The Best Snorkelling in Vanuatu: Top 20 Places to Snorkel

A snorkel spot combined with lunch with a view? Yes, please! In Vanuatu, you can only rely on the more developed Efate Island for experiences like Top Rock.

The location impresses from the start, with excellent signage, a welcoming entrance and hedged pathways guiding you to this stunning limestone cliff location.

Descend through the bush and a large canyon that provides easy sea access for snorkellers of all experience levels. The exceptional water clarity makes spotting small tropical fish effortless, while lucky visitors might encounter turtles gliding through the coral gardens. You'll find snorkelling opportunities on both the east and west sides (the west side is recommended for confident snorkellers, as the reef can get quite shallow), and snorkelling gear is available to hire.

After your underwater adventure, treat yourself to a proper meal at the clifftop restaurant, where you can admire breathtaking panoramas of the neighbouring Nguna and Pele islands. The menu features fresh local seafood, including grilled fish in lemon garlic butter, poached octopus, and daily specials like fresh snapper. For those preferring land-based options, there's beef steak in mushroom sauce, grilled chicken breast, and various stir-fry dishes, all served with your choice of chips, rice or salad. Round off your visit with tropical desserts like banana fritters with ice cream or fresh fruit salad, paired with refreshing mocktails.

Open daily with relaxed island-time operating hours, this locally-run destination offers an authentic and memorable experience combining excellent snorkelling with genuine Ni-Vanuatu hospitality.

Have you ever snorkelled over an army truck, a tank or even some old Coca-Cola memorabilia?! Well, you can at Million Dollar Point off the shores of Espiritu Santo.

In 1945, when French colonial authorities refused to buy surplus American military equipment at six cents on the dollar (thinking they'd get it for free), the Americans responded with remarkable pettiness. For two solid days, they dumped "millions" of dollars' worth of trucks, bulldozers, tractors, jeeps and even Coca-Cola bottles into the sea near Luganville.

Today, Million Dollar Point offers visitors the extraordinary sight of this underwater military graveyard just metres from shore. You can explore through snorkelling from the remains of the concrete wharf (which was blown up with dynamite after offloading the equipment), discovering everything from bulldozers to old wheels scattered across the ocean floor. Scuba diving with local operators reveals even more of the equipment pile beneath the surface.

Located just a five-minute drive from Luganville, the site also offers a pleasant sandy beach with typically calm and clear waters.

For clear water, colourful coral and a quieter setting away from Efate’s busier snorkelling spots, Eretoka Island, also known as Hat Island, is well worth seeking out.

The island is surrounded by crystal-clear blue water and vibrant coral reefs, with snorkelling opportunities around several parts of the coastline. Beneath the surface, expect colourful tropical fish, healthy coral formations and giant clams, with conditions suitable for both beginners and more experienced snorkellers.

The area is particularly appealing if you’re looking for a more peaceful snorkelling experience away from the main tourism circuit, while still offering plenty to see beneath the surface.

Snorkelling visits to Eretoka and Lelepa can be arranged through Eretoka Island Fishing & Tour Adventure, with snorkelling gear provided.

For more guided underwater adventures, check out the 10 Best Snorkelling Tours in Vanuatu.

Location: Eretoka Island, off the northwest coast of Efate.

Price Range: $$$$

Dubbed "Nemo City" thanks to its carpet of anemone housing clown fish, the shores off the coast of Mangaliliu on the east coast of Efate are an amazing place to snorkel. What's more, the community-run snorkelling operation offers well-developed facilities to enhance your underwater adventure.

The site features a dedicated gear room where you can hire snorkelling equipment through Roawia Turtle & Snorkeling Tours, while there are also changing facilities and bathroom amenities for visitors' comfort.

An on-site restaurant operates from 8 am to 2:30 pm daily, providing the perfect spot for lunch before or after your snorkelling session.

