Where To Go Snorkeling In South Florida?

South Florida offers a variety of top snorkeling spots, including Palm Beach County, the Phil Foster Park Blue Heron Bridge area, Broward County, and Miami-Dade County. These areas are known for their vibrant tropical fish, squid, octopus, spotted rays, urchins, starfish, and seahorses. The Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Snorkel Trail runs just 400 feet offshore in 12- to 15-feet of water.

Miami-Dade County also offers several easy-to-swim spots, about 5- to 7-feet deep, filled with reef fish, corals, and sea turtles. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is another popular destination for snorkeling.

Biscayne National Park, which is as big as Austin, Texas, is home to 95% underwater, featuring reefs, wrecks, seagrass meadows, and marine life. Other popular snorkeling sites include Pompano Beach to Ft. Lauderdale, Red Reef Park Peanut Island, Riviera Beach, Phil Foster Park Snorkel Trail, John D. MacArthur Beach, Fort Pierce, Pepper Park, and the Urca De Lima wreck.

Fort Lauderdale offers several snorkeling sites, such as The Vista Park Reef, Pompano Beach, Hollywood North Beach Park, and the Alligator Reef Lighthouse. For those looking for adventure, Shell Island in Panama City Beach, FL offers an opportunity to explore the beautiful waters of the Emerald Coast.

In summary, South Florida offers a wide range of top snorkeling destinations, including the Florida Keys, Biscayne National Park, and the Coral Reef State Park. With experienced guides and stunning views, visitors can have an unforgettable snorkeling experience in these beautiful waters.

Are there coral reefs in Miami?

The Florida Reef Tract spans 220 miles in all, stretching from Miami along the Florida Keys and west past Key West to the Dry Tortugas.

What Florida key has the best snorkeling?

Key Largo at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is one of the must-visit snorkeling spots in the continental United States. You will find the only living coral reef here. Snorkelers can expect to see various sea turtles, shipwrecks, bottlenose dolphins, and tropical fishes here. It is the perfect place for people to learn snorkeling for the first time. Everyone is cooperative and ensures your safety first before taking you to the water. You and your family, including small kids, can experience breathtaking underwater life.

According to veterans, snorkeling the Florida Keys is an experience of a lifetime. You don’t need to know the basics of snorkeling when you visit the Florida Keys. There are enough guides to teach you the basics on the spot and encourage you to dive into the aquamarine waters. Even kids and children can safely snorkel when at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

Key Largo is located at a 102.5-mile marker and holds the record for the US’s first undersea park. It has the largest area with abundant living coral reefs and marine life, making the sea life look stunning. Snorkelers find plenty of coral species, such as star corals, brain corals, sea fingers, sea fans, and sea whips. The abundance of angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, and turtles is a delight to watch. Every year, thousands of tourists visit the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park to see the colorful marine life. Various companies offer guided tours throughout the year. They take you to the best snorkeling spots where you can enjoy deep-sea diving and snorkeling.

Will I see sharks snorkeling in Key West?

Interestingly enough, this is also the best time of year to visit the Florida Keys if you’re worried about shark bites. Although the most common shark in Florida waters is the lemon shark and the docile nurse shark is a common sight on Key West dives, the shark species that do pose a threat to humans – tiger sharks and the notorious great hammerhead shark, to name a couple – are spotted more often during the winter months.

9 Best Locations For Spotting Sharks Around Key West. If seeing sharks ranks high on your Key West must-do list, we’ve got you covered. Let’s take a virtual tour through the waters of the Florida Keys so you’ll know what to expect when you arrive.

1) Key West Aquarium. Let’s start with the most obvious location: The famed Key West Aquarium. You don’t have to get on a boat in order to see these creatures – the facility houses several shark species, which you can safely observe from a distance.

Can you snorkel with turtles in Florida?

Best Places To Find Sea Turtles In The Florida Keys. A sea turtle will spend all their time in the water. It’s possible to see them swimming anywhere you go in the warm, clear waters of the Florida Keys. You can find a sea turtle while snorkeling near shore or by taking a snorkel excursion by boat.

During nesting season, the following beaches have sea turtles visit every year to build their nest:

Islamorada in the upper keys, between mile markers 72 and 83,

Is snorkeling in Key West worth it?

