Planet Earth is made up of 71% water allowing so many opportunities for great swimming. That would require quite a bit of exploring to find perfection, so we made your life easier and have listed the best places in the world to take a dip.
1. Linapacan Island, Palawan, Philippines An island situated just off the coast of Palawan, this charming area gets few tourists allowing for some true R&R. Although it’s not easy to get to, the snorkeling alone is worth the trip.
2. Maldive Islands You can’t go wrong visiting any of the almost 1200 islands making up the Maldives, famous for the crystal clear water and white sandy beaches.
3. Dog Island, San Blas, Panama The indigenous Guna Yala people have maintained and preserved this island so well it’s postcard perfect and void of crowds.
4. Cayo Coco, Cuba Unlike Dog Island, Cayo Coco is a popular vacation spot for tourists. For good reason! Just look at that dramatic two-tone aqua waters.
5. Phi Phi Island, Thailand Every 20-something should go here. We take that back, everyone should go here once in their lifetime. The laid back atmosphere,cheap food and drink and gorgeous beaches beckon for you to visit and then never leave.
6. Crater Lake, Oregon Created from an ancient volcano and surrounded by sheer cliffs, this lake is the perfect color of deep blue and screams come swim in me!
7. Hanauma Bay, Hawaii Swim with green sea turtles at this Marine Life Conservation Area.
8. Macarella Beach, Menorca, Spain This idyllic cove is sheltered by the surrounding hills making for perfectly still turquoise waters.
9. Blue Lagoon, Iceland This geothermal spa is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Iceland. At temperatures hovering around 100°F, the spas make for a perfect winter escape from the freezing air temperatures, snow and ice.
10. Bodrum Peninsula, Turkey The Greek-style white washed houses and palm tree-lined streets only add to the beauty and charm of this sea-side escape.
11. Tulum, Mexico Where else do you get to swim in the ocean and gaze at the Mayan ruins? Historical AND heavenly!
12. Sabah, Malaysia Just off the northern part of Borneo known as Sabah, lay beds of multicolored coral reefs that attract divers and snorkelers alike.
13. Calanque de Sormiou, France A popular vacation spot for hikers and climbers alike who come for the exquisite views. The lake is a welcome respite with crystal clear water that switch between tones of turquoise and deep dark blue.
14. Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada If you can ignore the glacial temperaturesof the water (they remain frozen until June), this lake is surrounded bybreathtaking mountains and looks like it’s right out of a fairytale.
15. Gardner Bay, Hood Island, Galapagos Islands Snorkel the turquoise water and when you tire out, hang out with the seals basking in the sun on the beautiful white sand beach.
16. Cayos Cochinos, Honduras These islands are located on the northern shores of Honduras and are a recognized Marine Protected Area limiting living and fishing to protect the coral reefs.
17. Primosten, Dalmatia, Croatia One of the most beautiful places in Croatia, located on the Adriatic coast, Primosten has maintained its Mediterranean charm. Head down to the water and the pebble beaches are surrounded by colorful reefs and a kaleidoscope of tropical fish.
18. Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda A seaside retreat consisting of pink sands and water the perfect temperature for swimming.
19. Kalami Beach, Corfu, Greece The scenic Greek coast line is dotted withpretty hamlets huddling around picturesque bays. Kalami is no exception: afishing village surrounded by olive groves with white sandy beaches and clear, shallow waters.
20. Aitutaki, Cook Islands A tropical heaven where your fingers will prune from the hours spent snorkeling to watch the technicolored fish.
21. Playa Flamenco Beach, Culebra Island, Puerto Rico An old pirate hideout and ex-military station, “Snake Island” is located 20 miles east of Puerto Rico’s mainland. Its laid-back atmosphere and inexpensive lifestyle, makes Culebra Island an untouched gem compared to the rest of the Caribbean. Playa Flamenco beach is the most popular beach on the island with stretched out white beaches and pristine waters filled with beautiful fish.
22. Bora Bora, French Polynesia A popular honeymoon destination for itsaqua-centric luxury resorts, the ocean is centric to the enjoyment of this island no matter where you stay. Luxury hut or tricked-out water bungalow, most of your stay will be spent soaking up the sun floating in the beautiful waters.
23. Tropic Of Cancer Beach (aka Pelican Beach), The Exumas, BahamasThe Exumas are an archipelago of 365 cays and islands off the south-eastern coast of the Bahamas. Tropic Of Cancer Beach is located on Little Exuma, in the shape of a crescent, surrounding translucent blue-green water made for swimming.
24. The Blue Lagoon, Comino Island, Malta A small island between Malta and Gozo, once inhabited by exiled Knights of Malta, Comino Island is largely uninhabited now. Comino’s area known as the Blue Lagoon is popular with day-trippers in the summer who come for the warm, aquamarine waters and the white sand beach.
25. Cala Domestica, Sardinia, Italy This striking inlet may not be the best for lounging on the beach as the shore is a mixture of sand gravel and rocks but the cliffs and pure water make for a great snorkeling location.
26. Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia If you want to throw in some excitement, try swimming with whale sharks in Western Australia. Eek!
27. The Te Waikoropupu Springs (‘Pupu Springs’), New Zealand This lake shouldn’t technically be in the list as swimming is prohibited (the local Māoriconsider it sacred), but it just looks so swimmable. Located in Golden Bay onNew Zealand’s South Island, Pupu Springs is considered to have the clearest spring water in the world.
