Top places to dive into this summer!
Updated on the 11th February
What could be better than diving into the cool blue water on a hot day and exploring the world below sea level? Nearly nothing! We believe snorkeling is a must-do activity on your travel itinerary. That’s why we think it’s important to let you discover with us the most beautiful snorkeling spots for your summer 2020 in Europe. This blog will give you a wide insight into spots from the gorges of Iceland to the hidden bays in Greece.
1. Chalkidiki – Snorkeling in quiet bays
Chalkidiki is a Greece peninsula and is always worth a visit, especially in summer. The island has a lot of bays with is three headlands, which offer you a quiet snorkeling experience. Chalkidiki is perfect especially for beach holiday lovers, as there are kilometres of white sandy beaches, turquoise blue water and numerous restaurants right on the coast. The three headlands (also known as ‘Fingers of Greece’) are unique in their own way.
The first fingers, Kassandra, houses, long sandy beaches, olive groves and pine forests with small viewpoints.
The second finger, Sithonia, is more of an insider tip. It is not overly developed with tourism, there are many quiet spots where can look over at the sea.
The third finger, Athos; an almost autonomous monastic republic, therefore unique in the world. That means for you and your Greece travel partner, you can only enter the island as a pilgrim or a MARVEL from a boat.
Overall, Charlkidik is perfect for a snorkeling adventure in Europe as the clear water is home to various aquatic creatures.
2. Medas Islands – Snorkeling with numerous fish
The Medas Islands or Illes Medes are located within a nature reserve about 800m off the coat of Estartit, in North-East of Spain. Due to the fact that commercial fishing is prohibited on-site due to nature conservation, the stocks were able to recover well which means today you can explore them through a snorkeling adventure in Europe. The group is particularly known for its region but you can also spot moray eels, octopuses and barracudas.
You are not able to stay on the islands and you travel out by boat. But the closest town, Estartit, is beautiful. Here you will find other snorkeling and diving tourists who explore the marine world of the Northern Mediterranean.
3. Azores – Snorkeling in harmony with nature
Away from mass tourism, you will find an archipelago of nine islands in the Atlantic, which welcomes you with quiet beauty. Although there is no better place for nature lovers and adventurers, you will often find places where you are all alone.
As the islands form the tips of underwater volcanoes, there are unique natural phenomena, such as huge crater lakes. The largest islands are nature reserves and there are also numerous other protected areas and nature conservation is of prominence.
In addition to snorkeling, the Azores are wonderful destinations for whale and dolphin watching. Due to the location, you can watch sperm whales all year round and many other marine mammals. There amazing snorkeling spots in Europe and diving opportunities here.
Does this sound tempting to you? Read more on the Azores to find out more.
4. Schmale Luzin – Snorkeling in the lake
Taking a trip to Germany can also lead you to beautiful snorkeling spots, which the Schmale Luzin; a lake within the Feldberg lake district in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The lake’s water is so clean that plants grow even at a depth of 15 meters. You are able to go out in a rowboat or canoe and jump straight into the water. Halfway along the lake, there is a restaurant and a boat rental shop.
The area around the Narrow Luzin was identified as a nature reserve in the 19th century, to allow for eagles, ducks, and otters to have their habitats protected here.
The Narrow Luzin is perfect for you and your Travel Partner if you want to explore and discover a beautiful reserve.
5. Elba – Snorkeling between shipwrecks
The Italien island of Elba can be found in the Mediterranean with white sandy beaches, crystal clear water and rugged rock formations. Elba belongs to the Tuscan archipelago and lies between the mainland of Italy and the French island of Corsica. It is the third-largest island in Italy and can easily be reached by car ferry. As it is in the whole of the Mediterranean, the main season is between June and September but Spring is also beautiful here.
It is home to the largest nature reserve in Europe and has so much to offer; beautiful underwater landscapes, deep forests with oak, chestnut and pine trees, as well as wine and olive groves. If you prefer sandy beaches, the South coast is perfect as in the West and North are mainly stone beaches. When you’re ready to go diving, you can explore the old shipwrecks around the island making it a perfect place to go snorkeling in Europe.
