Snorkel the Waters of Barbados – Sites and Tour Operators
With its gorgeous beaches and easy access to shallow artificial reefs close to shore, Barbados is a great place for Caribbean snorkeling. There is a variety of beaches and nearby snorkel spots all along the west / south-west coasts, including two marine sanctuaries, Folkestone Marine Park near Holetown and Carlisle Bay Marine Park just south of the island’s capital, Bridgetown. There are several shipwrecks, plenty of colourful coral, fans and sponges as well as tropical fish and other marine life to enjoy. Of course, the island’s main snorkeling attraction are the friendly Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles. Experience great visibility in Barbados’ clear blue waters and 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 Barbados snorkeling sites on the west coast include (from north to south):
- Smitons Bay – Shallow reefs are accessible from this quiet beach
- Heywoods Beach – A large beach, rarely visited, features a shallow reef accessible from shore
- Mullins Beach – Nice reef accessible from shore
- Gibbes Beach – One of the quietest beaches on the island has good snorkeling
- Weston Beach – A large beach with calm water and a shallow reef makes this an ideal location for beginners
- Alleynes Bay – This spot is beach accessible and features turtles not far from shore
- Colony Club Beach – Shallow reefs can be accessed from shore
- Folkstone Marine Park – Within protected buoys, a large flat reef teeming with tropical fish and vibrant marine life can be accessed easily from shore. There’s also an Information Centre and Museum on land (Lockers are available)
- Holetown – A shipwreck (sunken barge) resting in 20 feet (6m) of water along with plenty of colourful fish and other marine life including turtles, can be accessed by boat. There’s plenty of coral and rocks a few feet from the small beach and a rock pile at the north end is home to a large variety of fish, which can be easily reached from shore.
- Sandy Lane Beach – A variety of coral and fish can be found here
- Paynes Bay Beach – Calm water and a shallow reef is home to a variety of tropical fish and marine life, including sea turtles
- Mahogany Bay – Coral reefs in this area are home to schools of colourful fish
- Fitts Village – A variety of reefs are accessible from the shore
- Prospect Beach – This rarely visited site has a number of small reefs to snorkel
- Batts Rock Beach – This popular spot features calm shallow waters and is home to a variety of coral and fish
- Freshwater Bay – This snorkeling spot is beach accessible and features underwater springs
- Brighton Beach / Brandons Beach – Plenty of coral and tropical fish can be found along this large beach, although the currents can fairly strong in some areas. A reef and wreck further off-shore can be explored by boat.
The best Barbados snorkeling sites on the south-west coast include (from north to south):
- Carlisle Bay Marine Park – One of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean is home to half a dozen shipwrecks along with old anchors, cannons and other ship remnants, in water as shallow as 12 feet (4m). There’s also plenty of tropical fish and other marine life, including large numbers of turtles and several rays skimming the bottom. Accessible by strong swimmers from the beach. Popular beaches include one of Barbados’ largest, Brownes Beach (Lockers are available / bring your own lock) and Pebbles beach. You can join a local boat tour right from the beach to see the shipwrecks and turtles.
