Okay, so you’ve decided to go on a snorkeling tour (cool!), and you’re wondering how much snorkeling costs you. You’re in the right spot.
Fortunately, it’s quite straightforward to figure out how much does snorkeling cost? (or make snorkeling a regular activity). Although I’ve done a lot of research and collected a lot of pricing to get reasonable ranges for what to expect for everything linked to snorkeling costs. Prices vary somewhat depending on the gear you want and what you’ll be doing (we’ll cover all that in just a moment).
Moreover, unlike other water sports like scuba diving, snorkeling doesn’t blow the budget, and I can enjoy my favorite hobby, the underwater world—at no cost.
So, how much does snorkeling cost? You may estimate snorkeling expenditures to be between $40-110 to purchase basic snorkel equipment, $18-42 to rent basic snorkel gear for one week, and $38-160 per person for a half-day snorkeling tour, each depending on the quality of gear and trip location.
Some of those margins of error may seem huge, so let’s be more specific about what you might expect to pay in your case. Expenses associated with snorkeling can be broken down into two broad groups: necessary purchasing equipment and the cost of actually going snorkeling.
How much do snorkel tours cost?
Half-day snorkel tours usually differ from $68 to $160 per person in regions with a high cost of living, $48 to $80 in areas with a medium cost of living, and $38 to $53 in areas with a low cost of living.
A snorkel trip with a certified guide is the best way to get started (let the guide realize that you’re a beginner, and they’ll be happy to assist you). You can’t beat a local guide’s knowledge of the best places to snorkel if you’re an experienced snorkeler. Therefore, I always advise snorkelers of any experience level to go on a tour. As always, there is more to learn about snorkel trips and their price, so let’s get started.
How much do snorkel tours cost?
As I mentioned before, the price of a snorkeling trip can vary widely (as can the price of just about anything else) depending on where you go and is frequently proportional to the basic cost of living in that region. If the place is expensive to live in, tour operators must charge extra to make a livelihood. When costs are reduced, prices can be lowered.
Prices for snorkeling trips also differ depending on the items. There may be a slight price increase for tours that include meals much longer than others. Some snorkeling tours take various people out at once, reducing each individual’s overall price.
But you can always find reliable average tour prices online, no matter where you go. You’ll need to put in some time and effort, but locating them is well worth it.
However, I’ve done much of that research for you here, so hopefully, it will be useful. Below are the data on three example regions that well-represent high, medium, and low cost-of-living places to visit. Even if your travel plans don’t take you to the same place I did, you should still be able to utilize this information to get a general idea of how much snorkel trips will set you back.
| How much do snorkel tours cost? | Snorkel Tour in Area with High Cost of Living | Snorkel Tour in Area with Medium Cost of Living | Snorkel Tour in Area with Low Cost of Living |
| Area | Honolulu, Hawaii | Barcelona, Spain | Bali, Indonesia |
| Cost of Living Index | 95.14 | 64.41 | 45.91 |
| Average Half-Day Snorkel Tour Cost (Per Person) | $112 | $71 | $47 |
| Half-Day Snorkel Tour Cost Range (Per Person) | $68-160 | $48-80 | $38-53 |
| Average Full-Day Snorkel Tour Cost (Per Person) | $208 | $124 | $67 |
| Full-Day Snorkel Tour Cost Range (Per Person) | $172-249 | $80-157 | $56-77 |
Using the informative Numbeo Cost of Living Index, I have separated the top locations into three categories:
- Those with a high cost of living (a cost of living index between 76 and 100).
- Those with a medium cost of living (a cost of living index between 51 and 75).
- Those with a low cost of living (a cost of living index between 26 and 50).
Honolulu, Hawaii (high cost of living), Barcelona, Spain (medium cost of living), and Bali, Indonesia (low cost of living) are the three great snorkeling example places to visit I’ve picked. Still, you can comfortably use Numbeo’s website to look up your tourist spot and determine which range it falls into.
From there, you may expect snorkel trip prices at your destination to be comparable to what you found here. We have compiled average prices for the best-reviewed tours in each of these categories on Viator to give you an idea of how much you can expect to pay for half-day (3-5 hours) and full-day (3-6 hour) excursions with a party of up to 12 people.
1. Honolulu, Hawaii
One of the most popular tourist spots in the world is Honolulu, located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Not only is the snorkeling excellent, but there are also many modern conveniences, beautiful tropical scenery, and pleasant temperatures all year. The cost of living index is 95.14, which indicates that it is also an expensive place to call home.
As a result, the services available to you may be limited; for example, I’ve discovered that half-day snorkel tours often cost something from $68 to $160 per person, with the average being around $112. Pricing for full-day snorkel tours ranges from $172 to $249, with an average of $208.
