Silfra Lake , Iceland
Silfra – This freshwater-filled , tectonic rift boasts the accolade of lying between continents . One wall is part of the Eurasian continental plate , while the opposite one is North America . With its Icelandic location , the backdrop of dark , volcanic rock and geysers dotted between the pristine snow and ice give the landscape an extra-terrestrial feel . The outer-space experience is only intensified when one breaks the surface of the chilly , 2 ° C waters . But it is worth braving these sporting conditions , because visibility can be over 100 metres , giving the impression one is flying through zero gravity rather than floating in water .
The Galapagos Islands
This distinctive and fragile ecosystem , the place where the theory of evolution was conceived , is home to many unique aquatic species . From Galapagos seals and sealions to marine iguanas and flightless cormorants , there are animals here you will see nowhere else on Earth .
Whale sharks in the Maldives
It had to be in here . To swim with the largest fish in the sea , in the clear , warm waters of the Maldives is truly special . The fact that the same seas also teem with so much other world class marine life such as manta rays , hammerhead sharks and five of the world ’ s seven species of sea turtles mean this may be my top snorkel site on Earth .
The best snorkel
Finally , on a personal note , what I truly consider the best snorkel in the world is the one you do with good friends . That may seem an overly sentimental , twee cliché .
A surface view of the Fujikawa Maru
Marine iguana
However , what I have learned over the years , and something brought into stark focus over the long periods of lockdown and isolation , is how impactful time with other human beings truly is . An average dive with the best people will always be better than a world class site with people you can ’ t abide . Most of our happiness is dictated by the people we surround ourselves with . So , choose wisely and let ’ s hope we can all get back to club diving and snorkelling soon . � the clarity of the water , which gives the system its name , means you can experience one of the most peaceful animals on earth from a distance that will not change its natural behaviour .
The Fujikawa Maru , Chuuk
Regarded by many as the best wrecks of Truk Lagoon , and therefore one of the best in the world , this gigantic , intact second World War Japanese shipwreck begins just a few metres below the surface and has even been photographed from the air above . It obviously helps if you can duck dive a bit , but with 20 metre viz typically on offer it ’ s easy to appreciate the scale and splendour of this wreck from the surface . It also attracts plenty of marine life , which as we all know is normally more profuse in the shallows .
Whale shark at Ari Atoll , Maldives
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