- Drill Hall Beach / Graves End Beach – A shallow reef with marine life is beach accessible, however the water can get rough and surfers will take advantage of the waves
- Hastings / Palm Beach – Several reefs and rock piles stretch all along the coast providing a home for diverse sea life, as well as tidal pools in the right conditions – Easily shore accessible for all ages
- Rockley Beach – This site contains a reef / rock pile with a variety of fish, including schools
- St. Lawrence Bay – This busy area has a reef that is home to plenty of fish. Watch out for wind-surfers and other adventure seekers…
- Dover Beach – This popular beach has a couple of small shallow reef and plenty of marine life, although when the waves pick up, surfers take over the area…
- Freights Bay – Beach accessible… Perhaps more suited for surfing, snorkelers may get a glimpse of sea turtles further out from shore
For a colourful ‘first hand’ review of snorkeling in Carlisle Bay, Folkstone and Holetown, check out our Snorkel Turtles, Shipwrecks and More blog…
Looking to Snorkel while in Barbados? These local Tour Operators will take good care of you:
(Click on a Tour Operator name below for more details)
Tranquility Cruises (Glass Bottom Boat)
- Snorkel Cruises – Turtle and Shipwreck Adventure
- Cruise Ship Passengers:
- Includes Shuttle to and from Copacabana Beach Club (with optional Beach Lounger & Shared Umbrella)
- Hotel Guests:
- Optional Beach Lounger & Shared Umbrella
- Cruise Ship Passengers:
- Full Day Barbados Tours – (All Tours Includes Lunch)
- Best of Barbados (Harrison’s Cave Tram Tour; Welchman Hall Gully; and Glass Bottom Boat with Snorkeling
- Explore & Discover Barbados (Cherry Tree Hill; Morgan Lewis Windmill; Bathsheba; St John’s Church; The Garrison; and Boat trip with snorkeling
- Harrisons Cave Tour & Snorkel Cruise
Cliff Sharker – Turtle & Wreck Tours
- Turtles and Music
- Turtles and Wrecks
Action Charters Catamaran Sailing
- 5 Hour Turtle Snorkel Lunch Cruise
- 3 Hour Turtle Snorkel Cruise
- Luxury Catamaran Cruises:
- 5 Hour Morning Sail and Swim with Sea Turtles with Lunch
- 4 Hour Afternoon Sail and Swim with Sea Turtles with Dinner
- Private Cruise – Exclusive Catamaran Cruise with Swimming & Snorkeling
- Adventure Cruise – Half day tour with Turtle snorkeling and Tropical Fish
- Lunch Cruise – Day tour with Lunch, Swim with Turtles and Snorkel a Shipwreck with Tropical Fish
Calabaza Sailing Cruises Barbados
- Private and Personalized Catamaran Sailing:
- Lunch Cruise – 5hr Catamaran Trip
- Sunset Cruise – Sail and Snorkel
El Tigre Catamaran Sailing Cruises
- 5 Hour Turtle & Shipwreck w/Lunch Cruise (36 Passenger Max)
- 3 Hour Turtle & Shipwreck Cruise (36 Passenger Max)
- 3 Hour Sunset Turtle & Shipwreck Cruise (12 Passenger Max)
- 3 & 5 Hour Private Excursion Tours also Available
- Full Day Tours – Includes Lunch
- Cave & Pirate Cove Snorkeling Tour
- Cave Critters & Snorkeling Tour
- One Stop Tours
- Pirates Cove Beach & Snorkeling
- Lunch Cruise – Snorkel Reefs, Wrecks and Underwater Scenery (14 Guest Max)
- Sunset Cruise with Snorkeling (14 Guest Max)
Cool Runnings Catamaran Sailing Cruises
- Lunch Cruise – South-west Coast Sail plus Snorkel with Turtles & over Shipwreck
- Sunset Snorkel Dinner Cruise – South-west Coast Sail plus Snorkel with Turtles & over Shipwreck
- Luxury Lunch Cruise – Swim with Turtles plus Snorkel and View Tropical Reef Fish
- Turtles At Sunset – Swim with Turtles (Includes Light Dinner)
- Afternoon Delight –Swim with Turtles
- The Spirit Luxury Lunch Cruise – Snorkeling with Turtles
Small Cats Catamaran Sailing Cruises
- 3hr Snorkel Cruise
- 5 hr Lunch Cruise
- Lunch Cruise – Swim/Snorkel with the Turtles
- Sunset Dinner Cruise – Swim/Snorkel with the Turtles
- Breakfast & Lunch Cruise (12 Passenger Max) – Snorkeling Shipwrecks & Turtles with Breakfast and Lunch
- 3 Hour Snorkeling Cruise
- 5 Hour Snorkeling Cruise with Lunch
- Lunch Cruise – All Inclusive 5hr Sail & Snorkel / Swim with the Sea Turtles
- Snorkeling Trips
- West Coast Cruise & Snorkel Tour
- Sunset Cruise
- Bar Hop
- Snorkeling Tours
- Turtle & Shipwreck Snorkel
- Rum Punch & Brunch Tour (2 snorkeling stops)
- Boat Cruises – Include Stops to Snorkel with the Turtles & Shallow Wreck
- Fish ‘N’ Swim – 5 hrs Fishing Along the Sheltered Coast plus Snorkeling and Swimming with Turtles
Speartime Luxury Fishing & Coastal Charters Barbados
- Snorkeling Tours / Turtle Tours
- Turtle n Shipwreck Experience (Private or Shared)
- 2 Stop Snorkeling Tour from Holetown for Sea Turtles, Reefs and Shipwreck
For more incredible underwater exploration options, check out our Barbados Diving pages
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