Snorkeling for Beginners in Indonesia – Top 31 Destinations that will Blow You Away!

Last Updated on December 1, 2023

Snorkeling for beginners in Indonesia. Snorkeling activity is one way to enjoy the sea and the biota that lives in it. This activity is usually carried out in shallow waters and seas that have calm waves. Unlike diving which requires special skills to do it, a traveler who wants to snorkel just needs to prepare snorkel equipment and go to the appropriate sea, so this activity can be done. Snorkeling can be done by anyone, including novice travelers who cannot swim. There is a life jacket you can wear to keep your body afloat. Those who just want to experience the joy of snorkeling for the first time.

Watch video: Aerial drone photography, Best Snorkeling Beaches in Bali.

One of the destinations that have caught the attention of the Indonesian people and even the world is the beach. It is undeniable, beaches in Indonesia have extraordinary beauty. Starting from the clear blue water, clean white sand, to a very beautiful biotic ecosystem. No wonder so many people want to snorkel to enjoy the beauty of the seabed directly on the beaches in Indonesia.

The blue sea water combined with turquoise, green, the white sand of the beach, and the breezy breeze, cannot be denied to be a sight and atmosphere that pampers many people. This view and panorama will be more complete if you can also enjoy the diversity of marine life which is certainly no less beautiful.

Hence, it is incomplete if you have a vacation to the beach without snorkeling to interact directly with adorable sea animals. You don’t need a license to sophisticated equipment such as diving, you can do snorkeling activities for beginners with simpler equipment. The following are beautiful snorkeling spots that are suitable for beginners best snorkeling Indonesia:

Pink Beach – Komodo Island.

What is the first time you think about Komodo Island? Surely you will remember the scary Komodo dragon. It is true that Komodo Island is famous for its Komodo dragons, but in fact there are other interesting things that can be found on Komodo Island, namely Pink Beach.

Pink Beach is one of the perfect places for beginner snorkeling. This pink beach is very attractive to divers because of the pink sand and of course the diverse underwater life. The sea water is calm and there are still not many tourists making this place perfect for snorkeling.

A traveler who has a vacation to Pink Beach always takes the time to touch the sea water with fun snorkeling. To reach this beach you can rent a boat provided by the tour operator on Komodo Island. The beach is only about 30 minutes away from Loh Liang Komodo National Park. Make sure you bring a sports camera to record every interesting moment in the water.

Menjangan Island – Bali.

Menjangan Island is located in the West Bali National Park, which offers beautiful underwater scenery. On this island, there are various wild deer that you can see. Access to this island is not difficult, which is only 15 km from the Gilimanuk port of Bali.

Besides enjoying the beauty of the sunset and sunrise, there you can see views of coral reefs and colorful fish that can spoil the eyes. Of course, when you snorkel, you will find beautiful underwater scenery and various types of coral reefs. Not to forget, if you are lucky when snorkeling, you can meet small sharks, which are very suitable for beginner snorkeling.

Wakatobi National Park – South East Sulawesi.

This national park is the second largest marine park in Indonesia, which was inaugurated by the Indonesian government in 1996. This park has a wide variety of natural wealth which is certainly very beautiful on the seabed. It turns out that Wakatobi stands for Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia and Binongko. One of the best spots for beginner snorkeling is time. When you swim and dive to the bottom of the sea you will be presented with good views such as coral reefs and colorful fish.

This place has long been famous for its beautiful and still beautiful snorkeling spots. Due to limited boat access, the coral reefs on the Wakatobi beaches are very close to the shore. For beginners, safe snorkeling should start near the beach. In addition, Wakatobi offers the sensation of seeing sea turtles and tropical fish living among the corals. Anyway, it’s pretty and will definitely make you fall in love with snorkeling.

Derawan Islands – East Kalimantan.

This island is in Kalimantan and can be called a paradise for Kalimantan. You will find a variety of beautiful scenery when visiting there. The white sand and beautiful underwater scenery are one of the attractions for tourists. There are various best spots for snorkeling, one of which is on Sangalaki Island and inside there are giant turtles and stingrays.

Derawan Archipelago is one of the exclusive tourist destinations in Indonesia. The landscape has wonders that few other islands in the world have. For example, the island of Kakaban, which has a saltwater lake in the middle of the land which is inhabited by non-venomous jellyfish. Slightly go to Derawan Island, there is a snorkeling paradise that is ready for you to greet.

Karimun Jawa – Central Java.

