US Snorkeling Destinations You Should Discover

Forget boring snorkeling. Leave your passport behind and go fish peeping at these US rivers, parks and beaches.

If you tend to think of snorkeling as only a tropical pursuit that requires a passport to a foreign country, you may be surprised to learn that there are some mind-blowing spots right here in the U.S of A.

Many are far enough off the beaten path that only the locals take advantage of them:

Rainbow Springs State Park, Florida

Imagine drifting effortlessly along a crystal-clear river, watching fish dart in and out of lush river grasses. The waters of Rainbow Springs State Park near Dunnellon, Florida provide a rare opportunity to snorkel in spring water.

Follow up with a picnic on shore and you may have the perfect day spent with your face in the water.

BONUS: Rainbow Springs is just a few miles from the famed Crystal River manatee snorkeling area.

Blue Heron Bridge, Florida

Ever wondered what lies beneath the surface of the Intracoastal Waterway? The snorkeling trail at Phil Foster Park beneath the Blue Heron Bridge in Palm Beach County gives you a glimpse of the freaky diversity in these canals.

Known to scuba divers as one of the best "muck dives" in the world, snorkelers can wade in just as the water clears before the tide recedes to see octopuses, rays, seahorses and an incredible array of tropical fish.

Discovery Cove, Florida

One of the easiest ways to learn snorkeling is in a controlled environment. The man-made oasis of pools, lagoons and reefs at SeaWorld's Discovery Cove in Orlando is an ideal spot to fall in love with snorkeling.

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Pensacola Beach, Florida

The coastline of Florida's Panhandle is more known for stunning stretches of white sand than for snorkeling and diving, but that is beginning to change as the parks of Escambia County are aiding the installment of artificial reefs-including two parks with reefs designed especially for snorkelers.

Biscayne National Park, Florida

Biscayne Bay is another spot passed up by most snorkelers, but there are reefs within sight of Downtown Miami. Snorkeling from the beach at Biscayne National Park will let you experience seagrass beds and the life within them, though the reefs are offshore and require boat charters or rentals.

Conasauga River, Georgia

Snorkeling in land-locked Georgia probably never occurred to you.

The Conasauga River in Northwestern Georgia offers the opportunity to look at the biodiverse life in this river near the Tennessee border. Check out 365AtlantaFamily for a trip report and great directions to the best spot.

San Marcos River, Texas

The clear chilly waters of the San Marcos River between Austin and San Antonio provide an unusual opportunity to dive in and check out the fish, turtles and crayfish that reside amid the river grasses. Snorkel TX can make it happen with guided tours and even wetsuit rentals.

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Balmorhea State Park, Texas

Want to swim in the largest spring-fed swimming pool in the country? Balmorhea State Park in West Texas is about as unlikely a place for snorkeling as you will find, but it's worth the trek.

The park is known to locals as a chilly swimming hole. To scuba divers from as far away as Arizona, it's the perfect spot for dive certification. The "pool" has concrete sides, steps, ladders and even diving boards. The secret is that the bottom was left natural so that 15 million gallons of water could bubble up through the sand and rock each day, creating a home for an array of aquatic life.

Bonneville Seabase, Utah

If desert snorkeling intrigues you, then your next stop is the bizarre Bonneville Seabase-less than an hour west of Salt Lake City. Tropical angelfish, grouper and puffers are among the residents of this "inland sea" created by the spring water bubbling up through the salt flats.

Homestead Crater, Utah

An hour southeast of Salt Lake City is another crazy spot to put your face in the water: Homestead Crater Resort.

The 96-degree waters of this spring-fed pool within a cavernous crater ranks as one of the strangest places to snorkel in the country. Peek beneath the surface, while enjoying a soak in the warm mineral water.

Santa Catalina Island, California

While SoCal residents consider Catalina their backyard, the rest of the country tends to forget that it offers some of the best Pacific diving and snorkeling in the U.S. It's a short ferry ride away from the coast, but the island has the feel of a European island destination.

Wade in from shore directly beneath the iconic Avalon Casino at Casino Point Underwater Park, or rent kayaks and paddle the shoreline to find your perfect private snorkeling spot.

Ketchikan, Alaska

Who knew there was a world of life to see beneath the cold waters off Alaska's Inside Passage? All you need besides your mask and snorkel is a heavy wetsuit and Snorkel Alaska to guide you.

Expect sea stars, stingless jellies, urchins and maybe even a curious seal.

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Honaunau Bay, Hawaii

Snorkeling may be one of the most popular water sports in the Hawaiian Islands, but there are still a few surprising spots for fish peeping.

One of those is nicknamed "Two Steps" near Pu'uhonua O Honaunau, or Place of Refuge, a National Historic Park on the Kona Coast of the Big Island. It is not easy to find, but well worth the effort in terms of underwater beauty.

It is known for large numbers of turtles, beautiful reefs, plus an occasional passing pod of spinner dolphins. TropicalSnorkeling.com has the directions you need to find it.

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