original post appeared on Realtyforlife
Every one loves taking a dip in clear water on a beautiful hotsummers day. If you are missing the summer already, check out our list of the top 20 clearest waters in the world;
1. Cayo Coco – Cuba
Cayo Coco is an island in central Cuba and well known for its all inclusive resorts. It lies within the Ciego de Ávila Province and is part of a chain of islands called Jardines del Rey (“the King’s Gardens”). The island was named after the white ibis, locally called Coco (coconut) birds.
Still largely wild with swamps and scrubland populated by wild cattle, the islands boast about a dozen large international hotels spread out. Beaches are very good and the massive coral reef off the north coast attracts divers from around the world.
2. Linapacan Island – Philippines
Linapacan Island is a municipality in the province of Palawan and has some of the clearest waters in the world. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of just 14,180 people.
3. The Maldives Islands
The Maldive Islands, sit in the Indian Ocean and consist of twenty-six atolls. These atolls are spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 sq mi), making the country one of the world’s most geographically dispersed.
Its population of 328,536 (2012) inhabits 192 of its 1,192 islands. The waters are crystal clear and full of reef wildlife which attracts tourists from all over the world.
4. Bodrum – Turkey
Bodrum is a district and a port city in the southwestern Region of Turkey. The city was called Halicarnassus of Caria in ancient times and was famous for housing the Mausoleum of Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Bodrum Castle, built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 15th century, overlooks the harbour and the marina. The castle grounds include a Museum of Underwater Archaeology and hosts several cultural festivals throughout the year. The city had a population of 136,317 in 2012.
5. Cala Macarelleta, Menorca – Spain
The bay of Macarella and Macarelleta is on the south western side of Menorca and belongs to the Àrea Natural d’Especial Interès on Ciutadella’s southern coast.
Macarelleta is an idyllic cove with fine, white sand, where the sea is a calm pool of turquoise water. Sheltered by hills covered in pine trees and holm oaks, it is often warm enough to sunbathe, even in winter.
6. To Sua Ocean Trench – Samoa
To Sua Ocean Trench is a clear water pool located in Lotofaga village. To Sua means ‘big hole’ and has been converted into a large swimming area. A ladder is installed on side for visitors to access this 30 meters deep pool.
7. Sabah – Malaysia
Sabah is one of the 13 member states of Malaysia, and is its easternmost state. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. Beyond the coasts of Sabah lie a number of islands and coral reefs, including the largest island in Malaysia, Pulau Banggi which has become a huge diving attraction.
8. Jenny Lake – Wyoming
Jenny Lake is located in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The lake was formed approximately 12,000 years ago by glaciers pushing rock debris which carved Cascade Canyon during the last glacial maximum, forming a terminal moraine which now impounds the lake.
The lake is estimated to be 423 feet (129 m) deep and encompasses 1,191 acres (482 ha). Jenny Lake is considered to be a major focal point in Grand Teton National Park, with many hiking trails, scenic boat rides, and quick access to the major climbing routes onto the tallest peaks of the Teton Range.
9. Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul – Brazil
Bonito is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul. It is in the middle of a region which is being discovered as “Caribe do Centro-Oeste” (Caribbean of the Central-West) due to the unbelievable blue color of its waters.
Owing to the enormous quantity of limestone in the ground, the water of these rivers passes through a real natural filter where impurities are deposited at the bottom of the river bed, leaving the rivers to be some of the clearest and most transparent in the world.
A number of fish and plant species have adapted to this high calcium environment, so that all rivers teem with life and make for an amazing place to visit
10. Calanque de Sormiou – France
Calanque de Sormiou is a protected area which is frequented by hikers and climbers who come from all over France to experience and enjoy such exquisite surroundings. The beautiful sea is crystal clear and continually changes tones from turquoise to deep dark blue.
11. Panari Island, Okinawa – Japan
Panari, also called Aragusuku, is one of the Yaeyama Islands. It is well known for being one of the world’s best diving destinations and has coral and marine life on a par with the Great Barrier Reef. (Over 400 types of corals, 5 types of sea turtles, manta rays, whale sharks and all kinds of tropical fish species all live around Okinawa.)
12. Lake Tahoe – Nevada
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America and has a depth of 1,645 ft (501 m), making it the second-deepest in the United States. Additionally, Lake Tahoe is listed as the 27th largest lake by volume in the world.