Who doesn’t want to go to Karimun jawa? This hit location for swimming on clear beaches with reef sharks can be the right choice for your first snorkeling spot. There are at least 4 snorkeling locations in Karimun jawa, namely Menjangan Kecil Island, Cemara Kecil Island, Tengah Island and Small Island.

The four locations are home to coral reefs and the Nemo clown fish. If you dare, you can also go to Pulau Tengah to swim with black tip sharks in captivity. If you want to swim in a spot that is not too far from the main island, just snorkel on the Menjangan Kecil Island, which is indeed famous for its relaxing and beautiful beginner snorkeling spots in Karimun jawa.

Raja Ampat Regency – West Papua.

One of the favorite places for snorkeling is Raja Ampat. This is of course because of its extraordinary natural charm. Meanwhile, according to a report by The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International, there are about 75 percent of the world’s marine biota species that live here. There are many marine life such as coral reefs and very beautiful fish caught with your portrait under the sea.

This area has at least more than 450 types of coral reefs and thousands of fish species. The number of islands also reaches 1500, with beautiful beaches along its banks. Did you know Raja Ampat is the most popular sailing destination in the world? While enjoying the beauty of the Raja Ampat Islands by going around, you can also enjoy a luxurious adventure experience on the boat.

Cape Kri, Raja Ampat Regency – West Papua.

Arrive at the best place for diving and snorkeling in Indonesia, namely Cape Kri in Raja Ampat. Raja Ampat itself is located to the northwest of the bird’s head of Papua New Guinea. It is an archipelago with a total of 1,500 small islands that can be found there.

This is the best diving and snorkeling spot that has even been recognized by experts as the location with the most marine life owned by Indonesia. Thousands of fish species, 6 species of turtles, and 450 species of coral reefs make Cape Kri a paradise for divers and of course for beginners snorkeling.

This island is arguably one of the hidden pearls in Raja Ampat. Clear and clean sea water make it easy for divers to see and witness the beautiful pieces of coral reefs that line neatly here. Besides that, the beautiful beaches also complement the exotic charm of Kri Island.

Just like other islands in Raja Ampat, diving and snorkeling spots are the main attractions on Kri Island. Here you can easily meet fish and other marine life without having to dive deep.

On Kri Island, there are at least 374 species of fish and coral reefs, ranging from barracuda, various types of jacks, batfish, snapper, grouper, to green turtles. However, the most ‘targeted’ by tourists are the sharks on Cape Kri, because here tourists can swim with sharks and fish without the hassle of diving to the bottom of the sea.

Access to Kri Island is also fairly easy. You can travel by plane to Sorong. Then, when you arrive in Sorong, you can take a ferry, fast boat, or airplane from Sorong to Waisai.

Gili Labak island – Madura.

Although the name begins with the word Gili, this place is not in the Lombok Islands, but in Madura. Gili Labak is a small island that was formerly called Tikus Island. The island with an area of ​​no more than 5 hectares has a dazzling underwater beauty.

The underwater scenery on Gili Labak is very beautiful, so don’t be surprised if many tourists come to snorkel or dive. In addition, the fine white sand and soft waves make this island even more exotic, perfect for beginner snorkeling.

Pangandaran – West Java.

Many people say, Pangandaran Beach is Java’s best beach. That’s because of the fact on this beach you can see the sunrise and sunset from the same place, isn’t it cool?

Not only that, Pangandaran Beach also has a beautiful underwater park area. The waves are relatively calm, allowing you to enjoy the underwater beauty by snorkeling. You don’t need to worry because this beach area is closely guarded by coast guards. So you will feel safer when swimming and snorkeling here.

Gunung Kidul Regency – Special Region of Yogyakarta.

Nglambor Beach is located in the Gunung Kidul area of ​​Jogja which is becoming famous as a snorkeling spot. Although the southern coast of Java has been always strong with its powerful waves, it is different from the conditions at Nglambor Beach. This beach is quite calm and can be used as a snorkeling spot.

Here live several types of fish, including Sergeant Major, Jambrong and several other small fish. The local community is very concerned about preserving the coral reefs and the fish that live in them. They even forbid anyone to fish here.

So if you happen to be snorkeling here, always remember not to catch fish or damage anything including the coral reefs. Stay alert when snorkeling so that your feet and hands don’t damage the existing coral reefs.

Wherever you snorkel, always remember not to touch or step on coral reefs or all existing underwater life. If you touch it, it is the same as you have killed it because the cells owned by the coral reef will be released from its body and then die.

