15 Best Swimming Holes in the World

The sight of the crystal blue waters along the natural wind makes one want to get going as soon as possible from the everyday hustle-bustle of life to this sight. A swimming hole is a landscape beauty in a small place in a natural water body which could be a stream, spring, river with depth in order for a person to swim in.

This experience has now become a rare one in our busy lives but a holiday away from shower baths extended to these swimming holes would be a lovely rejuvenating experience.

Natural Swimming pools in the World

Here is the list of best natural swimming pools in the world.

1. Devil’s Pool, Victoria fall

victoria falls

This pool located in Zimbabwe is a 328 feet high lagoon, Victoria Falls also one of the biggest waterfalls in the world. It is the epitome of the phrase “living on the edge.”

Devil’s pool is also known as the ultimate infinity pool. The surrealistic experience of this pool is one of its kind. There are many rock pools which have formed near the great Victoria Falls now due to thousands of years of erosion.

How to reach Victoria Falls:

Driving from Capetown to Victoria Falls is a long & risk trip & you will need a lot of time to do so. So, take a flight up to Victoria Falls airport than take a taxi from Victoria Falls airport to the city.

2. Jellyfish Lake, Palau

jellyfish lake
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The Jellyfish Lake is located on the island of Eil Malk in Palau, Micronesia. The lake is a marine lake across which there are millions of golden jellyfish that migrate horizontally as a daily ritual.

The lake is connected to the Ocean of an ancient Miocene reef through fissures and tunnels of the limestone. These jellyfishes have stinging cells, they hardly harm humans. Snorkeling on this lake is a popular activity that one must surely try.

How to reach:

Eil Malk island is approximately a 45-minute boat ride from Koror. Koror Island is well connected by the Koror–Babeldaob Bridge to the state of Airai in the island of Babeldaob, where Palau International Airport is located.

3. Fingal’s Cave, Staffa

Fingal Cave swimming holes
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This sea cave is situated on the island of Scotland in the Inner Hebrides, commonly known as the western archipelago. The cave is owned by the National Trust For Scotland.

The cave came to be known as the Fingal’s Cave after the famous eighteenth-century epic poem of the poet-historian James Macpherson. The cave has natural acoustics because of its size and cathedral-like arched roof due to which the waves echo inside producing eerie sounds. In order to access the cave one has to take a local sightseeing cruise to the entrance.

4. God’s Bath, California

Cliff jumping is one of the activities central to this place. The high point from where one can jump is about twenty feet above the sea level. This high point is a pit where one can jump into this pit under a rock bridge.

Swimming, sunbathing, snorkelling are some of the few more activities that can be entertained here. The scenic beauty is definitely something that one will fall in love with here. The greenery, sloping rocks, and the clean waters are an absolute delight.

How to reach:

TO reach God’s Bath Drive to Sonora, Ca then Take Tuolumne Road to Buchannon then Take Buchannon all the way to the second bridge (green). Find a place to park your vehicle once you get to the bridge.

5. The Great Blue Hole, Belize

It is a humungous submarine sinkhole which is situated sixty miles off the coast of Belize. This sinkhole is home to a number of diverse and distinct species of fish. The marine life in this sinkhole is very rich and the entire sinkhole is encircled by coral reefs that span throughout the island.

The blue color of this island spread over a distance of about 1000 feet wide and 400 feet deep, which also makes it the largest sinkhole due to its measurements. Adventures such as snorkelling and diving are ideal here due to the crystal clear blue waters.

How to reach:

First, fly to Cancun and then take another flight to Belize City, followed by another short flight that would take you to Ambergris Caye. If there is enough time, one can also plan a trip by bus.

6. Havasu Falls, Grand Canyon

havasu falls

This Arizonian fall situated in the Grand Canyon is sure to fill your eyes with the beauty of what nature has to offer. Located within Native American tribal lands, the Havasu Falls is almost like an oasis located in the between the hot and dry Grand Canyon National Park.

It is a major destination amongst hikers. The falls consist of one waterfall called Chute which drops over a 90 to 100-foot cliff into a large pool. The water here tends to have a vivid blue-green color that contrasts according to its surroundings due to the high amounts of calcium carbonate content in the waters.

How to reach:

There are no roads to the waterfalls only a difficult 10-mile hike in each direction. The hike begins on the Havasupai Indian Reservation, a 4-5 hour drive from either Phoenix or Las Vegas.

Read More, List of largest canyons of the world

7. Dean’s Blue Hole

dean blue hole
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This hole is known to be the world’s deepest underwater sinkhole which has a depth of over 663 feet. The water of this hole is crystal clear and warm. The beaches here are white and an absolute delight for the tourists. The hole is located in a bay which is situated west of Clarence Town in the Bahamas.

How to reach:

To reach Dean’s Blue Hole you have to fly to Long Island, to Deadman’s Caye Airport (DMC). There are two airlines operating flights daily: Bahamas Air and Southern Air. Once you arrived at the airport, you are only 10 minutes away from the blue hole. Beware that some flights make a stop to Stella Maris airport in the north of the island. From Deadman’s Caye Airport, you can take taxis that will take you to your accommodation.

