Discovering Paradise: The World’s Clearest Beach Waters, According To TripAdvisor Reviews

We humans love clear sea water. It stirs something deep inside us, representing purity and tranquility, and creates a sense of escape from the complexities of daily life.

But where can we find the best clear water beaches? The researchers from FloridaPanhandle have the answer. They analyzed thousands of posts on TripAdvisor, seeing which beaches had the most mentions of the words ‘clear water.’

Here’s a look at the beaches and popular travel destinations that came out on top.

Elena Alexiou, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The clearest beach water in the world

Greek beaches have the clearest beach water in the world, according to the FloridaPanhandle Researchers. In fact, Greek beaches dominate the top ten list of clear water beaches, taking up 8 spots.

The clearest of all clear beach water in Greece can be found at Prassa Beach in Kimolos—over 40% of all TripAdvisor reviews of the beach talk about its beautiful, transparent seawater.

Europe’s clearest waters

It should come as no surprise to hear that Greek beaches make up most of the entries in the list of Europe’s clear water beauty spots.

But three other stretches of sand did make it into the top 10 list. They are Kasuna Beach in Croatia, Italy’s Cala Brandinchi, and Calo Des Moros, an incredibly beautiful beach in the southeast corner of Mallorca.

The clearest waters in North America

The waters alongside Half Moon Beach in the Bahamas are as clear as clear can be. More than one in three Half Moon Beach TripAdvisor reviews rave about the waters, making it the clearest strip of sea in North America.

“The clarity of the sea is nothing short of astonishing,” reads one review.

Beautiful seas in North America

The USA’s cleanest strip of water is on Washington Island, Wisconsin. It laps against the pebble-covered shores of Schoolhouse Beach.

But while the water looks inviting, it’s best to stay on the shore. The seabed is covered in sharp, jagged limestone rocks.

Clear seas in South America

Searching for the most transparent seas in South America? Then book your flights to Brazil, then make the trip to the nearby island of Ilha Grande. It’s where you’ll find Lagoa Azul Beach.

Lagoa Azul translates as blue lagoon, but “the crystal-clear lagoon” would be a better name. “It’s like looking through a sheet of liquid glass,” posted one visitor.

Stunning beach waters in Asia

No stretch of sea across Asia is as clear and beautiful as the one next to Pileh Bay, Thailand. The words “clear water” feature in 38% of TripAdvisor reviews for this beach. “Stunning,” reads one review. “Simply stunning. I felt like I was looking at a slice of paradise.”

The clearest water on the African continent

Almost 1 in 5 TripAdvisor reviews mentioning Plage de Trou aux Biches in Tanzania spoke about its beautiful sea. That’s the highest percentage of clear water mentions of any beach on the African continent.

“A snorkeler’s dream,” posted one happy traveler.

Beautiful waters down under

Australia has 8 mentions in the top 10 list of clear water beauty spots in Oceania. But it doesn’t take the top spot. That belongs to Champagne Beach, a popular tourist location on Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu. It’s famous for its crystal-clear waters, which are mentioned in 35% of TripAdvisor reviews of this idyllic beach.