Things to Know About Snorkeling in Nha Trang

Nha Trang is without the doubt one of the most attractive beach city in Vietnam. The chances are when you're talking with someone about  Nha Trang you will hear 'Don't go there, it's filled with Russians!'. We heard it many times, but we always explore places and experience things despite negative experiences and perspectives of other people. We do admit that almost every place has the menu on Russian and Vietnamese which is a great sign what's going on there. Also, there are many Russian tourists around, it's a fact, but not enough to skip this beautiful place!

Did you know that Nha Trang and its surrounding islands lie on coral reefs where marine life is so alive and diverse that it's hard to believe you're in Vietnamese waters?

When you have a combination of crystal clear waters and coral reef, the first thing that comes to our mind is dipping in a new adventure - snorkeling in Nha Trang and surrounding islands! If you don't like the busy bustle of the city, that's fine, head over to calm and clear waters of the surrounding area.

Let's talk more about Nha Trang snorkeling and why it's so special!

Nha Trang is located on the southern coast of Vietnam which means the city goes through two main seasons - low and high season. The weather and especially snorkeling conditions hugely depend on the season you're visiting Nha Trang. The best snorkeling months in Nha Trang are without any questions - April to October.

If you have a chance to visit during July or August, you'll be greeted with amazing sunny weather, combined with a bit of wind and extremely good visibility in the water. On a good day during the peak season, you can expect visibility of 15 - 20 meters which is crazy good! The worst time to do snorkeling is definitely between December to the beginning of March.

There are still some tours operating and you might be able to hop on a tour, but don't expect great water conditions and visibility.

Anyway, the sea around Nha Trang is extremely diverse, so while snorkeling you can expect to see all kinds of interesting sea creatures including putter fish, butterflyfish, moray eels, and beautiful corals all around you! Don't have the expectation of stumbling upon sharks, turtles or rays in these waters! We must say that for some people it's a disappointment, while for some a huge relief!

Thinking of kitesurfing in Phan Rang which is just 2 hours from Nha Trang?

Luckily, snorkeling sites in Nha Trang are extremely close to the city and there are many tours operating in the area, so if you're looking to snorkel in clear waters with diverse marine life, the high possibility is that you're heading to Hon Mun marine protected area. During the peak season, this snorkeling site becomes filled with tourists and boats which still makes a good experience.

The only problem is that we're talking about the protected maritime area, but the flocks of boats and littering that goes with it make it a bit questionable.

When it comes to snorkeling in Nha Trang, the majority of people experience a stunning Hon Mun Marine Area and surrounding islands, but not so many people go a bit north from the city to stunning Whale Island or Hon Ong. The island is located a bit outside the city, about 100 km northern and it's a quiet escape from all the bustle and noise of the city.

The island sits at Van Phong Bay and it provides its visitors with turquoise waters and untouched nature. There are few resorts where you can relax while enjoying the island vibe.

Snorkeling along with many other water activities like diving and kayaking is very popular around the waters of the island. The good thing is that the waters aren't filled with flocks of boats and tours since we couldn't find any tour that goes directly from Nha Trang.

There are few tours, especially from resorts who are organizing snorkeling on Whale Island and it usually costs about 60 - 100k VND per day.

Located in a protected marine area just 45 minutes away from the city by boat, Hon Mun is the most popular snorkeling site in Nha Trang. There are countless tour companies operating in the waters, so you can choose between so many options. In a protected area, there are at least 300 different kinds of corals and more than a thousand species of fish.

You can stumble upon moray eel, butterflyfish, putter fish and many others. If you're looking to swim with reef sharks or rays, don't expect it since there are not residing in these waters.

The waters are very clear and you can even see the bottom from the boat. The coral reef is so colorful and lively which will provide you with an amazing experience! Listen to your instructor since the waters there are a bit deeper than usual, ranging from 10 - 25 meters!

A bit underrated island located just off the coast of Nha Trang in Nha Phu lagoon is the perfect spot for snorkeling! The island is usually called Monkey island since it's a natural habitat to more than 1,000 monkeys.

Many travelers choose this one for snorkeling because not so deep waters (3 - 5 meters), a very clear sea and so colorful coral reefs with all kinds of sea life living around. It's such a stunning place to go snorkeling!

Nha Trang is a very popular and world-wide recognized place for water activities. The reason is a beautiful coast with many islands and peninsulas around that are surrounded by coral reef and crystal clear waters. It's not a surprise that there are countless tour companies that offer diving or snorkeling activities. We can recommend a very professional and passionate company that operates in Nha Trang called Vietnam Active.

They have an office in Nha Trang and offer all kind of adventure water activities including scuba diving, free diving and snorkeling. If you decide to go on tour with this company, expect waking up early since they start picking up people around the city at 7 am. The final destination is Hon Hun Marine Park that is about 45 minutes away by boat from the harbor.

They usually change the snorkeling sites depending on the weather conditions and visibility, but in total, you can expect to visit two snorkeling sites. At the first site on the eastern side of the island, expect to spend about 1.5 hours of snorkeling.

Even if you're not experienced or outside the form, don't worry as they have an instructor on the boat who can assist you in water, teach you a technique and give you valuable tips for snorkeling. The great thing about this tour is that people have free drinks (coffee, tea, water) as well as a diverse lunch included.

The lunch is usually a buffet with meat, cheese, eggs and vegetables which goes very good after a session of snorkeling. After the lunch, the boat drives to another site which is about 15 minutes west from the first site where you jump in the crystal clear waters and enjoy the biodiversity of life in the sea. You can expect to be back at your accommodation around 2 pm.

Did you experience snorkeling in Nha Trang? How was it? Share your experiences and stories with us!