Peucang Island – Banten.

Located in Ujung Kulon, Banten, Peucang Island can also be your first snorkeling destination. Because it is a protected Ujung Kulon National Park area, Peucang Island has relatively well-preserved marine life. With clear water with coral reefs that can be seen from above, diving, snorkeling, or simply swimming on Peucang Island will definitely feel fun.

Gili Trawangan – West Nusa Tenggara.

Located only 30 minutes from the city of Mataram, the beautiful Gili Trawangan can also be your first snorkeling location choice. Not only Gili Trawangan, you can do island hopping and switch snorkeling spots to Gili Meno. There are 48 life-size underwater sculptures that are often used as underwater photo locations for tourists.

Snorkeling spots on Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno have a lot of fish and coral reefs that are still preserved. If you come with some friends, it is highly recommended to rent a boat. At some points far from the beach, you can swim with turtles too.

Umbul Ponggok – Central Java.

Apart from snorkeling near the beach or the high seas, you can also snorkel in spring pools like Umbul Ponggok located in Klaten. Unlike the snorkeling locations mentioned above, Umbul Ponggok is a natural spring pool that has a beauty like under the sea.

With white sand and natural rocks at the base of Umbul Ponggok and thousands of colorful freshwater fish that live here, snorkeling at Umbul Ponggok is not much different from snorkeling near the beach. In fact, the water feels cooler and colder because it comes from a spring that is always flowing.

At Umbul Ponggok, you can walk around the pond, see lots of fish, and get cool photos of course. Plus, for beginners snorkeling you don’t need to worry about being swept away or swimming too far from the beach. Getting to Umbul Ponggok is easy, you can drive for one hour from Yogyakarta.

Blue Bay – East Java.

Blue bay is one of the hidden paradises for snorkeling beginners and divers. Blue Bay is located in Muncar District, Banyuwangi Regency, Central Java Province. As the name suggests, this sea has clear blue water, so that the beauty under the sea can be seen from above. In addition, the coral reefs here are still very natural and there are many types of fish that will accompany you while diving.

Weh Island – Aceh

Starting from the western tip of Indonesia, Weh Island , or better known as Sabang is the first snorkeling destination that you must try. The distance is about 2 hours from Banda Aceh by ferry.

White sand, calm clear sea water and a sustainable marine ecosystem are ready to welcome you. Even here there are some rare coral species that cannot be found in other countries.

Nusa Lembongan – Bali.

From Nusa Penida, just crossing 2 km will take you to Nusa Lembongan which is no less beautiful. This small island is also known as a favorite snorkeling spot. The mainstay of Nusa Lembongan tourism is its underwater houses, caves and beautiful beaches. Wow, it looks like fun taking pictures at an underwater house.

Bunaken Island – North Sulawesi.

Flying to the northern tip of Sulawesi, the beauty of the Bunaken Islands is ready to spoil your eyes. There are at least 70 types of coral reefs, 5 rare turtle species and hundreds of marine life that you can see up close. Bunaken National Park is on the list of the best diving and snorkeling destinations in the world, isn’t it cool?

Banda Islands – Maluku.

Located in the Banda Islands, Maluku is one of the best diving and snorkeling spots in Indonesia. The Banda Islands themselves are still included in the 10 small islands with active volcanoes in the Banda Sea. Even so, it still doesn’t prevent sea lovers from diving to see the beauty of marine life in Maluku.

The Banda Islands are Indonesia’s hidden treasures with a number of diverse marine assets. Here you can see the beauty of coral, fish and other sea dwellers. Diving in the Banda Islands can take you to an unforgettable underwater paradise.

Togean island – Central Sulawesi.

There is no diver who does not want to dive on Togian Island. Of the many best places to do diving and snorkeling, Togian Island is the second best choice after Raja Ampat. Togian Island is located in the north of Sulawesi and is still not widely explored by humans.

Togian Island is one of 56 islands which is a favorite choice of divers. Two big islands besides Togian are Batudaka and Talatakoh. The natural beauty of the sea on Togian Island is unquestionable.

Gili Nanggu – Lombok.

Gili Trawangan in Lombok is beautiful, but it is too mainstream. It’s time for you to stop by a little island on the east side of Lombok. Is Gili Nanggu, a beautiful island just right for you to make a fun snorkeling destination. This island has a clear beach that is not choppy, making it the perfect combination as a beginner snorkeling spot.

