How Much Does Snorkeling Cost? The Ultimate Guide (Prices on Gear & Tours)

Last Updated: December 14, 2023

Do you want to try snorkeling but are unsure how much you’d have to part with to have an incredible experience?

Well, you’ve come to the right spot.

The amount of cash you’ll need to spend to have a fulfilling experience depends on several factors. These include your preferred gear quality, whether you want to purchase or rent the gear, the activities you’d like to undertake, travel insurance, and the snorkeling location.

In the next few paragraphs, I’ll break down the snorkeling costs based on the individual factors, so you can have a clear picture of how much you’ll spend.

But just before that, here is a sneak peak of what to expect.

You can purchase a basic snorkel gear that’ll cost you about $40-110 or rent the same for a week at about $18-420.

You can also choose to go for a half-day snorkel tour, in which you’ll pay between $38-160.

These price ranges may seem a bit stretched and unable to give a clear picture of what to expect. So, let’s narrow it down and specifically highlight the prices you can expect.

The Actual Cost of Snorkel Gear

You basically have two options here. You can opt to buy your own snorkeling gear or you can choose to rent it.

Whether you buy or rent will depend upon the frequency of use or your preference.

The ideal situation for buying your snorkeling gear is where you want to snorkel frequently. That is more than 3 times in 5 years. By buying the gear, you can access the best quality gear that accords you more safety than if you’d hired one.

Additionally, another benefit of buying your gear is, over time, you’d have spent less than renting since you won’t need to pay anyone whenever you want to use it.

On the other hand, renting can be ideal if you’re snorkeling for an once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, keep in mind that the rented gear can most likely lack key safety features, such as the float valve.

So, if you are going for the first time using rented gear, it would be best if you inquire from a guide how it works. This will keep you from making avoidable mistakes during the excursion.

1. To Buy

How much do you need to buy your snorkeling gear?

A basic snorkel mask is the cheapest range you can find. The cost in this range is between $25 and $50. The next level is the intermediate mask, which costs $50-150. The top of the list is the advanced snorkel mask which costs between $150 and $200.

To complement your mask, you need a snorkel tube and fins. You’ll need around $15-55 to get a decent snorkel, and for fins, $15-150.

The table below gives a brief summary of the average gear’s cost:

Gear	Cost (on average)
Simple Snorkel Masks	$25-50
Advanced Snorkel Mask	$50-150
High-End Mask	$150-200
Snorkel Tube	$15-55
Mask + Tube Set	$50-150
Snorkel Fins	$15-150

Snorkel Mask

Snorkel masks cost anywhere between $15-200. It is also possible to buy a snorkel mask for less than $15, but if you do, there are high chances that your mask’s safety and build quality are highly compromised.

That said, a standard snorkel mask is just that: standard. It covers your nasal and ocular passages to keep the water off your eyes and nose.

But the intermediate and advanced masks have noticeable improvements. These include better build quality, more comfort, wider viewing angles, and better safety features, for example, the purge valves.

Snorkels

There are three variations of snorkels: wet, semi-dry, and dry snorkels.

Dry snorkels are ideal for beginner and intermediate snorkelers because they have a unique feature which is an integrated float valve at the top of the tube. The float valve improves snorkeling safety by closing to keep the water out when the snorkel gets submerged in water. But when you breathe, it opens to exhale and inhale normally.

The best dry snorkels can cost around $30-70. They are in the top half of the snorkel price range because of their extra dry-valve technology.

Snorkel Fins

Generally, they are not among the critical gear because you can go snorkeling without fins.

However, having them can improve your experience because you’ll move faster in the water using less energy. As such, you’ll cover more ground and see more of the underwater world.

Getting a decent pair of snorkel fins that aren’t just stiff rubber blocks will cost you from $15. If you need a more advanced set with in-built technology, you’ll need about $50-75. And if you want the top-spec fins, the price can be almost $200 (these are ideal for serious and highly experienced snorkelers).

Other Snorkel Gear

Apart from the mask, snorkel, and fins, there is more gear that can be extremely helpful during your excursion. Such items include the following:

• Action cameras, e.g., GoPro
• Snorkel gear specifically for traveling
• Kids snorkel gear

2. To Rent

How much does renting snorkeling gear cost?

If you opt to rent a snorkel set with all the essentials (mask snorkel and fins), you’ll need around $42 weekly if you are in an area with high living costs. If you are in an area with a medium cost of living, the cost drops to about $27 weekly, and in areas with a low cost of living, the weekly cost goes lower to around $18.

As mentioned earlier, renting gear is an ideal option if you just want a one-time snorkeling experience or want to try it first before buying your own gear. However, you need to understand that renting will most likely give you access to the bare minimum of gear, so you’ll have to forego safety features such as the purge valve on dry snorkels by renting.

As you pay for your snorkel tours, the guides include the price of renting a snorkel in the total package price. But, just like renting out from other places, the gear they provide is highly likely to be simple.

The actual price you pay for rented gear varies depending on several factors. These include the location, the period you want to rent, and the type of gear you prefer. The table below highlights the hiring prices you can expect.