The price of snorkeling trips in Honolulu can vary quite a little depending on how long you go out, with some being half a day and others a full day. This is because Oahu offers both fantastic snorkeling spots that are close to the city and others that are further out. The answer somewhat depends on your primary goals (and if you want to pay for it).
In my experience, high-cost-of-living vacation destinations hover around $100/person for a half-day snorkel tour and closer to $200/person for a full day, so this analysis tracks well with my experiences. Hawaii is even a little more expensive because it’s a really expensive place to live worldwide.
Other examples of higher-cost-of-living destinations with snorkeling might include Miami, Florida; Valletta, Malta; Dubrovnik, Croatia; or Nice, France.
2. Barcelona, Spain
Although you might not think of Barcelona, Spain, as a prime snorkeling location, the Costa Brava is just a short train journey or car ride north of the city, and it is a sun-drenched paradise with plenty of cultures and a quiet blue ocean. And with a living index cost of 64.91, it’s somewhere in the middle of the pack compared to the rest of the globe.
Does the lower cost of living in Barcelona and the Costa Brava impact how much snorkel tours cost? Yep!
The typical cost of a half-day snorkeling tour in Costa Brava is $71 per person (with a range of $48 to $80), while full-day trips cost an average of $124 per person (with a range of $80 to $157). The Costa Brava is a great place to go snorkeling because it offers reasonable prices.
Places like San Juan, Puerto Rico, Thessaloniki, Greece, Mallorca, Spain, and the Maldives (if you can believe it) also provide decent snorkeling at reasonable prices. (It’s also worth noting that just because the Maldives are in the middle of the pack for cost of living and snorkel trip rates doesn’t mean that overwater bungalows there are cheap. ?)
3. Bali, Indonesia
Bali feels like another world with its tropical temperature, dramatic volcanic scenery, lush jungles, clear waterways, and positive vibes. Its popularity as a tourist destination has skyrocketed in the last two decades, yet the cost of living there remains low at 45.5 on the index.
Not only does that benefit in keeping the cost of snorkeling trips down, but it also helps greatly. The average cost for a half-day snorkel tour is $47 per person (with a range of $38-53), and the typical cost for a full-day snorkel tour is $67 per person (with a range of $56-$77).
No matter how you slice it, those rates are a steal for snorkeling tours, allowing you to squeeze in multiple adventures. Make sure you include your reef-safe sunscreen! This is something you’re going to want to have handy.
Cancun, Mexico, Phuket, Thailand, Suva, Fiji, and Davao, Philippines are some other examples of snorkeling locations with low cost of living indices.
How to find snorkel tours
Getting information about snorkel tours at a vacation spot used to require flying there and then visiting a few dive and snorkel shops in the area near the ocean. We may think it was long ago, but it was rather frequent, even as recently as the last six or seven years. We still do this occasionally if we know someone in the area, but now there’s a more convenient alternative.
The emergence of trustworthy (and helpful) internet travel agencies has revolutionized the industry. You may easily browse through a plethora of tour alternatives before your trip, learn about the experiences of others who have taken the same tour, and then book a tour that best suits your interests. It’s a breeze to accomplish.
Before I head out to the ocean, I always check Viator for snorkeling tours. Searching for “Honolulu snorkeling” (or wherever I’m going/whatever I’m into) yields many results. Since they were acquired by TripAdvisor a while back, you get the Viator tour listing in addition to those from TripAdvisor.
How much does snorkel gear cost?
You have two choices for how much snorkeling costs regarding the snorkel gear: either buy it or rent it.
If you plan to snorkel more than three times in the next five years, you should consider investing in your gear. Instead of paying to rent equipment multiple times, you may buy a more durable and safer one. It’s yours to keep, and you’ll start saving money soon, reducing the already low cost of snorkeling.
Renting gear is not bad if you plan on snorkeling once or twice in the next few years or if you’re curious about the sport and want to try it. However, most rental snorkel gear is of inferior quality. It may not have the same safety measures incorporated into better gear, so if you’re new to snorkeling, it’s a good idea to learn how everything works from a guide.
1. How Much Does it Cost to Buy Snorkel Gear?
First up: how much does it cost to buy snorkel gear? You may expect to pay $20-$40 for a beginner mask, $40-$110 for an intermediate mask, $110-$200 for an advanced mask, $20-$70 for a snorkel tube, and $50-175 for snorkel fins.
How much you spend on snorkeling equipment will vary depending on your specific needs, but here is a typical breakdown:
| Snorkel Gear Type | Average Cost |
| Basic Snorkel Mask | $20-40 |
| Intermediate Snorkel Mask | $40-110 |
| Advanced Snorkel Mask | $110-200 |
| Snorkel Tube | $20-70 |
| Snorkel Set (Mask + Tube) | $50-150 |
| Snorkel Fins | $50-175 |
A mask and a snorkel are the essential equipment for snorkeling, so let’s get those out of the way first.
