Snorkel the Waters of Antigua & Barbuda – Sites and Tour Operators
Practically surrounded by coral reefs, Antigua & Barbuda is one of the better places in the Caribbean for snorkeling. There are a number of locations to snorkel along the south and west coasts, some sheltered bays on the east coast, as well as at a few of the off-shore islands. Slip into the warm Caribbean sea and snorkel right off the beach in some areas, or take a short boat ride to a nearby reef or island – explore clear blue waters full of diverse sea-life, including colourful fish, coral and sponges! Discover an alien world that you just can’t experience on land…
Local Boat / Tour Operators who can get you in the water are listed below…
The best Antigua snorkeling sites along the south coast include:
- Antigua’s best-known and perhaps best snorkeling site, Cades Reef. This barrier reef is over 2 miles long and protected as part of the Cades Bay Marine Park. Popular sites on the reef include: Coral Gardens; School House; Passage and Aquarium.
- The Pillars of Hercules, accessible from Galleon Beach is another popular snorkeling spot
- At the east side of Falmouth Harbour’s opening, good coral can be reached from Pigeon Point Beach
- Around the corner a little further south, the reef offshore of Windward Bay Beach may be the island’s best kept secret for calm-water snorkeling!
- There’s even a shipwreck in the shallow waters of English Harbour. The remains of the sailboat, Sea Terror, can be found at the south end of Freeman’s Bay.
The best Antigua snorkeling sites along the west coast include:
- Paradise Reef can be reached from the beach at Dickenson Bay
- A three-masted shipwreck can be found offshore of Deep Bay near St. John’s. A short boat ride will get you to this shallow wreck.
- Further south-west, good snorkeling can also be found off the beaches of Hawksbill Bay
- A little south of Jolly Harbour, there’s good snorkeling over the shoals
- The coral continues further south off shore of Darkwood Beach in Half Hyde Bay
- More coral and sea-life can be found in Picarts Bay off shore from Turner’s Beach
The best Antigua snorkeling sites along the east coast include:
- Snorkel right off the beach at Half Moon Bay (also known as Exchange Bay)
- Tons of shallow coral can also be accessed in Long Bay
- Of course the popular ‘Stingray City’ is also in the area – Here, you can swim with the creatures up close, maybe even touch them – Kind of a once in a lifetime experience!
Check out our ‘up close & personal’ experience with the gentle creatures, with our Stingray City Blog Post
The best Antigua snorkeling sites from off-shore islands include:
- Green Island
- Great Bird Island
- Prickly Pear Island
The best Barbuda snorkeling sites include:
- Gravenors Bay – Located at the southern tip of the island, the bay is nicely protected from strong currents.
Looking to Snorkel while in Antigua & Barbuda? These local Tour Operators will take good care of you:
(Click on a Tour Operator name below for more details)
Scooter Snorkeling (motor assisted snorkeling to the Pillars of Hercules)
- Scooter Snorkeling With Transportation
- Scooter Snorkeling W/O Transportation
- Scooter Snorkeling Private Tour
- Various Snorkeling Tours
- Snorkel Seafaris – Boat snorkeling trip with gear use
Antigua Reef Riders (Drive your own mini-boat to Cades Reef)
- Reef Rider Snorkeling Adventure
- Wet ‘n’ Dry All Day Tour
- South Coast Full Day Tour with Lunch (Includes Kayaking, Snorkeling plus Historical Sites)
- Socoho Half Day Tour (Includes Kayaking and Snorkeling)