A traveler who is going to snorkel on Gili Nanggu can simultaneously feed the fish with bottled feed that is traded by traders around the beach. That way, small fish will surround you when diving in the shallow waters. Not only small fish that can be found in the sea of ​​Gili Nanggu, the coral reefs that grow there are still well maintained.

Sulamadaha Beach – North Maluku.

Maluku also has a myriad of clear waters to dive into. One of them is a Sulamadaha Beach in Ternate, the clear sea water on this beach makes a traveler who swims on the surface of the water like floating. Of course every traveler who visits Sulamadaha Beach will not return home before snorkeling in the sea.

Sulamadaha Beach is surrounded by lush green hills. If you are afraid of water, you can choose another activity in the form of walking around the beach by boat. Or simply play with the sand on the beach. Anyway, this beach will give you an unforgettable holiday experience.

Gili Petelu – Lombok.

To reach Gili Petelu, you can take a boat about 2.5 hours from Mataram West Nusa Tenggara. The coral under the waters of Gili Petelu is very beautiful, and many small fish live in this area. It will definitely be a very memorable snorkeling experience!

Moyo Island – West Nusa Tenggara.

Moyo Island is one of the islands included in the Sumbawa region, West Nusa Tenggara. This small island is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs. The beach with blue water, white sand and a calm atmosphere are a very tempting main attraction. No wonder the late Princess Diana had a vacation here.

Although the location is quite far from the capital city of Sumbawa Regency, the tourist facilities on this island are no less than other places. You can even stay at a luxury international class resort, namely Amanwana. With beautiful beaches, of course, snorkeling is an activity that you must try here.

One of the highly recommended spots for snorkeling, namely Takat Sagele. This spot is actually a coral mound that is formed from coral, dead coral and sand, but this mound will only be visible when the sea water is receding. Well, under the mound, there is a beautiful and exciting underwater paradise for you to explore by snorkeling.

Abang Island – Batam.

Hearing the word Batam, maybe what comes to your mind is one of the industrial cities in Indonesia. Even though Batam has many beautiful hidden tourist charms. One of them is Abang Island which is located in Galang sub-district, Batam City.

Even though it’s only 10 square kilometers in size, Abang Island is known to have clear waters with beautiful blue seas. Apart from its beaches, Abang Island offers attractive snorkeling spots for tourists.

Don’t be surprised when you start diving into the sea, because various types of fish will greet you when snorkeling. You can find various types of colorful fish there, such as clown fish or clown fish, and others. Not only that, the underwater beauty is also decorated with stunning colorful coral reefs.

Penjalin Island in Anambas Regency, Riau Islands.

The Anambas Islands must be included in the list of next vacation destinations. The islands, which are located in the Riau Islands, have extraordinary beauty that has not been exposed by many tourists. In fact, Anambas is called the most beautiful tropical islands in Asia.

The Anambas Islands consist of 255 islands, of which only 26 are inhabited. One of the islands that you must visit is Penjalin Island. This island is one of the boundary islands in Indonesia. Located in Palmatak District, Penjalin Island is bordered by Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.

You can enjoy the beauty of the Penjalin Island by snorkeling. Not only underwater beauty, you can also see a cluster of islands. When you are tired, you can pull over at the Tanjung Momong Beach and enjoy a super beautiful sunset there.

Ora Beach – Seram Island.

Ora Beach is located on Seram Island, North Seram District, Central Maluku Regency. This beach offers the beauty of beautiful corals and marine animals. Not surprisingly, Ora Beach has been already famous for its beauty, it is often juxtaposed with beaches in the Maldives.

There are many activities you can do here, such as diving, snorkeling, and just sunbathing. You can witness the underwater beauty of Ora Beach. To reach this beach, you have to cross to Amahay Port in Masohi City, Seram Island from Tulehu Port in Central Maluku Regency.

Dodola Island – Morotai, North Maluku Province.

It seems everyone agrees and does not deny that Eastern Indonesia has a lot of natural wealth. Treat the scenery is still natural, the people are friendly, so that the marine life is too dear, if not seen directly with the naked eye.

In addition, there are also many small islands that are no less beautiful. Morotai Island, for example. One of the northernmost islands in Indonesia has a lot of historical tourism, especially from World War II.

However, not only that, Morotai also has tourist destinations that are no less interesting. One of them is Dodola Island, which the local government is called the pearl on the lips of the Pacific.

When visiting here, you will be greeted by fine white sand, crystal-like sea water, and clear skies. Dodola is also a favorite place for diving, jet skiing, fishing, and snorkeling. If you snorkel here, don’t be surprised because you can find several ships and planes that have sunk to the bottom of the sea.