Snorkel Masks
A snorkel mask (also known as a dive mask) can range anywhere from $20 to $200. To get a mask for less than $20 is conceivable (and this holds for the cheapest options across the board in terms of gear), but at that price point, I would be wary of the product’s safety and build quality (or other gear).
Standard snorkeling masks are, well, standard. They prevent water from entering your ocular and nasal passages. There is a noticeable improvement in the quality of construction, visibility, comfort, and safety features, such as purge valves, in masks categorized as intermediate and above.
To determine which mask suits your needs, check out our full explainer of each level at Best Snorkel Masks for All Levels: Beginners, Intermediates & Advanced.
Snorkels
Then, there are a few variations on the snorkel, such as the wet, semi-dry, and dry versions. I always advise using dry snorkels unless you are an experienced snorkeler.
Dry snorkels differ from regular snorkels because they contain a float valve built into the top of the tube that seals when submerged in water but opens when you take a breath, allowing you to breathe normally. As a snorkeling safety device, it’s a brilliant innovation.
Given the different dry valve technology, dry snorkels tend to cost more than regular snorkels (about $40-$70 for a good one), but they are well worth the cost. What I look for in a good dry snorkel, and where to find it, is over at The Best Dry Top Snorkel.
Snorkel Fins
You can snorkel without fins, but they will make the experience much more enjoyable. The improved visibility and reduced energy cost will allow you to cover more ground and reduce the risk of injury throughout the swim.
For roughly $50, you can get a decent pair of snorkel fins that aren’t simply stiff blocks of rubber, and for another $50-$75, you can get a solid set with some excellent intro technology built in. Fins can cost as much as $200 if you want the best of the best (but those are typically for really serious snorkelers).
Diverse fin options are discussed further (modern fins are much more than simple flippers) at The Best Snorkel Fins for Beginners, Advanced Snorkelers & Travelers, and that guide will help you figure out what you need.
Other Snorkel Gear
Many other items, such as snorkel-specific sun protection, cool action cameras like a GoPro, travel-specific snorkeling gear, kid-specific snorkeling equipment, and more, can significantly enhance your snorkeling experience if you’re into it.
Learn more about the various kinds of snorkel gear, their uses, and their prices with the following helpful guides:
- What Snorkel Gear Should I Buy? The Full Guide to Getting Started Affordably
- The Best Underwater Action Cameras for Snorkeling: GoPro & More
- Best Snorkel Gear for Travel: 7 Top Masks, Cameras & More
- The Best Snorkel Gear for Kids: Masks, Flippers & More
2. How Much Does it Cost to Rent Snorkel Gear?
Next, how much does it cost to rent snorkel gear? For an average of $42 per week in high-cost-of-living areas, $27 in medium-cost-of-living areas, and $18 in low-cost-of-living areas, you may hire a snorkel kit, including a mask, snorkel, and fins.
Renting snorkeling equipment can be a good alternative if you plan on going snorkeling once or twice (or if you want to try it before buying your own). Suppose you don’t mind utilizing the bare minimum of gear and forgoing safety features like purge valves on your mask and dry snorkels.
In addition, most snorkel tours will include snorkel equipment for you to use during your trip. However, such gear is typically fairly simple.
The cost of renting a car or other kind of transportation for a personal trip will vary according to the cost of living in the place you plan to visit. For a week of rental, a mask, snorkel, and fins should cost approximately $42 in an expensive location (like Hawaii) and about $18 in a cheap location (like Indonesia). Hmm, let’s have a look:
| Snorkel Gear Rental in an Area with a High Cost of Living | Snorkel Gear Rental in an Area with a Medium Cost of Living | Snorkel Gear Rental in an Area with a Low Cost of Living | |
| Example Area | Honolulu, Hawaii | Barcelona, Spain | Bali, Indonesia |
| Cost of Living Index | 95.14 | 64.41 | 45.91 |
| Average Mask & Snorkel Rental (Daily) | $8 | $5 | $3 |
| Average Mask & Snorkel Rental (Weekly) | $35 | $22 | $15 |
| Average Mask, Snorkel & Fins Rental (Daily) | $16 | $10 | $7 |
| Average Mask, Snorkel & Fins Rental (Weekly) | $42 | $27 | $18 |
Rentals are available daily if you plan to go once or twice, but a weekly rental is more cost-effective if you want to snorkel for three or four days. Even if it does, the cost of snorkeling shouldn’t be high.
If you’re interested in learning more about renting snorkel equipment and what to look out for, How Much Does it Cost to Rent Snorkel Gear? Prices & Problems.
How much does it cost to go snorkeling?
Once we have our snorkeling gear, we can begin our exploration.
