Although you’d think a beach is a beach, some are just better than others.
And while much ado is made about how white a beach’s sand is, or how many palm trees are swaying nearby, clear water is another major draw.
The following 13 beaches haves some of the clearest water in the world – so clear, in fact, that you won’t even need diving goggles.
MANINI’OWALI BEACH, KALAOA, HAWAII
Visitors have to climb down 10 feet of lava rocks to get to the glimmering water of Manini’owali Beach on the main island of Hawaii.
LINDQUIST BEACH, ST. THOMAS
Stocked with picnic tables, Lindquist Beach is the perfect place to bring snacks and take in the breathtaking views and crashing waves.
CALA MARIOLU, BAUNEI, ITALY
Ranked the #1 thing to do in Baunei, Italy, on TripAdvisor, visitors can’t stop raving about how beautiful this beach on the Italian island of Sardinia is.
BAIA DOS PORCOS, FERNANDO DO NORONHA, BRAZIL
To get to this beach, visitors must make a challenging trek down cliffs. However, the stunning rock formations and crystal clear water make it more than worth it.
EXUMA, BAHAMAS
Exuma, Bahamas, is home to over 365 islands and an abundance of crystal clear Caribbean water. Visitors can even swim with pigs at the famous Big Major Cay.
PORTHCURNO, CORNWALL, ENGLAND
This turquoise tinted water may look like it’s somewhere in the Caribbean, but it’s actually located on the southern tip of the UK.
SHOAL BAY, ANGUILLA, CARIBBEAN
This beach, a quick day trip away from St. Martin, is famous for its snorkeling, as well as the many local cafés and bars nearby.
THE MALDIVES
It is no secret that The Maldives are breathtaking. Known for their incredible reefs, luxury resorts, and blue lagoons, swimming in the Maldives is like jumping into a bottle of Evian.
NAVAGIO BAY, ZAKYNTHOS, GREECE
One of the most famous beaches in Greece, Navagio Bay is only accessible by boat. Otherwise known as Shipwreck Beach, visitors can see the ruins of a shipwrecked boat from 1980.
ZAMAMI, OKINAWA, JAPAN
Scuba diving in the transparent waters of Zamami Island is not to be missed.
BORACAY ISLAND, PALAWAN, PHILIPPINES
Boracay Island was ranked the best island in the world in 2016 by Condé Nast Traveler, and it’s easy to see why. White Beach, Boracay’s most popular beach, is known for its beautiful white sand and shallow blue water ideal for snorkeling.
ISLA PERRO (DOG ISLAND), SAN BLAS, PANAMA
Isla Perro’s crystal blue waters are like a giant swimming pool, and known to be one of the top snorkeling places in San Blas, Panama.
