Ashley TanFeeling blue? A dose of vitamin sea might be just what you need.
There’s something indescribably comforting about lounging in the surf of a well-maintained beach, inhaling the salty scent of the ocean breeze, and dipping into the shallows of transparent azure waters. Here are 10 beaches with the clearest water where you can do just that!
Beaches with the clearest water in the world
1. Malcapuya Island Beach, Coron, Philippines
Image credit: jahcordova
Boracay gets the crowds, but the lesser-known gem that is Malcapuya Island in Coron gets our vote with its vast stretches of white, powdery sand and warm, cerulean waves. It’s the perfect place for snorkelling through a motley of marine life, including corals, giant clams, and clownfish — or for spending a sultry weekend lazing on the beach in a sun hat.
2. Matira Beach, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Image credit: Juan Carlos fotografia from Getty Images
Bora Bora’s lagoon is consistently crystalline year-round. Matira Beach is the only real public access point on the island, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. The water here transitions through a breathtaking gradient. From a pale, translucent mint at the shore to a deep, neon sapphire further out.
3. Kleftiko Beach, Milos, Greece
Image credit: Zde
While not a ‘beach’ in the classic sense, the incredibly transparent waters and spectacular white volcanic rock formations make Kleftiko Beach a mainstay on any bucket list. Keep an eye out for the shimmer of gold coins; it’s rumoured that one of the caves was a treasury in this old pirates’ hideout, but it was never found.
4. Pink Beach, Komodo National Park, Indonesia
Image credit: ms.coco.nut
Komodo National Park’s Pantai Merah (or Pink Beach) receives so much praise for its beauty, it’s blushing pink! One of the rare pink beaches in the world, the sandbed gets its complexion from the tiny bits of red corals mixing with the area’s sand. Blending with the glittering pastel blue of the surrounding sea, it makes for a perfect photo backdrop. It’s total #travelgoals, and it sure is IG-worthy.
5. Anse Coco Beach, La Digue, Seychelles
Image credit: dronepicr
Accessible only by a 20-minute walk through a lush forest, you’ll find the natural beauty of Anse Coco tastefully untarnished, apart from a small bar selling coconuts. Take a dip in the natural pool at the end of the beach — in the shade of wild palm trees, while surrounded by the sweet sighing of ocean waves. It’s the perfect spa retreat you’ve always dreamed of!
6. Isla Diablo, Guna Yala, Panama
Image credit: laudi_malida
Devil’s Island (or Isla Diablo) is certainly a piece of heaven that fell to earth — into the glittering Caribbean Sea, to be exact. You’d definitely want to spend an eternity swimming with dolphins in its aquamarine waters and exploring its beautiful, well-preserved coral reefs.
7. Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos
Image credit: Visit Turks and Caicos Islands | Official Website
Regularly crowned as the best beach in the world, Grace Bay is the crown jewel of Providenciales. Its secret lies in a massive barrier reef located just a mile offshore, which acts as a giant fortress against Atlantic swells. This keeps the shoreline remarkably calm and sediment-free. Therefore, the water is quite literally as clear as gin.
There are no rocks, seaweed, or pollution here. Just miles of soft, sugar-white sand meeting a sea of unrivalled clarity.
8. Aitutaki Lagoon, Cook Islands
Image credit: Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort | Official Facebook
If you’re looking for water so clear it’s actually disorienting, Aitutaki is your destination. This triangular lagoon is so vast and so vibrantly turquoise, astronauts have famously cited it as the most beautiful “blue” visible from outer space.
The water is incredibly shallow and stays crystalline for miles. You can walk far into the lagoon with sand between your toes and still see the tiny shadows of tropical fish darting around your ankles!
9. Spaggia la Pelosa, Sardinia, Italy
Image credit: Tommie Hansen
La Pelosa Beach in northwestern Sardinia is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe, with its shallow turquoise shores and magnificent views of the Asinara cliffs. Paddle out to the 16th-century Pelosa Tower, or rent a kayak and explore the surrounding islets!
10. Halaveli Beach, Maldives
Image credit: leefphotos
What list of the best beaches would be complete without a mention of the Maldives? No two islands are the same, but Halaveli is on our list of dream destinations for its electric blue, transparent waters that are pleasantly just knee-deep. Located in the Ari Atoll, it’s close to a number of underwater pinnacles that attract large congregations of marine life and are perfect for scuba diving.
Also read: Best Beach Holiday Locations in Asia
Wading in the sea at these dream-worthy beaches with the clearest water, you’ll be able to see your feet gliding through the sandbed and maybe catch a glimpse of the local marine life. If you’re not already packing your swimsuits and sunhats, water you doing?