How much does it cost to go snorkeling? From the coast, snorkeling is a free activity at most public beaches. Instead, a half-day snorkel excursion will set you back an average of $112 per person in high-cost-of-living areas, $71 in medium-cost-of-living areas, and $47 in low-cost-of-living areas.
You can typically find a good snorkeling spot from the shore if you’re at a beach resort and can’t wait to get wet. Usually, there won’t be any costs if you go to a public beach. Snorkeling beaches are usually free, although you may have to pay an entrance charge of $3 to $20 if the beach is in a national or state park or on private land that allows access for snorkeling.
If you insist on snorkeling without a guide, you had better be an experienced swimmer and make sure the weather is on your side.
3. How Much Do Snorkel Tours Cost?
Even so, snorkel tours remain my go-to for the activity. Not only is this the least risky method to get started (guides will teach you the basics), but tour guides also typically have access to boats and know the finest places to go.
The price of a snorkeling tour is similar to the snorkel rental gear: it will vary from location to location.
| How Much Do Snorkel Tours Cost? | Snorkel Tour in Area with High Cost of Living | Snorkel Tour in Area with Medium Cost of Living | Snorkel Tour in Area with Low Cost of Living |
| Area | Honolulu, Hawaii | Barcelona, Spain | Bali, Indonesia |
| Cost of Living Index | 95.14 | 64.41 | 45.91 |
| Average Half-Day Snorkel Tour Cost (Per Person) | $112 | $71 | $47 |
| Half-Day Snorkel Tour Cost Range (Per Person) | $68-160 | $48-80 | $38-53 |
| Average Full-Day Snorkel Tour Cost (Per Person) | $208 | $124 | $67 |
| Full-Day Snorkel Tour Cost Range (Per Person) | $172-249 | $80-157 | $56-77 |
I could take a half-day snorkeling trip in Indonesia for as low as $38 per person or a full-day tour in Hawaii for as little as $249. Even while snorkel trips typically add the most expensive to a snorkeling trip, I’ve yet to experience one that wasn’t well worth the money. The tour has always been well worth the money and a huge improvement over going snorkeling on one’s own, thanks to the local guides’ insider knowledge and access to the best snorkeling areas.
4. How Much Does Travel Insurance for Snorkeling Cost?
The expense of travel insurance is often overlooked when calculating the total cost of a snorkeling trip.
When there is little evidence to suggest that you’re more likely to get hurt while snorkeling than at any other time during your trip, it’s still a good idea to have medical insurance if needed.
In addition to the fact that most domestic health plans won’t pay out in a foreign country, many vacation insurance policies also won’t pay out for more extreme activities like snorkeling. The cost of medical care, should it be necessary, can quickly spiral out of control when you are abroad from your home country; for this reason, it is essential to purchasing travel insurance that includes coverage for snorkeling.
Because the cost of a typical vacation is so high, I feel obligated to purchase travel insurance, even if the premiums I’d pay would be minimal. The following is the result of some preliminary research I conducted on the cost of travel insurance that includes snorkeling as a covered activity:
| Destination Region | Average Travel Medical Insurance Cost (per person) | Average Travel Trip Insurance Cost (per person) | Trip Length | Average Traveler Age |
| United States | $81.50 | $46.33 | 7 days | 35 |
| Mexico | $76.41 | $69.00 | 7 days | 35 |
| Canada | $84.05 | $69.00 | 7 days | 35 |
| The Caribbean | $79.81 | $69.00 | 7 days | 35 |
| Africa | $86.60 | $69.00 | 7 days | 35 |
| Asia | $85.75 | $69.00 | 7 days | 35 |
| Australia / New Zealand | $73.86 | $69.00 | 7 days | 35 |
| Europe | $86.60 | $69.00 | 7 days | 35 |
| Central America | $95.93 | $69.00 | 7 days | 35 |
| South America | $98.48 | $69.00 | 7 days | 35 |
Conclusion
To summarize, a beginner may purchase basic snorkeling gear for $40-110. Rent it for a week for roughly $18-42, go on a half-day snorkel trip for $38-160 per person, and locate decent travel insurance that includes snorkeling for somewhere around $74-99, assuming they are similar to my test traveler.
Like many other things, the price of snorkeling varies widely depending on your approach. In a low-cost nation, you may spend as little as $3 on a day’s worth of snorkeling equipment rental and then head to a public beach for free underwater exploration. You can get some very cool high-end snorkel gear or go on one all-inclusive full-day tour, making your snorkeling budget look very different.
Whatever you decide to do with your life, you won’t regret it. Snorkeling has allowed me to experience the aquatic world and make many wonderful memories.
You can use the information in this guide and the links provided at the end of each section to other related guides that go into greater detail about each topic to figure out what kind of snorkeling gear you want to acquire and how you want to use it. But once you’ve made up your mind, stick to it and go snorkeling; you won’t regret it!