- The Eco Tour (Ecological History tour with Snorkeling and Lunch)
- The Xtreme Circumnav (Speed Boat tour with Snorkeling and Lunch)
- Private Charter
- Kayaking, Snorkeling and Hiking Tour
- Check out our personal A.N.T. Tour experience with our ‘Kayak & Snorkel’ Blog Post
- Stingray & Snorkel Tour
- Private & customizable Power Boat Tours of the West Coast that could include: sight-seeing, snorkeling, bottom fishing and more. Explore the Andes Shipwreck, Prickly Pear Island, Paradise Reef and more…
- ‘Customizable’ Power Boat Tours of the West Coast that could include: Sight-Seeing; Snorkeling; Beaches; Fishing; etc…
- Snorkel Odyssey Experience
- Private Charters
- Snorkel & Lobster Lunch Cruise to Great Bird Island and Maiden Island
- Full day charters around Antigua
- Half day charter out of Jolly Harbour to Cades Reef (Snorkeling)
- Sights to See / Snorkel (Includes Betty’s Hope and Devil’s Bridge)
- Best of Paradise Longbay Beach Island / Snorkelling Tour (Includes St. John’s Public Market, St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Shirley Heights, Nelsons Dockyard, Devil’s Bridge and Longbay Beach)
- Basic Tour Package
- Paradise Package (Complementary drinks, snacks and local fruit)
- Beach Grill/BBQ Lunch Package
- Zip Line Island Tour (Includes St. John’s Public Market, Devil’s Bridge, Shirley Heights, Nelsons Dockyard, Fig Tree Drive, and Valley Beach or Longbay Beach / Snorkel)
Gadaboat Sailing (with their 52’ Oceanis sailing yacht):
- Full Day (8 Hr) Sail (sightseeing with snorkeling and lunch)
- Day Sail (6 Hr) Sail (sightseeing with snorkeling and lunch)
- Half Day (4 Hr) Sail (sightseeing with snorkeling and lunch)
RedSails.Cruises (with their Classic Yacht):
- Half Day Sailing (with sight-seeing and snorkeling)
- Full Day Sailing (with sight-seeing, snorkeling and lunch)
Ondeck Sailing (with their Beneteau 40.7; Dehler 39; and Farr 65):
- Sailing Tours:
- Half Day Cruise (with sight-seeing and snorkeling)
- Full Day Cruise (with sight-seeing, snorkeling and lunch)
Catamaran Sailing Antigua (with their Fountaine Pajot 48 ‘Cool Cat’ catamaran)
- Full Day (8 Hr) Cruise (sightseeing with snorkeling and lunch)
- Half Day (6 Hr) Cruise (sightseeing with snorkeling and lunch)
- Lunch (4 Hr) Cruise (sightseeing with snorkeling and lunch)
Catch the Cat Private Sailing Charters (with their Lipari 41 catamaran):
- 8 or 6 Hour Day Sail & Sunset (sightseeing with snorkeling and lunch)
- 4-Hour Taste Of Sailing (sightseeing and snorkeling)
Adventure Caribbean Yacht Charters (with their Beneteau 50 ‘Jabberwocky’ sailing yacht):
- Day Charter (sightseeing with snorkeling and lunch)
- Cruise Ship Charter (sightseeing with snorkeling and lunch)
- Morning Snorkel
Cruise and Chill Antigua (with their Wellington 44 sailing yacht ‘Camelot’):
- Day Sail (sightseeing and snorkeling with lunch)
- Mystic Cades Reef Sail & Snorkel with Lunch
Wadadli Cats (with their Spirit of Antigua; Seabreeze; Siboney; Falcon; and Siboney 2 Catamarans):
- Great Bird Island Tour (with sight-seeing, snorkeling and lunch)
- Cades Reef Tour (with sight-seeing, snorkeling and lunch)
- Circumnavigation Tour (with sight-seeing, snorkeling and lunch)
Jolly Cat Charters (with their catamaran):
- All Day (8 Hr) Cruise (sightseeing with snorkeling and lunch)
- Half Day (6 Hr) Cruise (sightseeing with snorkeling and lunch)
- Lunch (4 Hr) Cruise (sightseeing with snorkeling and lunch)
For more incredible underwater exploration options, check out Antigua & Barbuda Diving
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