The Blue Lagoon's turquoise water shows up well in photos, but a lot of visitors don't realise it's also one of the better snorkel spots in the Split area. The sheltered bay, sandy bottom, and rocky edges create a small ecosystem you can explore in a couple of hours without specialist gear.
Why the Blue Lagoon snorkels well
Three things make it a good snorkel destination:
- Visibility — typically 12–18 meters in summer, better than most spots near Split
- Variety — sandy bottom (sea-grass meadows, flatfish) plus rocky edges (reef fish)
- Shallow — most of the bay is 1–3 meters, accessible even for beginner swimmers
It's not a "deep dive" location — there are no caves, no large fish, no shipwrecks. But for casual snorkelers and families, the combination is hard to beat.
What you'll see underwater
The sandy bottom and sea-grass meadows
The white sand patches that give the Lagoon its turquoise glow are surrounded by meadows of Posidonia oceanica sea-grass — a protected Mediterranean habitat. The grass is home to small bream, gobies, and the occasional pipefish (a thin, twiggy relative of the seahorse). On a calm day you'll also spot rays and flatfish (mostly turbot or sand-coloured plaice) buried in the sand patches.
The rocky edges
The south-east shore of Veli Krknjaš (the largest islet) is where the snorkeling gets interesting. The rocks drop from the shoreline into 5–8 meters of water, creating a small wall covered in:
- Schools of saddled bream (oblada) — silver fish with a black saddle, sociable, will approach you
- Damselfish (castanjola) — small, dark, territorial, hover above the rocks
- Wrasses (lapina, knez) — colourful, curious, change colour as they age
- The occasional octopus — hides in rock crevices, look for shell debris piled at the entrance
- Sea urchins — black and spiny, mostly harmless if you don't step on one
If you're lucky, you might see a grouper (kirnja) — slow, brown, can grow to a meter long. They're not common but they exist.
Sea cucumbers and starfish
The shallow flat areas have sea cucumbers (looks like fat dark slugs on the sand — totally harmless, don't pick them up) and small red-orange starfish. Kids love finding these.
The best snorkel route
Most tours anchor on the north side of Veli Krknjaš near the sandy bay. From there:
- Start in the shallow sandy area and warm up (water is calmer here, easier to find your breathing rhythm with the snorkel)
- Swim east-southeast along the rocky shoreline of Veli Krknjaš — keep the rocks on your left, 2–4 meters depth
- You'll round a small point — slow down here, this is the most fish-active section
- Continue another 50 meters then turn back the same way
Total route is about 200–300 meters out and back; 30 minutes at a relaxed pace.
What gear to bring
We provide masks, snorkels, and fins on board in adult and child sizes. They're standard quality — fine for the typical 30–60 minute snorkel session.
If you snorkel often, bring your own:
- Anti-fog spray (or use baby shampoo as a backup) — the loaner masks fog faster than personal masks
- Prescription mask if you need glasses — borrowed masks won't have the right correction
- UV rash guard / long-sleeve swim shirt — your back gets fried while looking down
- Underwater camera or phone pouch — visibility is good enough for proper photos
Snorkeling at Nečujam (the second stop)
Nečujam is different — deeper (10+ meters in the center), more open to wind, with a rocky shoreline rather than a sandy bay. Snorkeling there is more about the cooler-water fish — you'll see larger sargo, the occasional barracuda passing through, and dense colonies of mussels along the submerged rocks.
Most guests prefer the Blue Lagoon for swimming-with-snorkel and Nečujam for the deeper-water feel.
Safety notes
- Don't snorkel alone in the deeper water around Veli Krknjaš — stay where the boat can see you
- Sea urchins are concentrated on shallow rocks — water shoes optional but smart
- Jellyfish (Pelagia noctiluca) blooms happen occasionally in August — usually short-lived, the crew will warn you
- Touch nothing — Posidonia sea-grass is protected; corals here are not the tropical kind but they're still fragile