Rubiah Island – Sabang City, Aceh Province.

Sabang, an island at the western tip of Indonesia, is also blessed with beautiful and enchanting nature. If you don’t believe it, take a look at Rubiah Island, one of the many hidden paradises that lie between the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean.

The island with an area of ​​26 hectares offers undoubted beauty under the sea. You can easily find fish that are swimming freely or hiding in the reef. There are eight snorkeling points and 11 diving points which are the best spots to explore. When diving, you will come across various species of tropical fish, such as angelfish, giant clams, parrots, lion fish, and so on.

Apart from being inhabited by various fish species, Rubiah Island is also home to various types of coral reefs and giant clams. Because of its wealth, Rubiah Island is often called Rubiah Marine Park or Sea Garden of Rubiah which is a paradise for divers. Uniquely, in one of the dive spots you can find tables, chairs, and swings.

Labuan Cermin Lake – East Kalimantan.

Kalimantan is one of the islands in Indonesia, which has various extraordinary destinations. One of them is Labuan Carmine Lake, which is located in the Labuan Kelambu Village, Biduk District, East Kalimantan. To visit this lake you have to travel overland for about six to seven hours from the capital city of Berau Regency, Tanjung Redeb, East Kalimantan.

Named Labuan Cermin because this lake has a layer that makes sunlight reflect. This happens because Labuan Cermin Lake has two different types of water, namely sea water and fresh water.

While in Labuan Cermin, you can also do some interesting activities, such as swimming, snorkeling, and also diving. When diving, you can see some fish swimming not far from the surface and some far at the bottom.

The distinct taste of the water sets the fish apart. So that it can easily distinguish which types of freshwater fish and which are sea water fish. Before heading to Labuan Cermin, you can prepare your own snorkeling equipment. For those who forget to bring it, don’t worry, because at the pier where the crossing is located there is a snorkeling equipment rental shop along with the buoy.

Gili Kedis – Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

Another Gili from Lombok that has an extraordinary panorama, namely Gili Kedis. Unlike other dyke, Gili Kedis have a small size with white sand and clear blue sea.

The underwater panorama is tempting to explore. Therefore, for those of you who visit Gili Kedis, snorkeling is an activity that cannot be missed. In addition to its unspoiled underwater beauty, the types of marine life in Gili Kedis are also more numerous and varied than other dyke.

You can also camp or set up a tent on Gili Kedis. But note, you have to prepare everything before heading to this place, yes, because Gili Kedis is an uninhabited island. Due to its very small size, Gili Kedis can be surrounded in just five minutes on foot. While walking around, you can enjoy the beautiful green hills.

For those of you who are interested in Gili Kedis, there are two ways to get to this place. You can take a boat through Tawun Harbor, which takes approximately one hour. Usually before heading to Gili Kedis, tourists will be invited to visit Gili Sudak which is not far from Gili Kedis. From Gili Sudak, the trip to Gili Kedis only takes 10 minutes.

Nusa Penida – Bali.

Talking about the best snorkeling destinations in Indonesia, it is obligatory to include Bali in the list. One of them is Nusa Penida, a small island in the southeast of Bali. You can read my review awesome things to do in Nusa Penida island. The beauty of the sea and the coral reefs are great for snorkeling. Especially when there are cheap plane tickets to Bali, don’t ever delay buying them. Guaranteed you will definitely not regret going to this island.

Want to swim with giant manta rays? You can also visit Nusa Penida Island by boat, about 45 minutes from Sanur Harbor. There are already many local trip services that can take you to the best snorkeling spots on the island. If you already have a license, you can also dive on this island to see the deeper beauty of marine life.

Further Reading.

I hope you found this article useful. If you want to read more, here is a selection of articles you might like:

• To see all the articles about travel destinations and tourism topic categories, visit my Travel Destinations page.
• Looking for more Popular destinations in Indonesia you can find more on My Search page.
• If you are interested in my review, check out: The Top 10 Most Unusual and Unique Hotels in the World for Your Vacation.
• Things to do in Nusa Dua Mengiat beach is one of cleanest beaches in bali,most exotic place very suitable for swimming with the family.
• Looking for the best snorkeling gear to take with you on your next underwater adventure Snorkeling kit Store for more information.
• Take a look at this packing list, Travel Essentials, that you can finally rely on. Recommend to pack for any vacation, the best way to pack a backpack is to save space.
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