Why save snorkeling for a cruise ship excursion or a resort stay when we have world-famous snorkeling destinations right here on our doorstep?
Reefs and trails await underwater explorers just beneath the surface of the warm, blue ocean waters off the coast of Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Need an escape from the stresses of everyday life? Grab a snorkel and mask, wade into the surf, and immerse yourself in a world where the only traffic you encounter is a vibrant school of fish swimming by, or a graceful sea turtle crossing your path.
Before you get started, there are of course a few things you need to figure out: the right location for your skill level, the equipment needed, access points, costs, safety factors, and parking and other amenities.
We’ve taken all of this into account when compiling our list of must-visit snorkeling spots. They’re easily accessible from the beach (no boat required) and are free or in some cases only have parking or park fees.
SAFETY FIRST
First, let’s talk safety. Here are some important tips for snorkelers, courtesy of the Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation Department website:
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Know your personal swimming limitations and snorkeling skills.
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Always snorkel with a buddy so you can share your experiences and have someone to help you if needed.
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Check sea conditions such as waves, currents, wind, water visibility and weather.
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Determine the entry and exit points.
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Please note that the best time to snorkel is two hours before or after high tide.
“If you’re not confident in your abilities, stay within the guarded areas,” Fine said. “Look but don’t touch is the motto when snorkeling, and keep your feet and hands off coral and marine life.”
EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST
Next, we asked marine biologist and Master Scuba Instructor John Christopher Fine, who calls Boynton Beach home when he’s not traveling the world investigating shipwrecks and studying ocean pollution, about the gear beginning snorkelers need before getting in the water.
He said you should start with the basics: a mask, snorkel and a pair of fins (or swim shoes). Also wear “a wetsuit or nylon tights and top to protect you from the sun and stings,” he added. “Skins are cheap online, long lasting and much cheaper than coral-destroying sunscreens.”
A dive flag and float are required for safety and to comply with Florida law, he said.
“For beginners I recommend a car inner tube on a yellow (polypropylene) line with a weight on the end so the line can be lowered and the tire doesn’t float away,” he said, adding that a dive flag can be attached to it or a special device.
“A tube is great for resting on, you can hold on to it,” but it should be made of strong materials, not a typical swimming tire.
PLACES TO SNORKEL
Ready to jump? We’ve rounded up six snorkeling spots where you can meet marine life and experience the tranquility of the sea.
And if you want a taste of snorkeling, search YouTube.com for underwater videos of divers and snorkelers covering the locations listed below.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Phil Foster Memorial Park Snorkel Trail
900 E. Blue Heron Blvd., Riviera Beach
HOURS: Sunrise to sunset
PARKING: Free
INFORMATION: discover.pbcgov.org/parks
An underwater paradise awaits snorkelers of all skill levels at the southern end of the Blue Heron Bridge, just past a guarded swimming area. Venture about 200 feet out to sea to explore submerged structures and shark sculptures, while keeping an eye out for some of the path’s residents, including octopus, octopi, spotted rays and starfish. Six hundred tons of rock were used to build the artificial reef, made of limestone blocks and prefabricated reef modules that cover 2 acres in 6 to 10 feet of water, according to the county. Need a break? Cool off in the shade on the beach below the bridge. To the south, you’ll see Peanut Island, another popular snorkeling spot accessible by boat or ferry.
Ocean Inlet Park/Lofthus Shipwreck
6990 N. Ocean Blvd., Boynton Beach
HOURS: Sunrise to sunset
PARKING: Free
INFORMATION: discover.pbcgov.org
Whether you park and walk along Ocean Boulevard or under the road at the pier, when you see the rocks along the shoreline past the guarded beach on the south side of the inlet, you have found the access point to another popular snorkeling spot. Gear up and wade into the ocean. Sea turtles, nurse sharks, reef fish, and coral have all been spotted in the water. For intermediate to advanced snorkelers who swim outside the guarded area, beware of boat traffic.
For those looking for a challenge, the Lofthus shipwreck lies 1.1 miles north of the inlet, about 500 feet offshore in about 10 to 18 feet of water, Fine said. Park at Ocean Inlet Park and make the trek along the beach before the high tide mark. He’s seen guitarfish, a nurse shark and spiny lobsters hanging around the wreck.
“Pay attention to the weather. If the ocean is rough, the waves will break on the shore and it will not be safe to dive the remains of the shipwreck,” he said. “The calm ocean and little wind make it a nice place to explore.”