Snorkeling In Key West. Located at the southernmost tip of the United States, the island is renowned for its lively culture, historic sites, and beautiful beaches. Tourists in Key West can choose from a variety of snorkeling tours to fit all skill levels, despite the island being smaller than Key Largo. Since it contains the sole surviving coral reef system in North America, Key West National Marine Sanctuary is a popular snorkeling destination for visitors to the island.

Key West Marine Sanctuary’s reefs are well-known for the vivid hues they reflect and the abundance of ocean life they support. Divers and snorkelers exploring the reefs often come across schools of fish, sea turtles, and even dolphins. The majority of snorkeling tours in this area include a guided tour of the reefs and provide snorkeling equipment for those who don’t already have it.

Those interested in a more in-depth exploration of the reefs can do so via scuba diving, which is also available around the island, in addition to snorkeling. Waters near the island are well-known for their high visibility, making them ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling.

The Western Dry Rocks are known for their beautiful coral formations, and the Vandenberg, a former military vessel, was sunk on purpose to create an artificial reef. Some other popular snorkeling locations around Key West include:

How deep is the reef at Lauderdale by the Sea?

Dive Site Description. Lauderdale by the Sea Reef is a shallow reef accessible from the beach. As you enter the beach you will find nothing but sand for about 50 yards. The depth will gradually drop off to about 16 feet until you reach the cannons. Continuing out to the east you will reach a flat part of the reef which continues out about another 50 yards or so. At that point you will reach a rise in the reef that goes up to about 12 feet with lots of holes in pockets to explore. Continuing out to the east you will come to patchy reef and continuing out further you will find a large solid reef which is the front side of the drop off.

The Dive Plan:. 2 Dives 2 Locations. We start off the day with an exploration dive off the beach at Lauderdale by the Sea Reef. You may opt for a second dive if you would like to continue and explore. We have 45 min. to 1 hour on site. Air and bottom time permitting.

Our Local Reefs. We are fortunate enough that some of our South Florida beaches have amazing beach dive sites. The shallow dive sites are teeming with tropical fish, turtles and lots of interesting little creatures. Most of these sites can be snorkeled as well. As always for all of our beach dive locations you will need your own dive flag for your group.

Can you snorkel off the beach in Miami?

Although the Miami Beach area lacks coral reefs, there are some man-made ocean habitats that attract an abundance of marine life in the shallows near this busy tourist mecca. The Half Moon was a two-masted racing schooner that sank in 1930 off the shores of Key Biscayne. The ship remains in its watery grave, embedded in white sand in no more than 10 feet of water. The remains of the boat make a happy home for many reef fish, sponges, and coral. At high or low tide, the ship makes a popular diving and snorkeling spot for visitors to the Miami area looking to get their flippers wet.

Want to combine your passions for drinking and snorkeling? The Jose Cuervo Margarita Bar may be the most unusual snorkeling site in South Florida. The 10,000-pound concrete bar was made especially for a Jose Cuervo promotion and then donated to the artificial reef program in Miami. The bar was sunk during the “Sinko de Mayo Festival” in 2000 and remains just offshore in Miami Beach for divers and snorkelers to share with the barfly reef fish who now call it home. Head 150 yards southeast of the Second Street lifeguard station to find the bar.

Biscayne National Park, which is just south of the city, is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts that is a nice change of pace from the hectic city scene. This laid-back park has a shallow reef that is excellent for snorkeling and diving. The park’s underwater ecosystem is home to corals, reef fish, and manatees. Visitors may also see crocodiles sunning themselves and butterflies and birds fluttering through the air. Snorkeling is an excellent way to see the reef, and the water is shallow enough for those of all skill levels and ages. The park is open 24 hours a day all year, but check the weather before heading out, especially from June to November, which is hurricane season.

What part of Florida has the best snorkeling?

10 Great Florida Locations for SnorkelingBiscayne National Park. … Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne. … Devil’s Den, Williston. … Destin. … Dry Tortugas. … Ginnie Springs, HIgh Springs. … Phil Foster Park and Blue Heron Bridge, Riviera Beach. … Silver Glen, Ocala National Forest.

Between 825 miles of beaches and 33 first-magnitude springs, there are endless places to explore the waters of the Sunshine State.