As for what you'll see, the underwater world here is particularly rewarding, with regular sightings of colourful fish, sea turtles, giant clams and vibrant coral formations that make for an unforgettable aquatic experience.

For those seeking a more structured experience, fully guided snorkelling tours are available but must be booked in advance, while independent visitors can simply pay an entry fee of 1,500 VT to access the snorkelling area directly from the shore.

With several completely different underwater environments packed around one island, Lelepa Island is one of the most varied places to snorkel off Efate.

Off the back of the island is a marine sanctuary where coral habitat attracts colourful tropical fish and turtles, while lucky snorkellers might even encounter dugongs cruising through the area.

Lelepa Island adds even more variety, with additional reef areas known for giant clams, fish feeding and excellent coral life. During our first-hand research, the water here was exceptionally clear, with some of the best coral we encountered in Vanuatu.

The area is particularly appealing if you’re looking for a more peaceful snorkelling experience away from the main tourism circuit, while still offering plenty to see beneath the surface.

These snorkelling spots can be visited with Lelepa Island Tours and Eretoka Island Fishing & Tour Adventure. Snorkelling equipment are provided, alongside return Port Vila transfers, refreshments and an island lunch.

There are plenty more guided marine adventures in the 10 Best Snorkelling Tours in Vanuatu.

Location: Lelepa Island, off Efate. Access is via Lelepa Landing at Havannah Harbour, followed by a 15-20-minute boat crossing.

Price Range: $$$

Snorkelling at Turtle Cove offers one of the most spectacular underwater experiences, with the reef consistently praised as "the best" in Efate.

The real magic happens during high tide, when hundreds of turtles descend to feast on algae off the rocks in typically clear waters just one metre deep.

This tide-dependent experience varies throughout the day, with high tide offering optimal swimming conditions right from the shore. During low tide, you'll need to wade through shallow water for about 20 m (65 ft) before reaching deeper swimming areas, but the reef remains easily accessible either way.

There's a dedicated snorkelling area, easy to find, set up in a cleared part of the bush, complete with a picnic table, shelter, and both shaded and open spots to relax. Plus, there are steps that lead directly down to the beach.

The Turtle Cove snorkelling area is open from 8 am to 4 pm daily for 1,000 VT per person (bring your own snorkel) or 500 VT if you need to hire gear. You're welcome to use the restaurant and toilets, though other resort facilities aren't included.

Otherwise, guests staying at Turtle Cove Villas receive complimentary snorkelling gear.

For perhaps the most dramatic snorkelling adventure on Tanna, make the boat journey along the island's limestone coast to the spectacular Blue Cave, also known as Lemnap Cave.

A 30 to 40-minute boat ride along the coastline brings you to the cave entrance and, if you're lucky, you might even spot dolphins along the way. How you enter depends on the tide. At high tide, confident swimmers make a brief dive beneath the rock before surfacing inside, while low tide allows a more straightforward snorkel or swim through the entrance.

Once inside, you'll find an enormous natural grotto measuring around 60 m across, illuminated by a shaft of sunlight pouring through a 5-m (16-ft) opening in the roof. There's then time to swim, snorkel and simply take in the atmosphere inside the cavern.

Snorkel gear and life jackets are provided, with guides giving a safety briefing before entering the water. Groups are capped at six guests per boat.

Location: North Tanna limestone coast. Accessible by boat.

Price Range: $$$

Banana Bay Beach Club offers the perfect combination of underwater exploration and beachside dining for day visitors seeking a relaxed snorkelling experience.

The club hires out snorkelling gear, making it convenient for those without their own equipment, and the location is particularly excellent for spotting tropical fish in clear waters, though it's not as good for coral.

Operating daily from 10 am to 3 pm, this public venue creates an ideal setup for combining your underwater adventure with hearty refreshments. After working up an appetite in the water, fuel up with crowd-pleasing options like Aussie-style fish and chips with mixed salad, popular beef burgers with all the fixings, seafood chowder (when available) and various wraps.