The lake was formed about 2 million years ago and is a part of the Lake Tahoe Basin with the modern lake being shaped during the ice ages. It is known for the clarity of its water and the panorama of surrounding mountains on all sides.
Lake Tahoe is a major tourist attraction in both Nevada and California. It is home to a number of ski resorts, summer outdoor recreation, and tourist attractions.
13. Primosten – Croatia
Primošten is a town in Croatia, and a part of the Šibenik-Knin County. It is situated in the south, between the cities of Šibenik and Trogir, on the Adriatic coast.
The largest beach in Primošten is called Raduča, and its smaller part, Mala Raduča, is voted one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in Croatia.
14. Hanauma Bay, Oahu – Hawaii
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve on Hawaii’s island of Oahu is a beginning snorkeler’s paradise. This well-protected bay boasts hundreds of tropical fish species, calm, clear waters and shallow depths allowing for great viewing.
So many people have come here for so long that the fish in this bay do not feel threatened by visitors, allowing for close up encounters. The bay was deemed a marine life conservation area in 1967 and has become more heavily managed each year since in an effort to protect the fish, corals, beach, and the bay itself.
15. Rio Azul – Argentina
The Blue River is a short river located in the region of Patagonia in the Republic Argentina. It is one of the colder rivers in the region because it is glacial fed, rather than lake fed which tends to increase the temperature of other rivers in the valley.
Because the Azul River has no lake at its source it is also prone to wild fluctuations in water level and is often the quickest river to respond to changes in precipitation. When the Azul is running it offers whitewater paddlers some of the best play features and scenery in the valley.
16. Corfu – Greece
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea and is bound with the history of Greece from the beginning of Greek mythology. Its Greek name, Kerkyra or Korkyra, is related to two powerful water symbols: Poseidon, god of the sea, and Asopos, an important Greek mainland river.
The island’s history is laden with battles and conquests. The legacy of these struggles is visible in the form of castles punctuating strategic locations across the island. Two of these castles enclose its capital, which is the only city in Greece to be surrounded in such a way. As a result, Corfu’s capital has been officially declared a Kastropolis (“castle city”) by the Greek government.
Corfiotes have a long history of hospitality to foreign residents and visitors. The North East coast has largely been developed by a few British holiday companies, with large expensive holiday villas, while package holiday resorts exist on the north and east coasts.
At the other end of the island, the southern resort of Kavos also provides tourist facilities.
17. Koh Phi Phi Don – Thailand
Ko Phi Phi Don is the largest of the Phi Phi Islands, in Thailand and is the only island in the group with permanent inhabitants. Like the other islands in the group, Ko Phi Phi Don is a non-volcanic island largely made of limestone.
Ko Phi Phi Don is now squarely on the tourist map, and tourists from all over the world flock to the island. Accessible from Phuket and mainland Krabi province, all tourists must arrive by Ferry and this has essentially turned the island into a rush of day trippers who overpopulate the island from 11AM-3PM.
The island still holds much charm that can be enjoyed in the hours that the flocks from Phuket are not there. While in former times, Ko Phi Phi Don was a serene paradise, parts of it has been exploited for tourism.
18. Arnensee – Switzerland
Arnensee is a lake in Canton of Berne, Switzerland and is used as a reservoir by Romande Energie. This blissfully secluded spot offers an idyllic getaway for a refreshing swim, a spot of angling or a hike taking in a picnic lunch at one of the barbecue sites.
19. Belo Sur Mer – Madagascar
Belo sur Mer is a pleasant Vezo fishermen village located some 80 km south of Morondava. Visitors that come here are greeted by a wonderful kilometer long beach of bright white sands and an amazing transparent sea of emerald waters. But as everywhere on the Western coast of Madagascar bathing can be certainly risky due to the strong tides…
20. Bora Bora
Bora Bora is an island located about 230 kilometres (143 miles) northwest of Papeete and is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the centre of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano rising to two peaks.
Bora Bora is a major international tourist destination, famous for its aqua-centric luxury resorts. Over the last few years several resorts have been built on motu (small islands, from Tahitian) surrounding the lagoon.
Snorkeling and scuba diving in and around the lagoon of Bora Bora are popular activities. Many species of sharks and rays inhabit the surrounding body of water. There are a few dive operators on the island offering manta ray dives and also shark-feeding dives.
What other swimming holes have you found with stunning clarity?