Snorkeling World

  First time I saw a sea turtle (Sal Island, Cape Verde) In October 2022, I saw my first sea turtle in the wild. I was on Sal Island, in Cape Verde, and I still remember the moment clearly: a green sea turtle, visible in crystal-clear water. I swam slowly toward it, but as soon as it noticed me, it started moving away. It only lasted a few seconds, but something about it stayed with me long after I got home. What I didn't expect was that this brief encounter would end up changing the lives of two turtles much closer to home. My wife's sons had a pair of turtles that had, over time, been somewhat forgotten — living in an aquarium with poor conditions, no real filtration, no proper lighting, and clearly not thriving. I'd walked past that tank more times than I can count without really seeing it. But after Cape Verde, I couldn't look at it the same way again. So I did what anyone mildly obsessed would do: I started researching. I read about proper turtle care, water quali...

  Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal The first thing you need to know is that the sea is calmest from 30 to 60 minutes before the tide changes until 30 to 60 minutes after it changes. On the other hand, two hours before high or low tide is when the moving current triggers a feeding frenzy, making fish far more active and much easier to spot. Sesimbra, Portugal Combining these two factors according to convenience and objective is fundamental; that is, is it more important to see more fish or to have calmer seas in that location? When snorkeling in the Atlantic, for example, having calm seas is very important. But going back to the initial question, should I snorkel at high tide or low tide? It depends on the place; some places are better at high tide, others at low tide, and others at both. You need to know the location, ask around, and experiment. For me, safety issues are always the most important, meaning which scenario is best for the sea to be calmer and safer. Only then do other f...

       Sal, Cape Verde The first time I was in the water with a shark was on Sal Island in Cape Verde. They were small juvenile lemon sharks, but it was an incredible experience to see them underwater, and they were very close. The great lesson I learned from this first experience was to stop seeing sharks as a threat, shaped by some myths associated with them, and to start seeing them without this distorted filter. Omadhoo, Maldives In the Maldives, I had my second experience of contact with sharks, and it was very enriching for my current perception. After losing my fear on Sal Island in Cape Verde, here I realized that sharks, as a rule, run a mile from humans. The reality here, as in other countries where shark finning is still active, leads to the fact that we are actually their true predators, and not the other way around, as many people perceive. Tahiti and Moorea, French Polynesia In French Polynesia, I had the best experience with sharks, and it was the plac...

Anicha rock near Portinho da Arrábida   Lisbon is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city, but despite this, it has excellent snorkeling spots very close by. It's possible to snorkel on the north bank of the Tagus River, where the city is located, along the coastline that extends to Cascais, but the truth is that on the south bank, which is equally close, you can find much cleaner waters and a greater diversity of marine life. I will mention three places, each offering distinct advantages: Beaches in the Arrábida Natural Park: For a more natural experience, both in and out of the water, the beaches of this natural park are perhaps the best option near Lisbon, located about 50 km from the capital. It's a visually beautiful area with several beaches of distinct characteristics. One of the best known is Portinho da Arrábida. This beach has rocky areas with good snorkeling, but its highlight is the Anicha rock, which can be accessed by kayak or, for more experienced snorkelers, swimming; i...