Beyond snorkelling, the club also hires out kayaks and surfboards, allowing visitors to extend their water-based activities or try something different if conditions aren't perfect for underwater viewing.

Just off the north coast of Efate, Pele Island is one of the area’s standout snorkelling destinations, known for its clear lagoons, white-sand beaches and fringing coral reefs.

Much of the island sits within the Nguna-Pele Marine Protected Area, a community-managed conservation network protecting coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves and intertidal lagoons. Fishing restrictions in designated areas help support the marine life and reef systems surrounding the island.

Snorkelling is mainly over relatively shallow fringing reef, with clear tropical water making it easy to explore both close to shore and farther out. Some snorkelling spots sit around 200-300 m offshore, where you can expect coral formations and colourful reef fish, while fish feeding may also bring marine life closer.

Closer to the beach, there are further opportunities to snorkel from shore when conditions allow, making Pele a good option for spending a relaxed day alternating between the reef and the beach.

Snorkelling visits can be arranged through Pele Island Beach & Snorkelling Tour, with masks and fins provided.

Location: Pele Island, off the north coast of Efate. Access is by boat from Emua Wharf.

Price Range: $$

Who says snorkelling in Vanuatu has to involve saltwater? Nanda Blue Hole on Espiritu Santo offers a completely different experience, with extraordinarily clear freshwater surrounded by dense tropical jungle.

The blue hole is almost surreal, glowing an intense sapphire blue against the deep green vegetation around its banks. Its exceptional crystal clarity makes snorkelling particularly rewarding, allowing you to easily spot tropical fish swimming beneath the surface and see surprisingly far through the water.

An important thing to know is that Jackie's Blue Hole and Santo's Blue Hole are separate visitor operations on opposite sides of the same natural blue hole. Each has its own deck and entry arrangements, but both provide access to the same spectacular body of water.

Bring your own snorkelling gear if you want to spend time exploring beneath the surface, as equipment hire isn't currently noted as being available at Jackie's. Guests staying on-site also have easy access to the blue hole throughout their stay.

Discover more freshwater swimming spots in the 15 Best Blue Holes, Hot Springs & Swimming Spots in Vanuatu.

Location: Nanda Blue Hole, Espiritu Santo. Jackie's and Santo's Blue Hole operate separate decks on opposite sides of the water.

Price Range: $

Penamun Clam Snorkeling Tour offers an affordable shore-side underwater adventure where you can snorkel amongst a variety of giant clams.

This unique conservation project showcases four different species of tridacna clams, including the impressive Tridacna Maxima and Tridacna Squamosa, in a shallow-water habitat that provides easy access for snorkellers remaining on the surface.

The 30-minute snorkelling experience (though you're welcome to stay longer) takes place just off the shores of Bonvilau Village beach. With that, this experience combines marine conservation with community tourism, as local guide John shares his knowledge about these remarkable creatures.

The entrance fee includes refreshing local fruit and drinks, making it excellent value for money. There are options to add transport, a salusalu (neck garland) and even a stringband to the package.

Operating Monday to Saturday, visitors need to bring their own snorkelling gear to explore this underwater garden.

The glassy waters between South Malekula and the Maskelyne Islands are not only home to awesome coral formations, but the sandy patches also attract dugong!

This unique destination combines world-class snorkelling on Sakao Island's dramatic rocky reef formations with the rare opportunity to swim alongside gentle dugongs in their natural habitat.

The bay's sandy shores and extensive seagrass beds create the perfect environment for these magnificent sea cows, making it one of the best places in Vanuatu where you can reliably spot them. Local operators, including Malog Bungalows, Lavrisi Yacht Bungalows, Eco Adventure Maskelyne and Amlin Bay Campsite offer boat tours to this special area.

Remember the golden rule: never swim towards a dugong when you spot one. Instead, remain still and let these curious creatures approach you on their terms. They're often inquisitive and may return even after initially swimming away, so patience and maintaining a respectful 5 m (15 ft) distance is key.

