# More Than Just Mexico - Here are Nine Places To Snorkel On Your Next West Coast Cruise *By James Hills, cruisewestcoast.com — Updated March 2026* Written by: [James Hills](https://cruisewestcoast.com/james-hills.html) Published: 10 March 2026 Last Updated: 10 March 2026 Evergreen BlogHits: 10015Reading time: 11:24 The snorkeling on a West Coast cruise covers more range than most people plan for. Warm, clear water off Coronado Island near Loreto. Kelp-filled coves in La Jolla with sea lions and leopard sharks. Ketchikan, Alaska, where you're in a drysuit watching sea stars and humpback whales in the same water. We've been in several of these places, and the variety across a single itinerary is genuinely hard to anticipate. Mexico and Hawaii deliver the tropical experience most people picture. But Ketchikan and San Diego offer cold-water encounters with sea life that simply doesn't exist further south - and those are often the stops that end up in the stories people tell when they get home. #### Questions ** No answer selected. Please try again. Please select either existing option or enter your own, however not both. Please select minimum {0} answer(s). Please select maximum {0} answer(s). /polls/excursions/what-is-your-favorite-type-of-cruise-excursion.html?task=poll.vote&format=json 1 Cultural / Historical Tours (10 votes / 32.26%) 32.26% votes Bucket List - Submarines and Helicopters etc (3 votes / 9.68%) 9.68% votes Foodie Tours (5 votes / 16.13%) 16.13% votes Hiking, Biking and Eco Tours (0 votes / 0%) 0% votes Adrenaline Experiences (0 votes / 0%) 0% votes I Don't Like Booking Tours (4 votes / 12.9%) 12.9% votes [{"id":25,"title":"All-Inclusive Beach Break","votes":9,"type":"x","order":1,"pct":29.030000000000001136868377216160297393798828125,"resources":[]},{"id":26,"title":"Cultural \/ Historical Tours","votes":10,"type":"x","order":2,"pct":32.25999999999999801048033987171947956085205078125,"resources":[]},{"id":27,"title":"Bucket List - Submarines and Helicopters etc","votes":3,"type":"x","order":3,"pct":9.67999999999999971578290569595992565155029296875,"resources":[]},{"id":28,"title":"Foodie Tours","votes":5,"type":"x","order":4,"pct":16.129999999999999005240169935859739780426025390625,"resources":[]},{"id":29,"title":"Hiking, Biking and Eco Tours","votes":0,"type":"x","order":5,"pct":0,"resources":[]},{"id":30,"title":"Adrenaline Experiences","votes":0,"type":"x","order":6,"pct":0,"resources":[]},{"id":31,"title":"I Don't Like Booking Tours","votes":4,"type":"x","order":7,"pct":12.9000000000000003552713678800500929355621337890625,"resources":[]}] ["#ff5b00","#4ac0f2","#b80028","#eef66c","#60bb22","#b96a9a","#62c2cc"] ["rgba(255,91,0,0.7)","rgba(74,192,242,0.7)","rgba(184,0,40,0.7)","rgba(238,246,108,0.7)","rgba(96,187,34,0.7)","rgba(185,106,154,0.7)","rgba(98,194,204,0.7)"] 350 ** Vote Now** Vote Form** ResultVotes #### What To Know About Snorkeling on a West Coast Cruise - Warm-water ports like Puerto Vallarta, La Paz, and Loreto's Isla Coronados are beginner-friendly - calm conditions, good visibility, and no wetsuit required for most of the year. - Cold-water ports like Ketchikan and San Diego require a wetsuit, but guided tours include all gear and the marine life is unlike anything you'll find in tropical waters - sea lions, leopard sharks, humpback whales, and giant kelp ecosystems. - Nearly every snorkeling destination on this list requires a booked excursion to access - either a boat tour, a guided shore excursion, or both. This isn't the Caribbean, where you can walk off a pier and snorkel a beach reef. Plan ahead and book before you board. - Ship excursions book up faster than most people expect. If snorkeling is a priority on your itinerary, it's worth locking in your excursion before you board - not after you're at sea. - Independent operators are often cheaper, but not always safer. Mechanical failures and unplanned delays with third-party boats are more common than people realize, and getting back to the ship on time becomes your problem if something goes wrong. - Heather Hills at [Flow Voyages](https://www.flowvoyages.com/) has vetted operators at several of these ports and can help you [book a snorkeling excursion](book-a-cruise.html) through a provider she trusts - which is a different experience than booking the cheapest option you find at the dock. We Love Virgin Voyages Cruises, I Know You Will Too! Virgin Voyages Book A Virgin Voyages Cruise [Book Now →](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/transfer.html?id=606&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.virginvoyages.com%2Fv%2Fhomepage%3FagencyId%3D422%26agentId%3D20843&site=cruisewestcoast) Virgin Voyages Book Your Alaska Cruise On Virgin Voyages [Book Now →](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/transfer.html?id=608&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.virginvoyages.com%2Fdestinations%2Falaska-cruises%3FagentId%3D20843%26agencyId%3D422&site=cruisewestcoast) CRUISEWESTCOAST Explore Alaska with Virgin Voyages: Adventure Awaits on the 2026 Alaskan Itineraries [Read More →](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/api/flowads/click/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcruisewestcoast.com%2Fcruise-news%2Fvirgin-voyages-sailing-alaska-2026.html&id=501&type=blog&site=cruisewestcoast) We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. #### Article Index [La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico](https://cruisewestcoast.com/ports-and-destinations/best-places-to-snorkel-west-coast-cruise.html#la-paz-baja-california-sur-mexico)[Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico](https://cruisewestcoast.com/ports-and-destinations/best-places-to-snorkel-west-coast-cruise.html#loreto-baja-california-sur-mexico)[San Diego, California](https://cruisewestcoast.com/ports-and-destinations/best-places-to-snorkel-west-coast-cruise.html#san-diego-california)[Catalina Island, California](https://cruisewestcoast.com/ports-and-destinations/best-places-to-snorkel-west-coast-cruise.html#catalina-island-california)[Ketchikan, Alaska](https://cruisewestcoast.com/ports-and-destinations/best-places-to-snorkel-west-coast-cruise.html#ketchikan-alaska)[Maui, Hawaii](https://cruisewestcoast.com/ports-and-destinations/best-places-to-snorkel-west-coast-cruise.html#maui-hawaii)[Kona, Hawaii](https://cruisewestcoast.com/ports-and-destinations/best-places-to-snorkel-west-coast-cruise.html#kona-hawaii)[Puerto Vallarta, Mexico](https://cruisewestcoast.com/ports-and-destinations/best-places-to-snorkel-west-coast-cruise.html#puerto-vallarta-mexico)[Cabo San Lucas, Mexico](https://cruisewestcoast.com/ports-and-destinations/best-places-to-snorkel-west-coast-cruise.html#cabo-san-lucas-mexico)[Ship Excursions vs. Independent Operators](https://cruisewestcoast.com/ports-and-destinations/best-places-to-snorkel-west-coast-cruise.html#ship-excursions-vs-independent-operators)[From Urchins to Angelfish - West Coast Snorkeling Is More Than What Most First-Time Cruisers Expect](https://cruisewestcoast.com/ports-and-destinations/best-places-to-snorkel-west-coast-cruise.html#from-urchins-to-angelfish-west-coast-snorkeling-is-more-than-what-most-first-time-cruisers-expect) The nine destinations below span roughly 3,000 miles of Pacific coastline - from Southeast Alaska down through the Pacific Coast, Baja, and into the Mexican Riviera. Water temperatures range from 55°F in Ketchikan to the low 80s in La Paz. Visibility runs from 20 feet in cold-water kelp forests to over 100 feet in the [Sea of Cortez](https://cruisewestcoast.com/sea-of-cortez-cruises.html). The point isn't to rank them - it's to understand what each port actually offers so you can decide where to spend your time in the water. At tender ports - Catalina, Kona, some Cabo anchorages - you're dependent on the ship's water shuttles to get ashore and back. Factor that into your timing before booking any independent excursion. One thing worth saying before the destinations: snorkeling is more accessible than people expect. You don't need to be a strong swimmer or in peak physical shape. As a bigger guy, I've done snorkeling excursions across most of these ports and the experience keeps getting better - operators have put real thought into re-boarding in recent years, and the staff on every tour we've been on has been well-trained in helping guests on and off the boat and getting everyone comfortable with the equipment before they hit the water. Nobody rushes you. Tour operators do have their own physical requirements and weight limits, so if you have any questions about what to expect, contact the operator or your travel advisor directly before you book. One practical tip regardless of your size or fitness level: bring your own mask and snorkel. Rental gear works, but fit matters more than people realize. Having gear that actually fits your face makes the whole experience noticeably better. ## La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico [La Paz](sea-of-cortez-cruises.html) sits at the southern end of the Baja Peninsula, just inside the Sea of Cortez, and the water here holds a genuinely different cast of sea life than what you'll find on the Mexican Riviera. Barracudas, grouper, parrotfish, and a resident sea lion colony are regulars. In the right season, whale sharks move through these waters - and snorkeling alongside a whale shark is an experience that stays with you. The best snorkeling