We asked marine experts to share their picks for some of the world's best places to snorkel. Silver Bank, a relatively shallow stretch of the Caribbean Sea, scored high. Off limits to large ships, it's a safe haven for North Atlantic humpback whales to mate and give birth.
Silver Bank (Dominican Republic) —
We asked marine experts to share their picks for some of the world's best places to snorkel. Silver Bank, a relatively shallow stretch of the Caribbean Sea, scored high. Off limits to large ships, it's a safe haven for North Atlantic humpback whales to mate and give birth.
Courtesy Ethan Daniels/Coral Triangle Adventures
The reefs of Raja Ampat are home to thousands of varieties of fish, sea turtles and coral. But few snorkelers.
Raja Ampat (West Papua, Indonesia) —
The reefs of Raja Ampat are home to thousands of varieties of fish, sea turtles and coral. But few snorkelers.
Courtesy Sybille Klenzendorf/WWF
Palau's shallow and healthy reefs are home to a diverse range of habitat. Snorkelers often encounter turtles, tropical fish, manta rays and sharks.
Palau (Micronesia) —
Palau's shallow and healthy reefs are home to a diverse range of habitat. Snorkelers often encounter turtles, tropical fish, manta rays and sharks.
Courtesy Ethan Daniels/Coral Triangle Adventures
This is the place to see big marine life -- sea lions, sharks, dolphins, turtles, even penguins.
Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) —
This is the place to see big marine life -- sea lions, sharks, dolphins, turtles, even penguins.
Courtesy Jeff A. Goldberg/Natural Habitat Adventures
Wayag Archipelago in Raja Ampat: the view above sea is almost as spectacular as it is below.
Raja Ampat (West Papua, Indonesia) —
Wayag Archipelago in Raja Ampat: the view above sea is almost as spectacular as it is below.
Courtesy Ethan Daniels/Coral Triangle Adventures
There are a ton of great snorkel spots in Hawaii, but Kealakekua Bay not only has fish, turtles and dolphins, it's got history. This photo was taken at the Captain Cook Monument, erected near the site where famed circumnavigator James Cook was killed in 1779.
Kealakekua Bay (Big Island, Hawaii) —
There are a ton of great snorkel spots in Hawaii, but Kealakekua Bay not only has fish, turtles and dolphins, it's got history. This photo was taken at the Captain Cook Monument, erected near the site where famed circumnavigator James Cook was killed in 1779.
Chuck Thompson/CNN
Not to worry, these little residents of Jellyfish Lake, Palau, don't sting.
Palau (Micronesia) —
Not to worry, these little residents of Jellyfish Lake, Palau, don't sting.
Courtesy Ethan Daniels/Coral Triangle Adventures
Thanks to nutrient-rich cold water that flushes into Komodo National Park from the Indian Ocean, the marine life is kept well fed.
Komodo National Park (Indonesia) —
Thanks to nutrient-rich cold water that flushes into Komodo National Park from the Indian Ocean, the marine life is kept well fed.
Courtesy Ethan Daniels/Coral Triangle Adventures
In summer, whale sharks off the coast of Isla Holbox swim near the surface and feed on plankton.
Isla Holbox (Mexico) —
In summer, whale sharks off the coast of Isla Holbox swim near the surface and feed on plankton.
Courtesy Astrid Frisch/Natural Habitat Adventures
Juvenile Javanese damselfish are a common sight on the lush, shallow reefs of Asia's Coral Triangle.
The Coral Triangle (Asia Pacific) —
Juvenile Javanese damselfish are a common sight on the lush, shallow reefs of Asia's Coral Triangle.
Courtesy Lee Goldman/Coral Triangle Adventures
Clown fish swim through coral of the Great Barrier Reef. The famed Aussie attraction is made up of 2,900 individual reefs and stretches more than 2,300 kilometers.
Great Barrier Reef (Australia) —
Clown fish swim through coral of the Great Barrier Reef. The famed Aussie attraction is made up of 2,900 individual reefs and stretches more than 2,300 kilometers.
WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images
Shallow reefs attract snorkelers (but not many) along the edges of Mary Island, part of the Solomon Islands.
Solomon Islands —
Shallow reefs attract snorkelers (but not many) along the edges of Mary Island, part of the Solomon Islands.
Courtesy Lee Goldman/Coral Triangle Adventures
Don't think of the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftravel.cnn.com%2Fphilippines">Philippines</a> as a "go to" destination for snorkeling? "Many of our frequent snorkelers have said that this was their favorite trip -- they were delightfully surprised," says Jim Sano, vice president of travel, tourism and conservation with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
The Philippines —
Don't think of the Philippines as a "go to" destination for snorkeling? "Many of our frequent snorkelers have said that this was their favorite trip -- they were delightfully surprised," says Jim Sano, vice president of travel, tourism and conservation with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Courtesy Lee Goldman/Coral Triangle Adventures
In addition to offering diverse coral reefs, the Philippines is becoming increasingly popular as a top spot to<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2015%2F07%2F05%2Ftravel%2Fwhale-shark-oslob%2F"> swim with whale sharks</a>.
The Philippines —
In addition to offering diverse coral reefs, the Philippines is becoming increasingly popular as a top spot to swim with whale sharks.
Courtesy Lee Goldman/Coral Triangle Adventures