Snorkel Trail Red Reef Park
1400 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton
HOURS: 08.00 – 22.00 hrs
PARKING: $35 weekdays and $50 weekends/holidays (day pass); $3 per hour at a metered parking lot across State Road A1A
INFORMATION: myboca.us
Twenty artificial reefs just offshore and a jetty extending from the beach into the water form the snorkeling trail. Walk directly into the ocean from the patrolled beach and look out for sergeant major, parrotfish, barjack and spottail pinfish. Snorkelers have also reported seeing a small reef shark, eels, lobsters, crabs, stingrays, barracudas and a sea turtle during their adventures.
Fourteen of the reefs were installed in late 2021, extending the snorkel trail. They are made of native limestone blocks from a quarry near Fort Pierce, the city said.
“Creating an artificial reef snorkel trail offers residents and visitors another unparalleled outdoor experience in the city,” said Recreation Services Director Greg Stevens. “This unique attraction not only provides an amazing adventure for snorkelers, but also promotes a thriving and sustainable habitat for local marine life.”
It is the ideal location for children to learn to snorkel and get up close and personal with ocean life.
“I was able to see beautiful marine life, like turtles, colorful and bigger fish,” said 12-year-old Boca Raton resident Shea Ferris, who snorkels there. “It’s a safe and peaceful place for them, and I was able to enjoy everything around me.”
BROWARD COUNTY
Snorkel trail to the shipwreck
Datura Avenue and El Mar Drive, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
HOURS: Sunrise to sunset
PARKING: Paid parking on side streets or at South Ocean Lot, 4324 State Road A1A
INFORMATION: Discoverlbts.com/diving-snorkeling
Just south of Anglin’s Fishing Pier is one of Broward County’s most popular diving and snorkeling areas, with a 10-foot walkway and three coral reefs right off the beach.
“The quaint town of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, recognized as ‘Florida’s Beach Diving Capital,’ teems with beautiful marine life in calm, clear waters less than 100 yards from white sandy beaches, making it one of the best beaches in Florida to snorkel or dive with the little ones,” said spokeswoman Aimee Adler Cooke. “The entire family can enjoy snorkeling, diving, kayaking and paddleboarding right off the beach.”
She said the city has been designated as a Blue Wave beach, a distinction the Clean Beaches Coalition gives to clean and environmentally conscious beach communities.
The Shipwreck Snorkel Trail, which includes an anchor, five concrete cannons and a ballast pile, was opened in 2002 by explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau (the son of Jacques Cousteau), the city said.
Also in these waters is the SS Copenhagen, a British shipwreck in an underwater archaeological reserve in Florida, which is accessible by boat.
Vista Park Reef
2851 N. Atlantic Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
HOURS: 06.00 – 21.00 hrs
PARKING: Paid parking open from 8am to 8pm
INFORMATION: parks.fortlauderdale.gov
Just a stone’s throw from the Vista Park parking lot, a hidden gem among snorkeling enthusiasts bustles beneath the blue ocean waters. The reef line begins about 300 feet offshore and extends beyond the buoys. The area is the center of the reef that runs north to south. More advanced snorkelers can venture to the deeper depths of the reef. What will you see? Hard and soft corals, tropical fish, and sea fans. Go early, when the water is at its best.
Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park/Erojacks
6503 N. Ocean Drive, Dania Beach
HOURS: 8:00 am to sunset
RECOGNITION: $6 per vehicle (up to eight people); $4 for a vehicle with one occupant or motorcycle; $2 for pedestrians, cyclists, additional passengers, passengers in a vehicle with an annual individual access pass holder
INFORMATION: floridastateparks.org/mizell
There are several snorkeling spots along the park’s 2.5 miles of beach, but one of the unique areas is the Dania Beach Erojacks, an artificial reef that runs east-west and consists of concrete jack structures. To find it, park at the Whiskey Creek Hideout, walk over the bridge, and follow the service trail signs in the sand to the right, heading south. You will enter the beach area where the reef is less than 600 feet offshore. The Dania Beach Pier is visible just to the south. Set your dive flag and keep an eye out for eels, fish, coral, slipper and spiny lobsters, stingrays, pufferfish, and starfish. Please note that the north end of the state park, including the jetty parking lot, the Jetty Pier, and the beach access, are closed to the public due to construction.
