Why are tropical beaches turquoise?

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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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 ocean is blue because water absorbs colors in the red part of the light spectrum. Like a filter, this leaves behind colors in the blue part of the light spectrum for us to see. The ocean may also take on green, red, or other hues as light bounces off of floating sediments and particles in the water.

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Hawaii's ocean water is nutrient deficient. This is common in tropical areas with warm surface water temperatures. A lack of nutrients means there are fewer phytoplankton and algae in Hawaii's water, which makes it more blue.

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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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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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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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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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By far one of our most alluring features, the sparkling turquoise waters of The Bahamas have been enticing visitors for centuries, both on land and in the sky.

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It is in Puerto Bahía Balandra (Balandra Bay), a sheltered area in the Gulf of California just across from Isla Espiritu Santo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has what many consider the bluest water in Mexico.

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Furthermore, here in Destin, Florida we have incredibly fine white quartz sand lining our shores making the perfect backdrop for light to penetrate, further exaggerating whatever molecules, phytoplankton or algae are left in the water, bringing out the dominant color.

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Panama City Beach. Known for having the beaches with the clearest water in Florida you can not miss this Emerald Coast classic. You don't get that name by just by having crystal clear water in Florida but you must also have beautiful pristine beaches too. Panama City Beach in Florida's gulf coast is a wonder to behold.

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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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“So the reason why these beaches are usually dirty is mainly because of their limited water circulation, which leads to prolonged pollution near the shore,” Wu said. “This means the circulation is not enough to flush away all pollution when it happens.

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