Post a waterproof postcard from 3 m (10 ft) underwater at the world's first underwater post office. That's exactly what awaits you at Hideaway Island Resort, and we're absolutely delighted by this one-of-a-kind experience just off the coast of Mele.

This pristine marine sanctuary sits on a small coral atoll, where crystal-clear waters meet vibrant coral gardens teeming with tropical fish. Beyond the famous underwater postal service, you'll discover a peaceful island paradise perfect for lounging on white sandy beaches, swimming in the resort pool, and exploring the coral reef with snorkelling gear available for rent.

For water activities, you can rent kayaks for exploring the protected waters directly in front of the resort (kayaking around the island isn't permitted for safety reasons). When hunger strikes, the island's restaurant is famous for its signature chicken curry, which locals consistently rate as the best main dish on the menu.

Getting there couldn't be simpler. You can just show up without advance booking – day passes welcome both adults and children.

Catch a bus from Port Vila, then hop on a very affordable ferry to the island (the ferry runs regularly throughout the day). Alternatively, Hideaway is on the itinerary of tours with Yumi Tours, Vila Hope Tours and Nonda Extreme Tours.

Accessible with a day pass (or you could stay), Snorkel Cove offers some of the best and most accessible snorkelling within the Port Vila Harbour itself.

You'll fall in love with this tiny tropical gem housing Iririki Island Resort & Spa, perfectly visible from Port Vila's waterfront.

Simply grab your Day Guest Pass when you arrive (valid from 8 am to 5 pm) and dive straight into island paradise. The inviting waters are calling your name with complimentary kayaks, paddleboards and snorkelling masks waiting for you at Snorkeller's Cove. You'll discover incredible marine life in this designated snorkelling area where staff are always on watch for your safety. For the best underwater visibility, time your snorkelling for mid-tide when conditions are optimal.

In the meantime, you get full-day access to Hideaway Beach and the Sunset Pool area on the southern part of the island, and we love how easy the return ferry transfers make everything from the Port Vila jetty.

Discover some of Santo's underwater landscapes in the vivid underwater world between Malo Island and Ratua Island.

This untouched marine sanctuary boasts amazing reefs that remain blissfully free from tourist crowds, offering an authentic snorkelling experience in one of the region's most spectacular locations.

The house reef around Ratua Island provides excellent snorkelling opportunities, where you'll encounter an incredible diversity of marine life including green turtles, vibrant lionfish, playful clownfish, elusive octopus and graceful cuttlefish. The protected waters between the islands create perfect conditions for underwater exploration, with exceptional visibility and thriving coral formations.

Access is available through Ratua Island Resort or by boat when staying at the bungalows on Malo Island, with snorkelling gear readily available at the resort.

Escape from your Santo-island-escape for the day with magnificent snorkelling at Dany Island.

This untouched gem operates as a protected marine sanctuary, with a 200 m (656 ft) no-fishing zone surrounding the island that has created an extraordinary underwater paradise teeming with fish, lobsters, turtles and vibrant coral reefs.

With that, you won't need to venture far into the water - the best snorkelling spots are easily accessible just five meters from the beach, making it perfect for all experience levels.

The 250-m/165-ft-long island provides ample space for exploration throughout the day and relaxation on palm-fringed white sands.

Your day tour includes convenient transfers from any Santo accommodation or cruise ship pickup. Once there, you'll have access to snorkelling gear, kayaks and surfboards, with experienced local staff available to assist nervous snorkellers or provide guided support in the water. What's more, the northern tip boasts one of Santo's best surf breaks.

A delicious barbecue lunch is served on the island, featuring locally-sourced ingredients, plus full facilities including toilets and fresh water. Tours accommodate groups from solo travellers to up to 50 people, typically running 6-7 hours with morning pickup and afternoon return.

Unlike the blue holes that islands like Espiritu Santo are famous for, the "blue holes" on Tanna are more like natural swimming pools in the reef, lined with colourful coral.

