Ever since people began traveling internationally, wildlife has been a reason to travel to specific destinations. From safaris to fishing trips to overnight birdwatching trips, if there’s one reason to travel beyond borders, it’s to catch a glimpse of unique animals that can’t be found in your own country. This is especially true for aquatic life, some of which are some of the most mysterious creatures in the world. If you want to see some spectacular marine life, here are 20 of the best places to visit.
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If the sparkling blue waters, overwater bungalows and lush tropical forests aren’t enough reason to visit this French territory, whale watching might be enough: humpback whales migrate every year between August and October and swimming with the giant creatures is a popular experience, while diving excursions are also very common, with sharks, manta rays and dolphins also being spotted.
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San Juan Islands, Washington
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The San Juan Islands, located between mainland Washington and Vancouver Island in Canada, are a popular summer getaway for Seattle residents and tourists, in large part because of the near-guaranteed sightings of orcas, salmon, porpoises, and seals during the summer months.
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Los Cabos, Mexico
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The Baja Peninsula is a dream destination for many and feels like a world away from the rest of Mexico, where the mystical Pacific Ocean gives way to rugged cliffs and coastlines where you can see whale sharks from November to April and, if you enjoy snorkelling, an abundance of tropical fish.
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Hawaiian Islands
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An obvious addition to this list, Hawaii is rich in marine life. But the most unique animals are the giant sea turtles, which you may encounter if you’re lucky while swimming at the beach. And the endangered monk seals frequent Hawaii’s coasts, so be sure to give them plenty of space, as authorities usually rope off the area in these cases.
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Crystal River, Florida
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Another tropical paradise in the USA, Florida is home to alligators and tropical fish, but if you want to see manatees, head to Crystal River. These aquatic mammals arrive in the Sunshine State during the winter and make their home in the rivers, much to the delight of visitors.
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Churchill, Manitoba
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The far north of Canada’s prairies may be more associated with polar bears than marine life, but it’s also the best place in North America to see adorable beluga whales. Get there by plane or overnight train from Winnipeg, then book a boat or kayak tour to see the animals.
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These Caribbean islands are a dream getaway for all types of travellers. In between soaking up the sun on the white sand beaches and swimming in the turquoise waters, you can also go dolphin watching from a boat, kayak or SUP. Dolphins are inquisitive creatures and may silently approach you and try to compete.
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These islands off the coast of mainland Ecuador are home to some of the most diverse marine life in the world. At any time of year, you’re likely to see whales, albatrosses, seals, iguanas, sea turtles, penguins, dolphins and a variety of fish. It’s a fantastic place for scuba diving. Tours, accommodation and transport book up fast, so plan your trip early.
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Best known for its many shades of bright blue waters and floating breakfasts, the Maldives is also home to the largest group of giant manta rays on the planet – if you want to see them feeding, May to November is the best time to visit.
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Great Barrier Reef, Australia
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One of the most famous destinations for marine life, the Great Barrier Reef’s main attraction is its coral, with its vibrant rainbow of colours making it the perfect place for diving and snorkelling, with a good chance of spotting tropical fish, sharks and sea turtles.
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Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
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This Egyptian city on the Red Sea has long been a popular holiday destination for British people. Its year-round warm climate and long sandy beaches make it the perfect place to relax. It’s also popular with divers, thanks to the abundance and diversity of marine life. You’ll find everything from dolphins to mako sharks, giant moray eels and lionfish, as well as several rare species of shark.
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Port Elizabeth, South Africa
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Did you know that penguins don’t only live in Antarctica? They are creatures of the Southern Hemisphere, so you can find these cute little guys in various countries along the equator, including South Africa. If you want to catch a glimpse of the cute African penguins, the best place to do so is Port Elizabeth, where they recently made their home thanks to the lack of predators.
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Jordan might not be the first destination that springs to mind when you think of diving and amazing coral reefs, but head south and you’ll be in for a treat. Jordan’s second-largest city, Aqaba, sits on the Red Sea, and its protected areas are home to hundreds of species of coral, fish and mollusks.
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Kaikoura, New Zealand
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Whales are usually migratory, meaning that each species can only be seen in different locations at certain times of the year, but in Kaikoura on New Zealand’s South Island, sperm whales can be seen all year round, as the ocean is their feeding ground.
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East coast of Tasmania, Australia
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Located south of mainland Australia, this island nation is rich in aquatic life, with seven marine protected areas, mostly along the east coast. Tasmania’s waters are rich in kelp, seagrass and sponges, providing the perfect environment for a variety of animals. From great white sharks to fairy penguins and whales, you’ll never get bored here.
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It’s the perfect getaway for those who want nothing more than to lie on the beach and listen to the crashing waves, but it’s also a haven for five species of sea turtles, which hatch every year between October and April, and when you get in the water you’ll find a wide variety of tropical fish to see.
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Koh Lanta, Thailand
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The coral reefs are the main attraction of this Thai national park, where you can go diving or snorkelling to see the abundant marine life and, if you’re lucky, you might even spot some of the resident sea turtles and manta rays.
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Cebu, Philippines
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In Cebu, pygmy seahorses, sharks and rays await you, as well as countless species of fish. You can snorkel, dive or wade into the shallow waters to enjoy observing the wide variety of animals that call this little paradise home.
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Hermanus, South Africa
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Hermanus is considered one of the world’s leading whale watching destinations, with many visitors making day trips from Cape Town each year to try to catch a glimpse of Southern Right Whales. The best times to visit are between June and November, when conditions are ideal.
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La Jolla, California
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Just outside of San Diego is the cute little suburb of La Jolla, with its wonderful coves and beaches, where you can see sea lions sunning themselves on the rocks by the water almost every day. The sea lions are not always friendly, so keep your distance.
Sydney is a travel and lifestyle writer from Seattle. She has also lived in Australia, Quebec, Luxembourg and France and has visited over 26 countries. Her work has appeared in Fodor’s Travel, Good Housekeeping, Matador Network, Travel + Leisure and many other publications. Sydney is fluent in English and French, has tried (and failed) to learn German and hopes to improve her limited Spanish next. Find her on Twitter/X. translation:Instagram @sydbakescreates or at sydbakestravels.com.
