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While the Caribbean, East Africa and Polynesia have snorkeling beaches of note, Southeast Asia and the Philippines seem to be the places where the most spectacular reefs put on the showiest displays. Much of the most colorful fish life dwells in the top 20 feet or so of the ocean. So even if you aren't qualified to scuba dive and hang out with the whale sharks and deep-sea creatures, you can snorkel and see a polychromatic wonderland of aquatic life.
Southern Thailand
If you want to snorkel where Leonardo di Caprio's movie "The Beach" was filmed, head to Maya Cove, on Phi Phi Le in Thailand's Phangnga Bay. You can join a small-boat day trip from twin island Phi Phi Don, which has lodging and restaurants, for a visit to the undeveloped cove. The underwater life is hypnotic and mesmerizing, and the experience is heightened by looking up from the water at the limestone cliffs around the cove. If your have the time, take a larger boat out to the Similan Islands west of Phuket, to float in celadon waters farther from civilization.