	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	High	Medium	Low
Snorkel Gear Rental Cost (Daily)	$8	$6	$3
Snorkel Gear Rental Cost (Weekly)	$36	$20	$16
Daily Snorkel Gear Rental Cost + Fins	$15	$10	$8
Weekly Snorkel Gear Rental Cost + Fins	$40	$25	$20

If you plan on going only once, the daily rental option would be ideal for you. Still, if you plan on snorkeling 3 or more days a week, the weekly option would be ideal. Whatever option you choose, it shouldn’t stretch your budget too much.

How Much Does it Cost to Go Snorkeling?

Now that you have your gear, the next step is to begin your excursion.

But how much do you need for this step?

It can cost as low as nothing. You can snorkel from the shore at a public beach nearby. However, you may have to pay entrance fees if the beach is on someone’s private land, a national park, or a state park. The accessibility fees range between $3-20.

But then, you may want more thrill in the deep waters.

If so, a half-day snorkel exploration would be ideal. At a location with a high cost of living, the exploration can cost you an average of $112 per person. In an area with a medium cost of living, the exploration can cost about $71 per person, and in an area with a low cost of living, it can cost $47 per person.

Nonetheless, if you want to go snorkeling solo without a guide, ensure you have top-tier skills and favorable weather.

Snorkel Tours

A lot of people find snorkel tours to be one of their favorite ways to go snorkeling. This is because of the perks that come with the snorkel tours, such as a highly experienced guide. These guides can equip you with the basics, know the best spots in the waters, and have the boats to transport you there.

Like renting snorkeling gear, the price of snorkel tours also varies depending on some factors. These factors include the location’s cost of living and snorkeling duration.

In the table below, you’ll get a breakdown of the expected snorkel tour costs.

	Cost per Snorkel Tour (High-Cost Area)	Cost per Snorkel Tour (Medium-Cost Area)	Cost per Snorkel Tour (Low-Cost Area)
Cost Area	Honolulu, Hawaii	Barcelona, Spain	Bali, Indonesia
Cost of Living	High	Medium	Low
Approximate Half-Day Tour Cost (PP*)	$115	$75	$50
Half-Day Tour Price Range (PP*)	$65-$160	$50-$80	$40-$53
Approximate Full-Day Tour Cost (PP)	$208	$124	$67
Full-Day Tour Price Range (Per Person)	$175-$250	$80-$160	$60-$80

*PP = Per Person

From the table above, it’s clear that you can take a snorkel tour from as low as $40 up to $250.

Despite adding the most expense in a tour, the snorkel trips are always worth the money. You have access to guides who have expansive knowledge and can identify excellent snorkeling spots. This makes the experience more worthwhile than going alone.

Other factors that may influence the cost of snorkel tours include the provision of meals, accommodation, and special transport.

Travel Insurance for Snorkeling

One of the most critical yet overlooked item as you calculate your snorkeling cost is your travel insurance.

Generally, snorkeling is a safe activity. However, accidents may occur and necessitate prompt medical attention. If found unprepared, such a need may leave you frustrated. So, to avoid such a case, it’s better to get travel insurance for snorkeling.

It is important to note that most insurance covers have geographical restrictions, so they do not provide insurance coverage abroad. Additionally, most medical insurance plans leave out snorkeling and other active things.

As such, before you go out, seek a travel insurance plan that covers your snorkeling activities. Most of these plans are affordable, so it’s a no-brainer for most people. The prices for the cover will vary depending on factors such as destination and age.

The table below highlights the travel insurance cost to expect.

Destination	Travel Medical Insurance Price Range (Per Person)	Average Travel Insurance Price (Per Person)	Trip Days	Traveler’s Age
United States	$35 – $200	$117.50	7 days	35
Mexico	$40 – $160	$100.00	7 days	35
Canada	$30 – $150	$90.00	7 days	35
The Caribbean	$30 – $175	$102.50	7 days	35
Africa	$35 – $200	$117.50	7 days	35
Asia	$35 – $200	$117.50	7 days	35
Australia/ New Zealand	$30 – $200	$115.00	7 days	35
Europe	$35 – $200	$117.50	7 days	35
Central America	$40 – $250	$145.00	7 days	35
South America	$50 – $300	$175.00	7 days	35

Final Word

If you are just getting started with snorkeling, you don’t need to break the bank. Compared to other water sports, such as scuba diving, it is more affordable.

The cost of your snorkeling gear will depend on whether you want to purchase or rent it. Purchasing can be more expensive, but in the long run, it’s cheaper, so it would be ideal if you want to go snorkeling often.

Another factor that determines the cost is your destination. Destinations in places with higher income levels are more costly, so this is something you’d like to consider. Additionally, your costs will be higher if you go for snorkel tour services.

In each of the factors mentioned above, there are various price options, some giving you zero cost, for example, snorkeling at a public beach.

Nonetheless, whichever option you choose, you can get a wholesome experience allowing you to view the underwater world and create unforgettable memories.

Sharing is caring!