Best Snorkeling Destinations in Europe
There are amazing snorkeling places around the globe. I am aware of this. I have seen lots of them on TV. But not everyone can afford a trip to Belize, Maldives, Palau, Virgin Islands and the like. The old continent offers also great snorkeling places where the natural beauty, marine life and crystal clear water is comparable to world’s top snorkeling destinations.
Here is a guide for travelers to the best places for snorkeling in Europe. I am a snorkeling freak and have explored myself the majority of snorkeling spots included in this list. Feel free to comment on this post and include your own suggestions.
Medes Islands, Costa Brava, Spain
Description: Small group of seven islets in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea located just 1 km from L’Estartit (spain). The Medes Islands archipelago is part of the Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Nature Park. It is one of the most important marine flora and fauna reserves in the western Mediterranean.
Nearest airport: Girona (GRO) or Barcelona (BCN)
Access: By boat from L’Estartit
Website: Medes Islands
Area Marina Protetta Capo Carbonara, Sardegna, Italy
Description: The protected Marine Area of Capo Carbonara together with two islands of Cavoli and Serpentara form a natural park in the south-east Sardinia near Villasimius (Italy).
Nearest airport: Cagliari (CAG)
Access: Direct access from shore excluding islands which can be reached by boat
Website: Area Marina Protetta Capo Carbonara
Lobos, Canary Islands, Spain
Description: Lobos Island (Isla de Lobos) is a small island of the Canary Islands (Spain) located just 2 kilometres north of the island of Fuerteventura. It is now a protected area: Parque Natural del Islote de Lobos
Nearest airport: Fuerteventura (FUE) or Lanzarote (ACE)
Access: By boat from Corralejo (Fuerteventura) or from Lanzarote
Website: Lobos, Canary Islands
Elafonisi beach, Crete, Greece
Description: Elafonisi is an island located close to the southwestern corner of the Mediterranean island of Crete (Greece). The island is a protected nature reserve.
Nearest airport: Chania (CHQ)
Access: Directly from the shore. It is possible to walk to the island through the shallow water.
Website: Elafonisi beach
Ustica, Sicily, Italy
Description: Ustica is a small island, about 9 kilometres across, situated about 50 km north of Riserva Naturale Orientata Di Capo Gallo, Sicily (Italy) in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Nearest airport: Palermo (PMO)
Access: By boat from Palermo
Website: Ustica, Sicily
Riserva Naturale Orientata dello Zingaro, Sicily, Italy
Description: Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro (Zingaro Nature Reserve) is a natural reserve stretching along the unspoilt coastline of the Gulf of Castellammare, north-west Sicily (Italy).
Nearest airport: Palermo (PMO)
Access: Directly from the shore. Walk through the nature reserve and explore all hidden bays.
Website: Zingaro Nature Reserve
Pantelleria, Sicily, Italy
Description: Pantelleria it is the largest volcanic satellite island of Sicily (Italy) in the Mediterranean Sea located 100 km from the Sicily mainland and ca. 40 km from Tunisian coast.
Nearest airport: Pantelleria Airport (PNL) or Palermo (PMO)
Access: Directly from the shore
Website: Pantelleria, Sicily
Mar Menuda, Costa Brava, Spain
Description: The Platja de la Mar Menuda or Playa de Mar Menuda (in Castilian) is a beach in Tossa de Mar, Catalunya (Spain). It is a point of departure for divers and diving schools in Tossa de Mar. The marine life starts immediately off the shore here.
Nearest airport: Girona (GRO) or Barcelona (BCN)
Access: Directly from the shore
Website: The Platja de la Mar Menuda
Maddalena Archipelago National Park, Sardegna, Italy
Description: Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago di La Maddalena (Arcipelago di La Maddalena National Park) is a geomarine national park at the north-east coast of Sardinia. It includes region all islands and islets within the territory of the Municipality of La Maddalena, Italy.
Nearest airport: Olbia (OLB)
Access: Directly from the shore (if staying at Isola Maddalena) or by boat from Sardegna mainland
Website: Maddalena Archipelago National Park
Asinara National Park, Sardegna, Italy
Description: Parco Nazionale dell’Asinara (Asinara National Park) is the second largest island of Sardegna (Italy), located about 40 km north from Alghero.
Nearest airport: Alghero (AHO)
Access: By boat from Sardegna mainland
Website: Asinara National Park
Spiaggia di Tuerredda, Sardegna, Italy
Description: Tuerredda beach (Spiaggia di Tuerredda) is located on the south coast of Sardegna (Italy) between Capo Malfatano and Perda Longa, about 60 km drive from Cagliari.
Nearest airport: Cagliari (CAG)
Access: Directly from the shore
Website: Spiaggia di Tuerredda
Cephalonia, Ionian Islands, Greece
Description: Cephalonia (Kefalonia) is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece. The island has a rich biodiversity, with a substantial number of endemic and rare species.
Nearest airport: Kefalonia (EFL)
Access: Directly from the shore
Website: Cephalonia
Reserva Natural das Berlengas, Portugal
Description: Reserva Natural das Berlengas is formed by Berlengas archipelago which is a a group of small islands west off the Portuguese coast, about 10 km by boat from Peniche town.
Nearest airport: Lisbon (LIS)
Access: By boat from Peniche or Lisbon
Website: Reserva Natural das Berlengas
Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, Andalucia, Spain
Description: Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park (Parque natural del Cabo de Gata-Níjar) is located in the southeastern corner of Spain about 45 km drive from Almeria (Spain). It is the largest coastal protected area in Andalucia.
Nearest airport: Almería (LEI)
Access: Directly from the shore
Website: Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park
Makarska Riviera, Croatia
Description: The Makarska Riviera is a region on the west Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea, about 60 kilometers long and only several kilometers wide, at the foot of the Biokovo Mountain.
Nearest airport: Split (SPU)
Access: Directly from the shore
Website: Makarska, Croatia
SNORKELING LINKS
wikipedia.org – Protected Marine areas in Italy
www.sardegnamareprotetto.it – Protected areas in Sardegna
www.mpatlas.org – Map of Marine Protected Area by Marine Conservation Institute
snorkelstore.net – Best snorkeling spots in the world
www.snorkelingdives.com – Database of snorkeling destinations
blog.edreams.com – World’s best places to snorkel
www.islands.com – World’s best islands to snorkel
edition.cnn.com – World’s best places to snorkel
www.minube.net – Best snorkeling destinations in Europe
www.parks.it – Maddalena Archipelago National Park, Sardegna, Italy
www.parks.it – Asinara National Park, Sardegna, Italy
www.frankaboutcroatia.com – Snorkeling in Croatia
www.ustica-diving.it – Ustica Diving
www.lamaddalenapark.it – Maddalena Archipelago National Park, Sardegna, Italy
www.parcoasinara.org – Asinara National Park, Sardegna, Italy
traveltamed.com – Snorkeling beaches in Europe