at La Paz requires a boat. The sea lion colony at Los Islotes and the reef waters around Isla Espíritu Santo - about 30 kilometers north of the marina - are both boat-only destinations, and whale shark encounters are run by permitted guided operators. Most operators depart from the La Paz marina, making logistics straightforward on a port day. ## Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico --- {"html":""} --- [Loreto](https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-ports/loreto-mexico.html) is a quieter port than La Paz and draws a different kind of traveler - people who want the Sea of Cortez experience without the crowds. We've snorkeled here at Coronado Island (also listed as Isla Coronados by most local operators), a short boat ride from the marina, and the water clarity is exceptional. Angelfish, pufferfish, rays, and a rocky bottom that gives you a lot of visual terrain to work through. There's no way to reach the island without a boat excursion, but operators run regularly from the Loreto marina and the ride itself is part of the experience. The beach on the island - Playa Isla Coronado - is one of the most beautiful and secluded spots we've come across on any West Coast itinerary. Depending on the season, your group may have the whole stretch to yourselves. The water is warm, clear, and full of tropical fish, which makes it genuinely accessible for anyone who wants to get in without navigating currents or kelp. The boat tour out also passes through some of the best dolphin waters in Loreto Bay. Between January and March, blue whales migrate into Loreto Bay National Marine Park to feed - the nutrient-rich waters here draw more reliable blue whale sightings than almost anywhere else in Mexico. If your cruise calls at Loreto during that window, check whether any operators are running whale watches in combination with the snorkel excursion. ## San Diego, California [San Diego](cruises-from-san-diego.html) is an embarkation port for most West Coast cruisers, which means it often gets overlooked as a snorkeling destination. That's a mistake. The La Jolla Ecological Reserve and Underwater Park, about 15 minutes north of downtown, is one of the best cold-water snorkeling sites on the Pacific Coast. Leopard sharks, shovel-nose guitarfish, bat rays, and the Garibaldi damselfish - California's official state marine fish, bright orange and aggressively protective of its territory - are regulars here. The sea lion colony at La Jolla Cove adds a different element entirely. Getting in the water with a curious sea lion that's decided to investigate you is an odd and memorable thing. The beach at La Jolla is technically accessible without a booking, but we'd recommend going with a guided tour. Local operators know the safe entry points, the conditions, and where the sea lions are likely to be - and in cold, unpredictable Pacific surf, having someone in the water with you makes a real difference. Water temperatures run 58-68°F depending on the season, so a wetsuit is non-negotiable. Guided tours include gear. If you're departing from [Los Angeles](cruises-from-los-angeles.html), a day trip down to La Jolla before embarkation is worth building into your pre-cruise schedule. ## Catalina Island, California Catalina sits 22 miles off the coast, southwest of [Los Angeles](cruises-from-los-angeles.html), and ships anchor offshore - meaning you'll take a tender into Avalon before you do anything else. Factor tender timing into your day before booking any independent snorkel excursion. Once ashore, the two main sites are Lover's Cove Marine Preserve and the Avalon Underwater Park. Both are populated with bat rays, Garibaldi damselfish, kelp bass, and Giant Black Sea Bass, which can reach six feet long. The kelp forest here is what makes Catalina distinct from anything you'll find further south - visibility in the kelp is different than open-water tropical snorkeling, and navigating through it takes some adjustment. Currents and surge can be significant, and a guide who knows the entry and exit points makes a real difference. **[NEEDS UPDATE: Confirm Avalon Underwater Park at Catalina Island is still actively maintained and open as a designated snorkeling site before publishing.]