From gin-clear North Florida springs to vibrant, colorful coral reefs in the Florida Keys, here are 10 of the best spots to snorkel in the Sunshine State…

1. Biscayne National Park. One top spot to snorkel is close to the hustle and bustle of Miami, and that’s Biscayne National Park, where offshore excursions bring visitors to coral reefs, shipwrecks, and ecologically vital mangrove habitat. Guided snorkel trips are available through Biscayne National Park Institute and a host of other operators listed here.

Do you need a wetsuit to snorkel in Miami?

• Snorkeler/Boat Rider Checklist. Reservations are not required but are recommended to assure your space on the boat.
• Please write down your tour time.The tour time is when the boats leave the docks. Please arrive at least 45-60 minutes prior to arrival so that we may leave the docks on time. This gives ample time to ensure everyone has time to check in and gear up.
• Don’t forget your directions to our location.
• Will you need a wetsuit? During the warm summer months, you will not need a wetsuit. The warm Atlantic temperatures are in the 80’s during summer! Coming during winter? No worries, we have wetsuits for the cooler mid 70’s Atlantic temperatures too.
• Remember to wear your bathing suit under your clothing. We have limited space for those who need to change. This will also help us leave the docks on time.
• Towels, sunscreen, sunglasses, and Chapstick are all recommended. We want you to have a good time in the sun!
• If you are bringing items on board that you do not want to get wet such as phones, books, clothes, etc please place them in a dry bag. We do have dry bins that you may put them in as well.
• Are you worried about getting seasick? Even though the boat rides are calm and enjoyable some guests take precautions and purchase motion sickness patches or pills. When and doubt take one so you will have a great time! We do offer them at our front desk. It’s always a good idea to follow the directions on the packaging.
• Parking is available at the city lot across from the Sands Harbor Resort.
• We do provide water from a water cooler as well as crackers. If you would like to bring a snack or lunch there are iced coolers located on board.
• All divers, snorkelers, and passengers will be required to sign aSnorkeling Liability ReleaseorDiver Liability Release Waiver
• Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture a memory of a lifetime. If you would like to purchase a disposable underwater camera we sell them at the front desk. Remember we are on Facebook and would love to see your photos!

• Diver’s Checklist. For those that are diving make sure you have your Open Water Diver Certification/(C-Card). If you will be diving one of our deeper wrecks please bring a higher certification card.
• You will need: Mask, fins, snorkel, BCD, regulator, weights, and tanks. If you do not have these items we have these items for renthere! Additional items you might want to bring along: dive computer if not diving with tables, lights, surface marker buoy, watch, underwater camera, whistle, and appropriate wetsuit/skin. Our dive rates do not include tanks or weights.
• Please have your logbook so we can stamp this dive for you!
• Remember to post your pictures on Facebook after your dive!

Does Fort Lauderdale have snorkeling?

Ever tried beach diving?. Greater Fort Lauderdale is the only place in the continental USA where you can snorkel and dive on a living coral reef straight off the beach. That’s right, diving without B.O.B. (Benefit Of Boat). In Lauderdale-By-The-Sea and Hollywood, the first reef swings in close where it’s an easy five-minute swim, just a hundred yards from shore. And the variety of fish and critters is astounding.

How doyouwant to dive?. In Greater Fort Lauderdale, the BIG challenge is sorting through the never-ending choices. What will it be today?

• Scuba, freediving, or snorkeling
• Maximal or minimal? Strap on 60 pounds of scuba gear to linger on the reef for an hour. Or rock just mask, fins and snorkel to freedive to zip around like a sea otter.
• Reefs or wrecks
• Dive from beach or boat
• Recreational or technical? Enjoy an easy dive to 45 feet, or a gear-intensive, push-the-limits wreck dive to 200 ft+
• Drift-dive the reef to see the sights, or hunt for fish and lobster
• Shoot photos or video

Is snorkeling in Miami worth it?

Wondering where to go snorkeling in Miami?. Whether you’re an amateur swimmer or experienced diver, Miami offers some pretty incredible snorkeling spots that anyone can enjoy. You’ll definitely want to add this fun, easy, and affordable activity to your vacation itinerary.

Pack your beach bags and gather your gear, because we’ve rounded up the best snorkeling spots to visit in (or around) Miami.

• Location: 70 miles west of Key West
• Price: $15 Entrance Fee
• Rentals: Yes