6. Banyuls-Cerbère – Snorkeling on underwater trails.
The name says it all. In the French marine reserve Banyuls-Cerbère, you can explore the underwater trails. It is the first marine reserve in France and the only one at sea. This area is located at the foot of the Massif des Albères (in the Pyrenees) and covers approximately 650 hectares. More than 1200 species of marine life call this area their home, the best-known areas being the following:
- the seagrass meadows
- the seaweed corridor
- the Coralligène
You can of course equip yourself with snorkeling on-site, or explore the area with a glass-bottom boat. This area is about sensitizing visitors to the marine world so that you can collect a lot of interesting information with your France travel partners.
7. Makarska – Snorkeling in the pleasant Mediterranean
Located in the middle of Dalmatia is Makarska, the sunniest region in Croatia. Makarska is a wonderful travel destination, especially for its culinary offerings and easy access to the cultural metropolis of Split. There are also numerous beautiful beaches; in Makarska alone, there are five different sandy beaches!
You can simply jump into the water and watch small and large fish along the 60km long coast. Even when the area is very popular with tourists, there are secluded bays where you can anchor with your snorkeling travel partners. The best thing to do is to rent a boat to be independent.
At JoinMyTrip you are guaranteed to find fellow travelers for your sailing adventure and join sailing travel partners who have already planned a trip.
8. Silfra Column – Snorkeling in the cleanest water in the world
The Silfra column in Iceland is one of the world’s most beautiful and impressive snorkeling spots in Europe. On sunny days you can see up to 100m through the crystal clear water and it is the only place in the world where you can snorkel between two continental columns. The column is in Thingvellir National Park, which is very popular in Iceland, mainly because you can see the activity of the continental plates over the past thousands of years. Here you can walk through deep cracks and long gorges, which can be found underwater. The water in the Silfra column is cleaner than any other place because it is filtered through the finest volcanic stone and goes through a long journey until it arrives in the column where you can swim.
A tip that you should definitely keep in mind: due to the constant water exchange, the water only has a temperature of 2-4 ° C all year round! So this adventure would not be tropical and rather cool. But that doesn’t mean it’s no less impressive if anything this is a unique experience. The column definitely belongs on your travel bucket list.
9. Gothenburg – Snorkeling in the city
Around 30 minutes west of the Swedish city of Gothenburg you will find a unique underwater path where you can get to know the ocean. The nature reserve around the island of Stora Amundön is your goal. The approximately 200m long underwater path leads you along the island and with a maximum depth of 3m, perfect for snorkeling in Europe with your Sweden travel partners. On the water surface, you can see through buoys where information points are set on the path – there are a total of 10, where you can learn something about the local flora and fauna.
Due to numerous reasons, Gothenburg is definitely worth a visit. The second-largest city in the country is a destination for all budgets, because around the city you will find multiple campsites in the middle of nature, or if you are looking for a nice accommodation in the middle of the city, as a contrast.
10. Walchensee – Snorkeling in the alps.
About 75km South of Munich you will find this idyllic lake, which will greet you with alpine flair. In summer the lake is an emerald green colour, while in winter the cool blue dominates. At 198m, it is the deepest lake in Upper Bavaria and only Lake Constance is deeper (which the lake is at 800m!).
But don’t worry; even though the Walchensee is high, summer temperatures near the shore can also exceed 20 ° C. The lake is particularly popular with divers due to its depth and special nature. The rich colour makes it very special to dive into the water and the silence is overwhelming as no motorized boats are allowed on the lake, so the water has drinking quality.
There are many stories and legends surrounding the lake, because when you dive you come into a completely different world. Bizarre rocky outcrops, algae meadows, and numerous lake dwellers await you, and even a VW Beetle!
The Walchensee is definitely a destination for all adventurers who want to visit Germany in the summer.
Fancy some more inspiration for traveling to Germany? Check these blogs to find out more:
Have you been tempted and want to plan a trip? But you are still needing tips? No problem, why not check out the following articles to help you out:
Want to go on a snorkeling trip yourself? Check out this trip by TripLeader Boody:
