35 Top Snorkeling Destinations with No Passport Needed

The Emerald Coast of the Florida Panhandle has upped the snorkeling game in recent years with artificial reefs and even a new underwater sculpture park.

Consistently named as one of the best spots to snorkel in the world, Crystal River is the place to hang with the manatees. You will need a guide.

The best Key West snorkeling is a bit offshore, necessitating a snorkeling tour or a boat charter. But if you can't do that, Fort Zachary Taylor Picnic Area has good snorkeling from shore. And don't forget about Dry Tortugas National Park, 70 miles west of Key West.

The parks of Palm Beach County offer an unusual opportunity to snorkel within the Intercoastal Waterway at Peanut Island and at Phil Foster Park beneath the Blue Heron Bridge.

If peering at fish through the glass of an aquarium is not adventurous for you, Epcot has a program that lets you snorkel with the rays, sharks and other fish at The Seas with Nemo and Friends Pavilion.

John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park is hailed by divers and snorkelers around the world as having some of the best and most protected reefs in the world. The snorkeling is offshore, so reservations on a snorkel tour boat is required.

There are certainly places in the wild where you can swim and snorkel with whale sharks, but they generally require a passport. Luckily, this amazing encounter is possible passport-free at the Georgia Aquarium.

Located about thirty-five miles south of Charleston, this charming island is known for beaches, wildlife, and golf, but there are plenty of spots to check out the view under the waves as well.

Along the southern end of North Carolina's Outer Banks you can snorkel the waters that were once sailed by Blackbeard the Pirate. How cool is that?

Just a short ferry ride from the mainland coast of Southern California, the town of Avalon on Catalina offers a unique opportunity to snorkel amid the kelp beds with sea lions and bright orange garibaldi fish. It is also a world-class scuba destination and gear is available to rent on island.

Sea lions, stingrays, and dolphins are among the sea life you can expect to encounter at the protected seashore at La Jolla, near San Diego. Start right form shore, from kayaks, or hire a guide.

Shaws Cove at Laguna Beach is known for clear waters and marine life. Fishing is prohibited, making is normally a safe spot for swimmers.

The waters surrounding the jagged islands in the park are ideal for both divers, kayakers, and snorkelers. Look for California seals and sea lions among the marine life.

Yes, really. You can snorkel in the cold waters of the Inside Passage, and you can even do it on an Alaskan cruise. Snorkel Alaska has the details and the gear you need.

The islands of Hawaii are a snorkeler's paradise, and probably the first place most people think about for snorkeling in the U.S. In addition to plenty of snorkel tour operators, Oahu has amazing snorkeling opportunities right from shore like at Hanauma Bay State Park.

You will need a guided tour or a charter boat to get you to Molokini, but it is well worth the cost to snorkel in one of Hawaii's liveliest underwater spots. Look for an array of colorful tropical fish and hope for big sightings like mantas or whales.

You will need a boat to snorkel the best spots at Turtle Town on Maui's southern coast where you can expect to see turtles, vibrant coral, and underwater lava formations. Give Maui Boat Trips a ring to get you to the good stuff.

This may be the best snorkel excursion of your life. Your guides will provide you with flashlights and floatation devices for your front-row seat to the almost-nightly feeding visits of giant mantas to the Kona Coast of the Big Island. Your lights and the lights of the scuba divers below you attract tiny plankton in the water, which then attract the mantas. It does not get better than this.

The snorkel and diving spot called "Two Steps" is far off the beaten path for most tourists, but locals flock to the area to swim in the calm waters near a sacred memorial.

The most famous snorkel spot on Kauai is at Tunnels Beach. The reef is near the surface in spots, giving you ample of opportunity to watch reef fish of all sizes, turtles and possibly even schools of larger ocean-going fish

It is easy to forget that there are Caribbean islands where no U.S. passport is required. Pack your gear and head to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Buck Island Reef National Monument is a snorkeler's dream and is only a short boat ride away from Christiansted, St. Croix.

Snorkeling the turquoise waters of the Caribbean is only one of many things to do on St. John, home to the park, which is comprised of over 7,000 acres of land and more than 5,000 acres of protected marine areas.

For a fun spot to swim, snorkel and scuba dive, it is hard to find anything better than Coki Beach. Bring your own gear and a picnic.

While some tourist activities are still in recovery mode following damage from Hurricane Maria, boat tours to the deserted island of Icacos are fully operational.

And if you can't make it to Hawaii or the Caribbean for your snorkel fix, there are still a few surprising spots in the continental U.S., starting with Washington's San Juan Islands.

You knew there was salt water in Utah, but did you know there are tropical fish? Bonneville Seabase may be the strangest place you ever snorkel, but worth adding it to your snorkel accomplishments.

Want more snorkeling in the desert? Make the trek to Balmorhea State Park, home of one of the country's largest spring-fed swimming pools. Filled with small fish, the chilly waters are a fun stop in far West Texas.

The refreshing water flowing in the Frio River attracts crowds of swimmers to the park on weekends but stop by mid-week to enjoy some peaceful snorkeling, looking for tiny fish and crustaceans among the rocks.

As if there weren't enough things to do in San Antonio, you can snorkel with stingrays at the San Antonio Aquarium.

One more snorkel stop in Texas worth looking into is the San Marcos River. Snorkel Texas offers a guided tour.

There are a handful of quarries scattered around the country offering scuba and snorkeling, but Haigh Quarry near Kankakee, is reported to be one of the best.

The Gilboa Quarry is an option for Midwesterners looking to get wet. It is heavily used for scuba instruction, but snorkelers can have a little fun floating overhead.

Situated between Montauk and Martha's Vineyard, Block Island, Rhode Island is a surprising spot to find clear water, and waters warm enough to support colonies of juvenile tropical fish.

Who knew you could enjoy good snorkeling in Lake Michigan? Add fish peeping to the list of fun things to do in Door County. Lakeshore Adventures has all the gear you need.

At Ocean Beach Park, snorkelers can expect to see schools of sea bass, small urchins, and crabs, plus there's miniature golf, water slides, and tons of fun for everyone.