THE BEST CORAL REEF IN VIETNAM TO SNORKELING FOR FAMILY WITH KIDS

Snorkeling with kids in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam

Many families with young children aged between 4 to 12 years old seek a delightful snorkeling experience in Vietnam, a nation boasting over 3000 kilometers of coastline adorned with exquisite coral reefs. Destinations such as Da Nang, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Qui Nhon, Phu Quoc, Con Dao, and Tho Chu offer promising aquatic adventures. If you have decided to embark on a long-awaited family snorkeling excursion, the question remains: where should you venture for this memorable experience?

To address this question effectively, one must take into account several key factors when contemplating a snorkeling experience with your children.

kid snorkeling in Phu Quoc Island Vietnam
kid snorkeling in Phu Quoc Island Vietnam

 

1. AVERAGE DEPTH OF THE REEF APPROPRIATE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

The captivating sights that your children will encounter during their aquatic expeditions have the potential to stimulate their imaginations for an extended period, possibly fostering a lasting affection for the ocean. It is advisable to initially assess the optimal depth of the reef for such experiences.

The optimal depth for young children to enjoy a captivating snorkeling experience typically ranges between 1 to 2.5 meters. This depth offers a close-up view for children to appreciate the vivid colors of the reef. Nevertheless, coral reefs often feature uneven terrain with undulating and shallow areas, which can pose challenges along the diving route. To prevent potential difficulties and ensure safety, it is advisable to have underwater guides well-versed in the reef’s layout to prevent accidental grounding in shallow waters, minimizing the risk of injury to children and adults, as well as unintentional damage to coral formations.

North Phu Quoc Snorkeling trip & sunset meal
Coral Jungle Reef has the presence of over 20 different species of coral at an average depth of 0.5 – 3m

One of the most celebrated diving locations in Vietnam, notably recognized on the internet, is Hon Mun in Nha Trang. Here, the underwater topography is characterized by steep terrain, with coral formations extending to depths of up to 10 meters. However, due to this depth, the corals are not easily visible from the water’s surface, posing a challenge for snorkelers.

 

During a professional snorkeling or diving excursion with OnBird Phu Quoc, both parents and children will be guided to a tranquil, shallow water area devoid of currents. Here, children can acclimate to snorkeling sensations before progressing to deeper waters. They will receive instruction on snorkeling equipment usage and safety protocols, ensuring a well-prepared and secure experience.

 

2. UNDERWATER VISION

Underwater visibility stands out as a pivotal element in the coral reef diving encounter. While seasoned divers can plunge into the depths for a closer look at the coral, the vast majority of young children are limited to observing the coral from the water’s surface. Hence, visibility, in conjunction with depth, significantly shapes the initial impression for children. Optimal conditions for young children’s diving experiences encompass an underwater visibility range of 3-5 meters alongside shallow coral reefs, with exceptional visibility of 7-8 meters deemed ideal. Factors such as currents, wave level, wave direction and the topography of the reef affect underwater visibility, necessitating the organization’s expertise to forecast underwater conditions and schedule dives, and snorkeling during periods of optimal visibility. Proficient snorkeling/diving organizations should possess comprehensive knowledge of coral reef topography, anticipate daily currents, and consider varying time frames within a day to curate an immersive experience that surpasses expectations for both children and parents.

Hai bé 7 và 9 tuổi tham gia lặn ngắm san hô tại Phú Quốc
Hai bé 7 và 9 tuổi tham gia lặn ngắm san hô tại Phú Quốc

  

3. CURRENT AT THE CORAL REEF

Unlike swimming in a pool, swimming in open water as in the sea, there will always have currents. In particularly, currents frequently come to the reefs o help remove sediments from the coral as well such as helping dispersed coral larvae to proliferate.
Strong currents will be dangerous for families with young children, which can cause parents and your kids to lose their composure and panic if they do not know how to handle it or have a swimming instructor to guide them out of the current to a safe location. enjoy or even have fun in the flowing water with the drifting technique.
OnBird Phu Quoc builds an advanced water condition forecasting model based on weather data and water conditions collected over many years, thereby making forecasts about water conditions: wave strength, water flow, range time frame underwater with 95% accuracy.

 

4. THE REEF VARIETY AND CORAL HEALTH STATUS

Not similar to soft coral species, hard corals are types which basically need sunlight to help with photosynthesis to create nutrients for algae and corals, so only coral reefs can be seen strong in shallow waters, especially from 0.5m to 3m, the lower the average depth of coral reefs, the higher the coverage and diversity.

Explore Coral Jungle Reef, the heathiest coral reef in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
Khu rừng san hô Phú Quốc (Coral Jungle Reef) có sự hiện diện của trên 20 loài san hô khác nhau
Young children are those who are at process of brain development, imagination, a healthy and diverse coral reef will stimulate the baby’s imagination, like being immersed in the world of fishes, swimming together. Wading in the coral forest filled with colors will be a deeply unforgettable experience for your baby. A healthy reef with a high percentage of live coral in shallow water will satisfy the above requirements.

 

5. THE MOST IDEAL CORAL REEF FOR FAMILIES WITH KIDS IN VIETNAM TO SNORKEL

Khu rừng san hô tại rạn san hô Rừng San Hô (Coral Jungle) Phú Quốc, Việt Nam
Coral Jungle Reef is one of the greatest biodiversity coral reef in Phu Quoc and whole Vietnam

Phu Quoc can be considered as the top place in Vietnam when it comes to scuba diving, even surpassing Nha Trang when it has 21 coral reefs for visitors to experience, the coral condition can be said to be better than Nha Trang. Pages a lot. The coral reefs in Phu Quoc have a gentle slope with an average depth of 1.5 – 3.5m and a depth of 9-10m, with a wide, flat sand structure that helps anchor ships safely and is extremely suitable. with families with young children to experience snorkeling. In particular, from Onbird’s assessment, Coral Jungle Reef can be said to be the number one diving spot in Phu Quoc in particular and in Vietnam in general for families with young children. With more than 20 different species of corals with a survival rate of up to 95-99%, this is the healthiest coral reef in Phu Quoc, one of the largest coral reefs in Phu Quoc and Vietnam with a high coverage. area up to 82.5%. Underwater visibility during the year is always guaranteed from 4 – 10m, which is ideal for experience, especially here parents and children will be able to explore an authentic coral forest with a depth of 0.5 – 1.5m a lot. colorful hard corals, very vivid.