Why are some beaches turquoise?

The bright white calcium carbonate spheres excel at reflecting light, producing the milky turquoise-blue color of a coccolithophorid bloom. As the coccolithophorids are dispersed and sink in deeper, clearer ocean water, the color of the water deepens to azure.



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This MODIS image of blue water in the Caribbean Sea looks blue because the sunlight is scattered by the water molecules. Near the Bahama Islands, the lighter aqua colors are shallow water where the sunlight is reflecting off of the sand and reefs near the surface.

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The more water you've got, the bluer the tropical waters look. There are some factors that boost the appearance of blue: surface reflection of the sky, for instance, and the color of the ocean bottom — if it's white it will also tend to reflect the sky and amplify the blue of the water.

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Olivine Sand Sand of almost exclusively olivine grains is very rare, and Papakolea is one of only four green sand beaches in the world. The others are Hornindalsvatnet in Norway, Punta Cormorant in the Galapagos Islands, and Talofofo Beach in Guam.

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Olivine Sand Olivine is an igneous mineral formed from the crystallization of magma. At Papakolea, the olivine erodes out of an ancient volcanic cinder cone that encloses the semi-circular beach. Sand of almost exclusively olivine grains is very rare, and Papakolea is one of only four green sand beaches in the world.

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As you can tell by now, many factors come into play to create the perfect turquoise color that defines the Caribbean. We are lucky to enjoy mother nature showing off with the beautiful intense tones that Cancun gives to everyone who visits.

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1. The Maldives. The Maldives, located in the Indian Ocean, have around 1,190 islands and sandbanks. A lagoon with crystal clear water encircles all the islands, which are protected by a reef structure that is home to an array of underwater life.

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Phytoplankton absorbs electromagnetic radiation in the reds and blues of the visible spectrum but reflects the greens, which explains why the waters they inhabit look green.

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The Weddell Sea has been claimed by scientists to have the clearest waters of any ocean in the world. Described by a historian as “the most wretched and dismal region on earth”, due to the flash freezes that caught Shackleton's ship, its clarity is only belied by the sheer depth of the ocean below.

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Crandon Park Beach on Key Biscayne offers two miles of stunning shoreline plus postcard-worthy turquoise waters. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent, while additional park activities include volleyball, tennis, water sports, hiking, and biking.

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Where is the most turquoise water in the USA?
  • Blue Hole – Santa Rosa, New Mexico.
  • Chena Hot Springs – Fairbanks, Alaska.
  • Las Olas Beach – Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
  • Grand Lake – Grand Lake Colorado.
  • La Jolla Cove – San Diego, California.
  • Sail Bay – San Diego, California.
  • Lake Conway – Edgewood, Florida.


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The beautiful white sand and crystal clear water clarity are further amplified by the Choctawhatchee Bay, just north of Destin. Sediment run-off into the waters of Destin is minimized due to the Choctawhatchee Bay and its ability to filter everything before it makes it into the Gulf.

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Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, Australia Whitehaven Beach is consistently ranked as the world's best beach, and with good reason: It's almost surreally beautiful. Besides its crystal clear waters, it's known for its white sand, consisting of 98% pure silica which gives it a bright white color.

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The sediment in Hawaii's oceans is made up of volcanic rock, coral, and shells which are heavy and not easily stirred up. The sediment quickly settles on the ocean floor, keeping the water clear.

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