** ## Ketchikan, Alaska [Ketchikan](cruise-ports/ketchikan-alaska.html) is not what most people picture when they think snorkeling - and it's one of the more memorable stops on the entire itinerary because of that. Surface water here averages around 55°F, the sea life is different from anything in tropical waters, and the whole experience is run by a single dedicated operator: [Snorkel Alaska](https://www.snorkelalaska.com/), based four miles from the cruise docks. Snorkel Alaska picks you up dockside, outfits you with a full 7mm wetsuit including hood, boots, and gloves, and leads a guided one-hour underwater tour at Mountain Point. Everything is included - transportation, gear, instruction, hot showers afterward. The tour accommodates a range of experience levels and fitness backgrounds, and they've been running cruise passengers in these waters since 2001. There is a weight limit for wetsuit fit, so if you have any questions about physical requirements, contact [Snorkel Alaska](https://www.snorkelalaska.com/) or your travel advisor directly before you book. And if conditions align, [humpback whales](excursions/alaska-cruise-guide-to-the-best-time-to-see-whales.html) feed in these same waters. Snorkeling in the presence of a humpback whale is a different category of experience - not comfortable, not tropical, not something you'll find anywhere in Mexico. That's the point. ## Maui, Hawaii Maui is the most options-rich snorkeling stop on a West Coast cruise itinerary, and most of the best sites require a boat to reach. The water is warm, visibility is consistently good, and the range of sites covers every skill level. Molokini is the standout - a small volcanic crater off the south coast of Maui that's both a state bird sanctuary and a Marine Life Conservation District. The crater is boat-only, accessible only through permitted tour operators departing from Ma'alaea Harbor. Fish density is high, the reef is protected, and it's the kind of site that lives up to what the photos promise. We haven't snorkeled Molokini ourselves yet, but Heather has worked with enough clients who have that the message is consistent: book it before you board. It fills up, and there's no good substitute once it's gone. Coral Gardens, closer to shore, can be accessed from the beach and offers a solid mix of coral formations and tropical fish without the logistics of a boat. Turtle Town, a stretch of reef near Kihei popular with Hawaiian green sea turtles, is a boat excursion with guided access to protect the animals and the reef. Napili Bay, about an hour from the cruise pier, is quieter than most sites - the right choice if you want a less structured afternoon in the water. ## Kona, Hawaii Kona is a district on the Big Island of Hawaii - not a separate island - and the snorkeling here centers on Kealakekua Bay, about 12 miles south of the Kona pier. We've snorkeled the Bay outside of a cruise, and it earns its reputation. One thing to understand before you plan: the prime snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay is at the north end, near the Captain Cook Monument, and you cannot get there by car. The monument sits across the water from the road-accessible south shore. To snorkel the best of the Bay, you need a guided boat tour departing from Honokohau Harbor or Keauhou Bay - or you're looking at a steep 1.5-mile trail that tour operators themselves recommend skipping if you're working against a ship's schedule. For cruise passengers, the boat tour is the right call. The coral begins in very shallow water at the monument end of the bay, so be careful not to stand up and damage the reef underfoot. The depth drops off fast, and channel currents can be strong. Stay close to the monument and let the guide set the pace. ## Puerto Vallarta, Mexico [Puerto Vallarta](cruise-ports/puerto-vallarta-mexico.html) is one of the most reliable snorkeling ports on the [Mexican Riviera](https://cruisewestcoast.com/mexican-riviera-cruises.html) - the water is warm, the visibility is good, and there are enough sites that you can choose based on how much time you want to spend. We've been here and the water lives up to the reputation. Los Arcos, on the south end of Banderas Bay, and the Islas Marietas, further out within Marietas National Park, are both boat excursions - Los Arcos is the closer and more accessible of the two, while the Marietas require a permit-controlled tour that takes you through sea caves and into open-water reef sections. Access to some beaches within the Marietas is restricted to preserve nesting habitat, which is worth knowing before you book. For this port specifically, Heather recommends booking through a vetted operator rather than picking up a tour at the pier. Puerto Vallarta has a lot of independent operators and quality varies significantly. ## Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Cabo is one of the easier ports on the West Coast itinerary to arrange a snorkeling excursion. The marina is lined with operators, the ride out to the main sites - Pelican Rock, Santa Maria Bay, Land's End near El Arco - is short, and the volume of boats on the water means that if anything goes wrong mechanically, you're rarely far from help. We haven't gotten in the water here yet, but the setup is hard to beat for a low-friction half-day. Most tours also include a pass by El Arco, the iconic rock arch at Land's End, which is worth the trip on its own. The more serious destination is Cabo Pulmo, about 60 miles northeast of the marina - roughly a two-hour drive each way, with the last six miles on unpaved dirt road. Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park contains the only hard coral reef in the Sea of Cortez, a 20,000-year-old reef system that's been recovering steadily since the park was established in 1995. Giant manta rays, hammerheads, swarms of eagle rays, and whale sharks all move through these waters. For cruise passengers, this is a full-day commitment. Only plan for it if your port call gives you a genuinely long day - and book through a guided operator who handles transportation, because navigating that dirt road on your own isn't how you want to spend a port day. ## Ship Excursions vs. Independent Operators This is probably the most practical question in snorkeling trip planning, and the answer isn't one-size-fits-all. Ship excursions cost more - sometimes significantly more - and the group sizes can be large. But they run on the ship's schedule. If a motor fails or a tender runs late, the ship waits for you. That guarantee has real value, and it's easy to underestimate until you've had an independent boat break down offshore with an hour until your ship sails. Heather has dealt with exactly that situation with clients. Independent boating excursions have mechanical failures and timing delays more often than people expect. In her words, it adds real stress to what should be a straightforward afternoon in the water. That doesn't mean independent operators are the wrong choice. At some ports - Ketchikan, La Jolla in San Diego, Loreto - the independent operators are excellent and the ship's excursion options are limited. The key is knowing which operators have reliable equipment and clean safety records, which isn't something you can determine from a dock conversation. Heather Hills at [Flow Voyages](https://www.flowvoyages.com/) works with operators at several West Coast and Mexico ports and can match you with vetted options based on your specific ports of call. It's one of those things first-time cruisers don't always think to ask a travel advisor about - but it makes a material difference. You can reach her at [flowvoyages.com](https://www.flowvoyages.com/) or [contact her through CruiseWestCoast](book-a-cruise.html). ## From Urchins to Angelfish - West Coast Snorkeling Is More Than What Most First-Time Cruisers Expect Most people don't think of a West Coast cruise as a snorkeling trip. That's the gap this article is trying to close. The same itinerary that puts you in the warm, clear water off Loreto's Isla Coronados - drifting over angelfish and rays in near-perfect visibility - can also put you in a 7mm wetsuit in Ketchikan, face down over a kelp wall covered in sea stars and urchins while humpbacks feed somewhere above you. One morning at Molokini. An afternoon at Kealakekua Bay. A boat ride out to a 20,000-year-old coral reef at Cabo Pulmo that marine biologists travel specifically to study. That range - tropical to sub-Arctic, reef to kelp forest, warm to cold - is what makes this itinerary genuinely unusual. You won't find it in the Caribbean. You won't find it in the Mediterranean. Book the excursions before you board, get in the water at every port that calls to you, and let the Pacific Coast surprise you. Book Your Next Cruise With Heather at Flow Voyages! She is our prefered travel advisor for cruises and all-inclusive resorts. Call: 630-779-9301 or click here ... [Book Now →](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/transfer.html?id=617&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flowvoyages.com%2F&site=cruisewestcoast) We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. --- ***Thanks for reading. We hope this was helpful!*** Why stop now? 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Expert cruise reviews, port guides, and personalized trip planning. *Source: [More Than Just Mexico - Here are Nine Places To Snorkel On Your Next West Coast Cruise](https://cruisewestcoast.com/ports-and-destinations/best-places-to-snorkel-west-coast-cruise.html) — cruisewestcoast.com* **Related content you may find useful:** - [Alaska cruise port guides](https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-ports/alaska/) - [Alaska cruise tips for first-timers](https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-tips-advice/) - [Plan your trip with our cruise specialist](https://cruisewestcoast.com/book-with-heather?ref=agent)