First Time Snorkeling in Roatan Honduras: What to Expect

Is Roatan good for a first snorkel?

It is. The reef comes close to shore, so the boat rides are short, and the sites the first-timer trips use are shallow. On the three-stop snorkel with the shipwreck the first stop is a sandy starfish bed where you can find your breathing before the reef. The guides stay in the water the whole time, as Daniel C. noted. Catherine O.'s guide on the two-hour reef snorkel dived down and named the fish as they swam past.

The one thing to know first: many boats have you jump in from the side rather than climb down a ladder, as Michelle W. found. If that worries you, ask the crew to help you sit on the edge and slide in. The reef sites themselves are described on the things to do page.

What you will love most

• Starfish in the shallows: big orange cushion stars on the sand, a few metres below you.
• The drop-off: at the Blue Channel the reef ends at a wall of open blue.
• Fish that come to you: schools of grunts, angelfish and parrotfish over the coral.
• A guide at your side: pointing things out, and ready if you need a rest.

The gear, and how to use it

You are handed a mask, a snorkel and fins, and on most trips a vest. The vest keeps you floating without effort, so you can lie face down and watch. The two-hour reef snorkel from Ocean Adventures gives a brief lesson on the gear before you get in; the Tucan private snorkel lists a vest, mask, snorkel and fins. On the private West End boat, fins come only on request: the crew snorkel without them to protect the reef, and you can do the same.

What to prepare for

The sea decides some things for you. On a windy day there is current around the reef. On one such day Deborah B.'s crew moved the boat to pick the snorkelers up, so nobody had to swim against it. Some trips work with the current on purpose: the private snorkel, sanctuary and beach day includes about an hour and 20 minutes of drift snorkeling, where you float along the reef and the boat follows.

The health lines matter too. Most of these trips say no heart problems or other serious medical conditions. Several add that they are not recommended with back problems or in pregnancy, and a few ask for moderate fitness. Read them before you book, not at the dock. Which months bring the calmest water is on the best time to visit page.

Getting back on the boat

Climbing out is the part first-timers forget to plan for. Swim to the back of the boat, take your fins off in the water and hand them up to the crew, then climb the ladder with both hands. If there is no ladder, the crew will pull you up by the arms; kick hard as they lift and it takes seconds. Keep your mask on your forehead until you are sitting down, so it does not slip into the sea. If you are tired, say so early: the guides would much rather bring you back ten minutes sooner than tow you.

The best first trips

For the gentlest start, the two-hour reef snorkel is short and close to the port: Chris called the length just right for a ship day. The kayak and reef snorkel takes ten guests at most, and Karen B. found the kayaking easy before a reef snorkel nearby. If you want your own boat and your own pace, the private West End snorkel boat suits mixed abilities: Victor V.'s group of mixed swimmers was watched over the whole time.

Snorkeling with children

Children can snorkel here, with an adult beside them. The youngest age most trips price is four or five. Look for a vest in the gear list, a guide in the water, and a short first stop. The shipwreck trip prices children from four and has infant seats for the drive. Karen S.'s family was allowed to stay on the beach at Brady's Cay as long as they liked after the three reef stops. More on travelling with young children is in the frequently asked questions.

What to pair with it

A first snorkel takes two or three hours, which leaves time for something on land. The sloth and monkey stops pair well, since the animals sit close to the ports; which day uses which sanctuary is in our guide to the sanctuaries. Some trips build the pairing in: the private snorkel, sanctuary and beach day adds the animals and a beach club, and the Tucan private snorkel adds an eco-park and a West Bay day pass. Kevin O.'s guide on that one found the beach chairs and kept the whole plan on time. If you would rather stay on the sand after the reef, our post on West Bay explains the day passes.

Practical tips for your first time

• Wear a rash guard. It protects your back from the sun better than cream, and reef operators ask for reef-safe sunscreen.
• Keep your hands to yourself. Coral is alive and cuts skin; float above it.
• Eat light. A big breakfast and a rocking boat do not mix.
• Bring a dry layer. The van back is air-conditioned.
• Carry cash for tips. Gratuities are rarely in the fare.

If you liked it, the next step is a night swim. The night snorkel picks you up at your hotel between 5:30 and 6:30pm, twelve guests at most, and Jeremy B. called the kit well chosen. It is for hotel guests, not cruise days. What the voluntary US$10 reef fee does for these sites is explained in the visitor guide, and the dock and meeting points are on the Roatan map.

Gentle first trips on the reef

Roatan Reef Snorkel Adventure

About two hours from the ship and back: a licensed guide, mask, snorkel and fins, and a short drive to the crew's own dock.

From $55 per person

Check Availability

Roatan Shore Excursion: Kayak Harbor Adventure and Reef Snorkel

A guided paddle round the harbour and its mangroves, then a reef snorkel close by, ten guests at most. Gear and the kayak fee are in the fare.

From $55 per person

Check Availability

3 Stop Snorkel Hopping & Beach in Roatan

Three reef stops with guides in the water, then about an hour on a small cay. The fees and taxes are paid; bring cash for lunch.

From $75 per person

Check Availability