8. The Blue Grotto, Capri

blue grotto swimming holes

Italy is home to so many picturesque landscapes out of which the Blue Grotto is one. The Blue Grotto is located on the island of Capri in southern Italy. The magical crystal blue water sometimes tends to reflect the emerald green light. The Blue Grotto can be enjoyed best on tiny rowboats.

How to reach:

By Boat: It takes 10 minutes from Marina Grande or as a stop along an island tour by boat.
By Bus: Start from Anacapri, 50 meters from Piazza Vittoria (it takes only 15 minute).
By Foot: From Viale T. de Tommaso, take Via Pagliaro and then Via Grotta Azzurra (3.5 km, 40 minutes).

9. Makapipi Falls, Maui

This fall situated near the Hana Highway is a must to visit. This Hana Highway crosses over the Maakpipi stream that is situated right where the lava drops into the lagoon. The Though the flow of the is highly based on rainfall yet it retains an average flow throughout even in the absence of rainfall.

How to reach:

Pullout just past mile marker 25 on Hana Highway (Hwy 360). The fall is Easily accessible, but take the car which can cross the bridge.

10. The Dead Sea, Israel, and Jordan

dead sea israel swimming holes
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The Dead Sea is known to be one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world. This sea is bordered by both Israel as well as Jordan. It is known that multiple canals and pipelines had been proposed in the recent past to reduce the recession of the sea, which has also started causing many problems.

11. Pamukkale, Denizli

pamukkale

The Pamukkale is situated in Denizli, Turkey. It is marked by carbonate minerals that leave the flowing water from the hot springs and travertines. The name Pamukkale in Turkish means “cotton castle”, and welcomes its tourists to bath on its calcareous rocks in the hot, mineral-rich waters.

How to reach:

The nearest airport to Pamukkale is Denizli-Cardak Airport. It takes a 1-hour ride from Denizli-Cardak airport to Pamukkale. There is another alternative as an airport is Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport. It takes 4 hours ride.

12. Hidden Beach, Marieta Islands

The Hidden Beach is located in the arms of the Marieta Islands which is situated only a few miles off the coast of Nayarit, Mexico. Snorkeling is one of the most prominent activities here on this beach.

The beach is known to be artificially created by the explosion of a bomb that had accidentally landed there during the military trials. The beach is open to its tourists throughout the year but the sun-drenched crated on this beach can only be accessed when the tides are low.

The whales on this beach are always in the neighborhood making their fantastic moves as well as breaching and spyglassing.

How to reach:

Charter a boat and get to Marieta Islands National Park, a 45-minute ride from Nayarit. You’ll need to take a boat that has a special permit, and plan on arriving at low tide.

13. Lake Hillier, Australia

lake hillier
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This saline lake which located off the south coast of Western Australia. The lake is very prominently known for its Pepto- Bismol – pink Colour which comes to the surface and is caused by a type of microalgae which is most commonly found in sea salt fields.

How to reach:

It is known that there are very few ways to reach Lake Hillier. The most common method to reach is Aeroplane flights. Daily 6 flights departed from Esperance Airport, flying over Lake Hillier via the nearby Cape Le Grand National Park. Cruises are also an option for passengers wanting to visit the isolated lake and the surrounding forest area.

14. Crater Lake, Oregon

crater lake

The lake is famous for its filled with snow and rainfall throughout and has no rivers flowing in or out of it. It is known that the Native Americans had witnessed its formation about 7,700 years ago when a violent volcanic eruption that had triggered the collapse of a tall peak.

The lake is not often visible due to the invisibility caused by the clouds. The lake is filled with crystal clear deep blue waters and is scenic to look at.

15. Oeschinensee Lake, Lotschberg

When one thinks of Switzerland they obviously think of the glaciers, snow-capped mountains and yes the lakes. Oeschinensee is one such mountain lake fed by glacial brooks. This lake is situated in the Lotschberg region of Switzerland and is surrounded by many green cliffs and snow-capped peaks.

The lake is known to be 56 meters deep and has a surface area of about 1,1147 square kilometers and stands at an elevation of 1,578 meters above the sea levels.  The lake is also part of the Jungfrau Aletsch Bietschhorn UNESCO World heritage site.

How to reach:

There is a gondola lift facility available from Kandersteg that leads to Oeschinen in almost about half an hour. From Zurich it takes around 3 hrs, from Geneva it takes around 3 to 5 hrs, from Basel it takes around 2 hrs or Bern airport in direction of “Kandersteg”. Access from Kandersteg to Oeschinensee by foot or cable car only, personal cars and taxis are not allowed.

Read More, Top cenotes in the world you must visit

These are the best swimming holes or you can say that natural swimming pools in the world. You can explore these swimming holes during your trip near to these places.

Q. Are swimming holes dangerous?

A. Swimming in natural pools or swimming holes is not dangerous until and unless you take all the precautions. Never jump or dive in a swimming hole as the dept of holes varies in different regions. Also, there may be some hidden rocks underwater that may hurt you badly.

Q. Where can you swim in a waterfall?

A. There are many waterfalls like Tinago Falls, Havasu Falls, David’s pool in Victoria Falls are some waterfalls where you can swim. The most beautiful view can be seen from David’s pool as this swimming hole is on the top of the waterfall.

Q. Where is candy rock swimming hole?

A. The candy rock swimming hole is in Stanislaus National Forest.