Snorkelling in Europe

[FairyPenguin]

We're looking to go somewhere for a week in May half-term that is good for beginner snorkelling? The children will be 8 and 11: eldest is a strong swimmer, younger one is getting there but we need somewhere nice and calm with easy access in and out of the water from the beach so that we can take breaks but go back in.

We are hoping to stay in a villa with pool, walking distance to local restaurants, then walk/short drive to snorkelling.

Does anyone have recommendations for good resorts to go to in Europe?

Thanks.

South of Italy - Bari or Sicily.

Porquerolles in France is also superb for snorkelling but the sea might be still a bit chilly.

Thank you Auchan. Are there particular beaches in Bari and Sicily that you would recommend? I'm finding it difficult when looking online to distinguish between those which require a boat trip out to snorkel and those where we can just swim out from the beach ourselves.

I thought Malta was best in Europe for this kind of thing?

Malta is fab in terms of fish to see, but a lot of beaches aren't great and access to the sea is often into quite deep water down a ladder, which could be fine if they are strong swimmers.

Lanzarote is very good and some parts of Mallorca. What you want is a little 'cove' beach with rocky sides because that's where the fish congregate. Somewhere like Playa Chica in Puerto del Carmen Lanzarote. Or Cala Fornells in Mallorca.

Be aware that the fish life early in the year isn't always as prevalent as later on. We scuba dived in Gozo in October last year and June this year, and there were loads more and bigger fish last October. Marsalforn in Gozo is a lovely quiet resort with amazing Italian restaurants (food is heavily Italian influenced due to lots of Italian settlers over the years).

Playa Papagayo on Lanzarote is brilliant for snorkelling.

Thank you. This is great. I'll have a look at them all.

Playa Blanca Lanzarote would be a good choice, and is a nice quietish resort - probably the Lanzarote equivalent of Puerto Pollensa.

As well as Playa Papagayo, which is gorgeous but a good walk or short drive away, there are Playa Dorada or Playa Flamingo, which are as I described with rocky breakwaters where loads of fish congregate and are nice safe beaches too.

And then you have the underwater sculpture museum, which you can snorkel over and see the sculptures, even though it is best appreciated when scuba diving.

www.divecollegelanzarote.com/en/museo-atlantico-lanzarote/

Have just been reading up about all the places mentioned. Really liking the look of Lanzarote.

Playa Chica, Playa Blanca (Dorada, Flamingo and Papagayo) and also Playa Del Jablillo all have great snorkelling reviews. The pictures look stunning - I think the children would love it. The calm waters look perfect for us.

In terms of looking for a quiet resort with nice restaurants to eat out in the evenings, are any of the above more suitable than others? We'd be looking for a villa - I'm assuming they all have villas in walking distance of restaurant and beach?

Thank you.

I'm not a snorkeler but Sant Elm in Majorca looked like it might fit the bill. Small, clean, lots of families.

Like this ? Vis island Croatia.

The sea is amazing , salty and buoyant but so clear. That's me snorkelling off the dock of our air b&b.

It was a number of years ago now, but we had wonderful snorkelling in Thassos. Really calm waters.

May I ask how warm the water in Lanzarote or in May? This sounds like something my DC would enjoy too.

Having had a quick look at temperatures, it looks like Lanzarote will be the warmest of all the places mentioned in May.

We went to Thassos many years ago and loved it. So peaceful. Might have to make a return trip.

Croatia looks fantastic - a place I have always wanted to visit. Would you mind sending me the link to the airbnb you stayed at please, Helenluvsrob?

Croatia highly recommended too - we visited the Dalmatian coast this summer and snorkelled most days.

Hi everyone. Just a update to say that we narrowed it down to Lanzarote and Cyprus in the end, mainly due to sea temperatures at end of May. We researched flights and villas in both, and have just booked a week near Konnos Bay in the Cape Greco National Park at the South-Eastern tip of Cyprus. Thanks for all your help and we will definitely use these suggestions for future holidays.

I know you have decided but just want to say Croatia( again) we were on one of the islands off the coast from Spilt
The water was the best- In Europe- we have ever swam in. Not sure what temps would be earlier tho.
Definitely one to bear in mind for future

We've snorkelled a few places and our favourites were Majorca (Cala San Vincente) and Elba in Italy. We also saw a shipwreck in Elba which was amazing.

These suggestions are great!! My D (9)and I are keen snorkellers (is that even a word?!) and I would recommend Corfu as well. Some lovely snorkelling off Nissaki, Kassiopi, paeleokatitra. Very clear water, surprising amount of sea life, very calm.

Croatia has very calm, clear water (pebbly beaches)

Croatia is a definite in our list. Thank you everyone!

Cyprus! We go a lot and got married there. My husband loves snorkelling there and our eldest boy whose 11

FairyPenguin - just seen your thread from last year - how was the snorkeling??

We had a lovely time, thanks! Konnos Bay was good but busy. We also snorkelled in Green Bay which was better for us as it was quieter and calmer for the children to walk in and out of the sea, while they built up their confidence. As we were snorkelling from shore, we didn’t see as much as we have done from boats previously but it was definitely the better way for introducing the children to it. There were a lot of scuba divers at Green Bay as well - apparently it’s a very good spot further out, we just didn’t get that far with the children.