Tanna's blue holes are the kind of underwater secret that rewards those willing to time their visit right. Just a five-minute walk from White Grass Ocean Resort, Blue Hole 1 sits in a sheltered cove where local villagers welcome swimmers warmly before you wade roughly 50 m across the reef to reach four large reef openings, interconnected by tunnels and swim-throughs at depths of around 8 m inside the hole and up to 15 m on the outer reef.

The route you take depends entirely on your sense of adventure and skill level, with several cave and swim-through options giving access to the outer reef. Plan your visit at low tide so the deep holes are clearly visible.

Wildlife here is seriously impressive: coral formations, dugongs, turtles, moray eels, reef sharks, blue-spotted rays and the occasional dolphin are all on the cards, with whale songs drifting through July to September.

Blue Hole 2 is a short 800 m walk from the resort's front entrance along the road towards the next village; follow the signs, walk 50 m across the reef and enter from the north-eastern tip.

Note that a Marine Park fee applies, so check the current rate at reception of White Grass before you head out.

Guests of Rocky Ridge Bungalows enjoy free access to both blue holes; non-guests approaching from that side pay 1,500 VT. Bring your own reef shoes and snorkel gear.

Another spectacular option for snorkelling from Tanna, Port Resolution entices with its sheltered waters.

This magnificent bay, framed by towering cliffs, serves as your gateway to some of east Tanna's most spectacular beaches and snorkelling spots. The charming Ireupuow village provides essential amenities with its basic shop, local market and simple restaurant, making it an ideal base for yachties and visitors from land.

A short walk west of Ireupuow brings you to the cliff-top Port Resolution Yacht Club where it's possible to grab a meal, and you'll reach the protected marine sanctuary at Yewao Point, where calm waters offer exceptional snorkelling opportunities right up to where the coral reef begins.

Another path north of the village unveils a glorious stretch of white sand leading to premium surf breaks, with deep swells rolling along 2.5 km (1.6 mi) of coastline to Yankaren Para.

Discover one of Vanuatu's most vibrant and little-known snorkelling spots at Wala Island, where coral gardens teem with marine life just waiting to be explored.

The coral heads at the southwest end of this secluded island are easily accessible from the beach, creating the perfect underwater playground for snorkellers of all skill levels.

Glide through clear waters and encounter colourful anemones, starfish scattered across the sandy bottom, and diverse coral formations that create a kaleidoscope beneath the surface. Keep your eyes peeled for clownfish darting amongst the anemones.

The journey from Walarano Village is short and affordable. While snorkelling from the beach is completely free, you'll need to arrange boat transport to reach this island paradise - your best bet is through Nawori Sea View Bungalows.

Aore Island, just a short boat ride across the Segond Channel from Luganville, offers some of the most accessible reef snorkelling on Espiritu Santo, with options ranging from calm beach entries to drift snorkels along dramatic coral walls.

The star experience is the "Nemo Bay and Aore Wall Snorkelling Tour" through Lapita Beach Private Marine Reserve, a protected stretch covering around 6 km of coastline. Nemo Bay suits beginners perfectly, with sheltered, clear water and coral bommies just metres from shore, home to parrotfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, clownfish and anemones. Sea turtles are occasionally spotted here too (a genuine bonus, not a guarantee).

More confident snorkellers can extend the trip to Aore Wall, where coral-covered cliffs and sloping reef create a drift-snorkel experience with schooling fish moving along the reef face. Together, the two sites make for a four to five-hour half-day trip with equipment provided.

Guests staying at Aore Island Resort or Aore Adventure Sports and Lodge also have shore snorkelling right off the beach, with complimentary or hire gear available.

Location: Aore Island, off the north coast of Espiritu Santo. Accessible by short boat transfer across the Segond Channel from Luganville; departures available from St Michel Landing, Aore Island Resort or Ratua Resort.