Swimming
What sea temperature is good for snorkelling?
Reef life, water clarity and the comfort sweet spot for masked, finned visitors.
4 min read
You can snorkel in 16°C if you have to, but you won't enjoy it for long. The sweet spot is 23–27°C — warm enough to float still for an hour, cool enough that you don't overheat under the sun.
Where to go when
- Red Sea (Egypt, Israel): 22–29°C year-round — the global gold standard.
- Eastern Med (Cyprus, Turkey, Greek islands): 23–28°C June–October.
- Western Med (Balearics, Sardinia, Corsica): 22–26°C July–September.
- Atlantic (Algarve, Canaries): 19–22°C — fine in a shorty wetsuit.