This page answers the most common questions about Planet Snorkeling Expeditions, from preparation and equipment to snorkeling activities and logistics. If you need more information, don’t hesitate to contact us — we’re happy to help.
There’s two ways to book a trip with us.
Note that online booking is only available for small group expeditions. For self-guided itineraries, please send us an inquiry via the dedicated form or send an email to travel-planning@planet-snorkeling.com.
Planet Snorkeling Expeditions offers two types of tours: small group adventures and self guided itineraries.
Small Group Adventures
Our snorkeling expeditions are designed for groups between 8 and 24 participants. They all take place in some of the most pristine and secluded snorkeling places on the planet, and can be resort-based (we explore the area by boat from a resort with house reef) or liveaboard. Every expedition is guided by a tour leader from Planet Snorkeling and local snorkeling guides. Expeditions include a snorkel-intensive program emphasizing the distinctive biodiversity of each destination.
Self-Guided Itineraries
Planet Snorkeling Expeditions curates the ideal snorkeling experience for you, tailored to your preferences, interests, and budget. We will book your flights, accommodation, rental car, activities, transfers, and send you vouchers and an individually-crafted travel book. This book will include a day-to-day program and itinerary where you will find the schedules of your activities, the locations and maps of all shore access snorkeling spots, and much more. These trips are not guided (you will be traveling by yourself) but we will be always available during your trip to answer any queries. These trips can be arranged in various locations.
Planet Snorkeling Expeditions accepts the following forms of payment:
All our trips are invoiced in US dollars. At check out, you are able to request payment in your local currency to avoid unnecessary foreign transaction charges.
Please note that credit card payments may incur processing fee, added to your invoice at checkout.
For bank transfers, please make sure that Planet Snorkeling Expeditions will be credited for the amount shown on your invoice.
Our cancellation and refund policy is outlined in detail in our terms and conditions.
Generally, you can expect the following payment schedule and cancellation policy:
Please refer to our terms and conditions for full details applicable to your trip.
All of our tour leaders speak English fluently, and English is the language used for briefings and group communication during our trips. Most of our leaders also speak French, and some speak additional languages.
If you would like to know which languages are spoken by the tour leader assigned to a specific trip, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to provide the information when available.
Citizens of the United States, Canada, the European Union, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and many other countries can join our small-group trips without applying for a visa in advance. For these nationalities, our destinations are either visa-free or offer a Visa on Arrival (VoA) upon entry.
Some destinations require travelers to complete an immigration and/or customs declaration form prior to departure. Any specific entry procedures will be communicated to you by Planet Snorkeling Expeditions in advance of the trip.
For all trips, the validity of your passport must run for at least six months beyond your date of entry into the country, and you must have at least one empty page in your passport, totally clear for stamps or stickers. You must also possess a return ticket or a ticket to the next destination.
Verify entry requirements with the corresponding consulate/embassy/state department to ensure that the passport and other travel documents meet the entry requirements for all destinations included on the itinerary in order to avoid rush fees or denial of entry into the country.
Not necessarily. On some trips, we can arrange single occupancy for solo travelers, usually with a single supplement. However, this option is not available on all departures. If you’re happy to share your accommodation with another participant of the same gender, there is no extra charge. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the options for a specific trip, please contact us.
We strongly recommend all participants to purchase travel cancellation and interruption insurance as protection against an unforeseen event which may force them to cancel their booking before departure or leave a tour while it is in progress. A good policy also includes medivac insurance. Certain types of coverage must be purchased within a very short window of your signing up for your trip. This is especially true if you have a pre-existing condition.
Most resorts and boats can accommodate special dietary requests, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or allergies, as long as you inform us in advance. If you have any questions about a special dietary need, you can always contact us.
Absolutely! We can arrange trip extensions for almost all of our guided snorkeling adventures. Just get in touch with our team, and we’ll be happy to help tailor your experience.
