through a licensed operator who briefs you on passive observation rules, and has a realistic minimum around age six because it means floating quietly in a wetsuit for an hour. Manatee numbers peak on the coldest mornings, which is also when the water outside the springs is least pleasant.

Trunk Bay is the beach that appears on every US Virgin Islands poster, and unusually it earns it. The underwater trail is the reason to bring children: a marked route over the reef with plaques anchored to the seabed naming the corals and fish as you pass, in water shallow and calm enough that a competent young swimmer can follow it without stress. Facilities are unusually good for the national park - showers, restrooms, snorkel rental, a snack bar. It is the busiest beach on St. John, so cruise ship days are worth avoiding entirely; check the Charlotte Amalie schedule before choosing your day.

Kona’s longest-running sailing catamaran, a custom 36-foot boat that is 22 feet across, with a wide forward trampoline kids end up sprawled on for most of the trip. The sail runs up the Kona coast to Pawai Bay for snorkeling and a light lunch, then back under sail. Capacity is 24 but they usually carry fewer, so it does not feel like a party boat. The minimum age is 7 on the snorkel, manta and whale trips; the sunset cruise is adults only.

A genuine Hawaiian sailing outrigger canoe launched straight off Polo Beach in Wailea, with groups capped at eight people. The family helps push the canoe out through the shore break, which kids love, and then the sail goes up for a run along the Wailea coast. The crew teach traditional navigation and paddling along the way, and there is a snorkel stop where green sea turtles are common. It is the smallest and most hands-on sailing trip on Maui, and the closest thing to sailing the way Hawaiians actually did it.

Performance sailing catamarans out of Maalaea Harbor that make a point of actually sailing rather than motoring, which is unusual among Maui day boats. Trips run to Molokini, the Lanai coast, or Coral Gardens for snorkeling, and the shorter West Maui and Coral Gardens sails are the easiest sell for younger kids. The boats carry between 25 and 49 guests, small enough that children can sit up on the trampolines between the hulls and watch the water go by underneath. Sail Maui also departs from Lahaina Harbor during daylight hours, though sunset departures run from Maalaea only while Lahaina Harbor lighting is still being restored.

A family-run Maui sailing outfit since 1973, running big catamarans to Honolua Bay and Olowalu Reef with breakfast and a hot lunch cooked on board. The crew size snorkel gear down to about age 4 and put flotation vests on the little ones, and there is in-water instruction for anyone who has never snorkeled before. The boats motor out and then genuinely raise sail for the run home, which is the part kids remember. Trilogy resumed departures from Lahaina Harbor in March 2026, its first since the 2023 fire, and also sails from Kaanapali Beach and Maalaea Harbor. Note that the dinner and sunset sails are adults only, so the daytime snorkel trips are the family option.

A protected natural area on Maui south shore with excellent snorkeling in calm, clear water over lava rock reef. The reserve sits on the last lava flow on Maui and the underwater landscape of lava formations covered in coral is fascinating. Fish, turtles, and eels are common. The entry is over lava rock so water shoes are essential. There are no facilities and no lifeguards so this is for families comfortable with independent ocean swimming. The marine life here is abundant because the area is well protected.

One of the safest swimming beaches on Kauai north shore thanks to the longest fringing reef in the state that protects the shoreline from waves. The water is calm, warm, and shallow for a long way out making it excellent for young children. The reef creates a natural lagoon that is great for beginning snorkeling. The beach is long and the campground at one end makes multi-day stays possible. The mountain backdrop and quiet setting feel like classic old Hawaii. Windsurfing is popular here and fun to watch.

A private oceanfront campground on Maui west side with tent sites and permanent glamping tents right on the beach. The reef off Olowalu is one of the best snorkeling spots on Maui with a high chance of seeing sea turtles. Kids fall asleep to the sound of waves and wake up to snorkel right from camp. The glamping tents have real beds and electricity for families who want comfort without a hotel. The location between Lahaina and Kihei makes it a convenient base. This is as close to beach camping paradise as it gets.

A challenging but rewarding 3.5-mile round trip hike down (and back up) a steep trail to the Captain Cook Monument at the edge of Kealakekua Bay. The payoff is some of the best shore-access snorkeling in Hawaii in a marine sanctuary with spinner dolphins, tropical fish, and pristine coral. The hike down through dry scrubland drops about 1,400 feet. The climb back up in the heat is the hard part so bring extra water. For families with fit older kids who can handle the physical demands, the snorkeling at the bottom is genuinely world-class.