Snorkeling in Bermuda

snorkelingImagine the thrill of coming face to face with a parrotfish grazing on coral or exploring a shipwreck dating back to the civil war, or maybe diving in clear warm water surrounded by coral reefs teeming with tropical fish. You can experience this and more along the shore beaches of Bermuda.

Bermuda is known for its excellent snorkeling. Located about 650 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, Bermuda’s climate is insulated by the Gulf Stream keeping the average air temperature in the high 70s and low 80s. It rarely gets above 90 degrees in the summer.

Bermuda’s shallow reef completely surrounds the island providing easy snorkeling from all sides of the island. Masks, fins and snorkels can be rented at most of dive shops and if you are a novice, dive operators can provide instruction.

Best Snorkeling Sites of Bermuda

Achilles Bay offers seclusion. A small beach on the eastern tip of Bermuda, between Fort St. Catherine and Tobacco Bay is a good site for novices. The shoreline is a bit rocky but a 30 yard swim will take you outside the rocks and since deep water is a long distance from the beach, you’ll have plenty of space to snorkel.

Nearby St. George provides lodging, dining, public transportation, moped rental, and taxies. Dive shops can provide equipment rental, instruction, and information on the many activities in St. George.

John Smith’s Bay is a popular spot for night diving, so expect a good deal of company when visiting during the height of the season. Located on the south shore, between Pink Beach and Watch Hill Park, John Smith’s Bay is easy to find. Some say John Smith’s Bay is the best snorkeling spot in Bermuda, with its many canyons and tunnels that shelter small fish, crabs and shrimp.

The beach itself is long and scenic and is popular with swimmers who can pack a picnic lunch and stroll along the beach. Small caves at one end of the beach provide shelter from the sun. John Smith’s Bay is handicapped accessible and has a lifeguard on duty from April through October.

Shelly Bay is popular with swimmers, snorkelers and sun bathers. The natural protection of the bay and easy access to the water makes this an ideal snorkeling site. The water is shallow up to 50 yards from the beach where you’ll find lizardfish, peacock flounder, and parrotfish. Shelly Bay is another handicapped accessible site.

At Elbow Beach, the reef begins only 10 yards from shore and stretches out to sea for over a mile. First time snorkelers will be awestricken by the interesting marine life. Further offshore you’ll find extensive tunnels and caves which are home to tarpon and horse-eyed jacks.

A 300 yard swim from Elbow Beach will take you to the wreck of the Pollockshields which sank in 1915 and is the only shipwreck that can be reached by snorkeling from a public beach. The wreck should only be explored by experienced divers when the weather is calm and flotation devices should be worn when venturing that far out. Visibility averages between 50 and 75 feet.

If you like to explore shipwrecks, coral reefs and share the sea with tropical fish, you’ll love Bermuda.

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