No specific fitness level is required. Our trips are suitable for anyone who is comfortable in the water, confident using snorkeling equipment, and able to snorkel unassisted. During our trips, you can snorkel at your own pace, and if you feel tired at any point, you can always return to the boat. There are always several guides in the water with the group to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort.
Please note that some trips may involve boarding or disembarking from boats or dinghies, landing on beaches or rocky shores, or entering and exiting the water using ladders or stairs. If you have mobility concerns or specific questions, feel free to email us in advance and we’ll be happy to provide more details.
To join our snorkeling tours, you’ll need your own basic snorkeling equipment: mask, snorkel, and fins. We strongly recommend trying your equipment before the trip to make sure it fits properly and that you feel comfortable using it in the water.
Adequate sun protection should be provided through protective clothing, such as a rashguard with long lycra pants and a buff to protect the head and scalp, or a full-body stinger suit with a hood. On some trips, the use of gloves is not permitted. If you choose to use sunscreen, please bring reef-safe sunscreen only.
For most destinations, we also recommend a 2–3 mm wetsuit for comfort and thermal protection during longer snorkeling sessions or cooler locations.
If you do not have your own equipment, or if you are missing some items, it is usually possible to rent equipment from the resort’s dive center or from the liveaboard. However, we do not recommend this option, as rental equipment is generally more expensive than bringing your own and does not allow you to test the fit and comfort before departure.
Before each trip, we provide detailed, destination-specific guidance on the recommended equipment. In addition, Planet Snorkeling offers rashguards and Buffs as optional add-ons available when booking your trip.
On most Planet Snorkeling trips, whether liveaboard or resort-based, you can expect 2 to 4 guided snorkeling sessions per day. Resort-based trips offer unlimited snorkeling on the resort’s house reefs, and may include free time to enjoy the resort and other activities as well.
Every snorkeling program is designed specifically for snorkelers, with a constant focus on the nicest reefs and the most spectacular marine life, mainly on shallow sites where vibrant coral reefs can be enjoyed directly from the surface. Some destinations also include open-sea snorkeling in search of pelagic species or specific marine life.
During boat-based snorkeling sessions, you are always accompanied by local guides and a Planet Snorkeling tour leader, who help spot and point out marine life. Boat support is always present during these sessions, which typically last 45 to 90 minutes, depending on the trip, conditions and viewing opportunities.
Yes. Most of our trips, including all of our trips to Indonesia, include a guided night (or dusk) snorkeling activity. Night snorkeling offers a completely different perspective on the reef, with many marine creatures (octopuses, squids, eels, urchins, scorpionfish…) becoming active after dark. Some resorts allow for observing very specific marine life on their house reef at dusk or at night, such as Mandarin fish in Alor or Walking Sharks in Misool.
Torches are provided for all guided night snorkeling activities included in the trip. You are also welcome to bring your own torch if you’d like to do additional night snorkeling on the resort’s house reef on your own.
Participation in night snorkeling is of course entirely optional—you are always free to join or skip the activity.
Muck Snorkeling refers to snorkeling in murky, sandy, or muddy waters, often close to shore. While this is not a typical coral reef environment, it offers a unique opportunity to encounter fascinating critters such as seahorses, frogfish, blue-ringed octopus, sea moths, pipefish, and waspfish. At present, muck snorkeling is available exclusively on our Alor Snorkeling Adventures.
Wi-Fi availability depends on the destination and the type of trip. At some resorts, internet access is available throughout the property, while at others it may be limited to specific areas or come with data restrictions. The situation is similar on liveaboards, where connectivity can vary from one itinerary to another. On certain departures, you should also expect to travel through remote areas with no internet access at all. Please contact us to confirm the Wi-Fi situation for a specific trip.
The easiest way to reach us is through the inquiry form on our website or via our contact page, where you’ll find our email details. You can also contact us on WhatsApp or connect with us through our social media channels. We’re always happy to help with any questions about our trips and destinations.
Join us in our expert-guided snorkeling trips to the world’s most beautiful destinations.
