Some Florida visitors believe you have to go to the Florida Keys and even rent a boat to snorkel in Florida. While it is true, Florida’s shoreline limits snorkeling locations, there are plenty of opportunities to snorkel off Florida beaches.
Here are our choices of the BEST SHORELINE SNORKELING SPOTS:
BATHTUB REEF PARK (picture) on the south end of Hutchinson Park in Stuart is a mile long, usually clear snorkeling fun place. A short swim at low tide puts you in the best conditions for fish.
JOHN U. LLOYD STATE PARK in Dania Beach has a nice reef in front of Parking Lot 1. You can even rent kayaks to explore the entire area.
The DATURA AVENUE SNORKEL TRAIL in Launderdale-By-The-Sea is well-marked with white buoys, but disregard the shipwreck myths about the site.
On the Gulf Coast South SIesta Key in Sarasota has a great spot just south of the CRESCENT BEACH ROCKS and a good but deeper location at Point of Rocks opposite Beach Access 12.
EGMONT KEY STATE PARK requires a snorkel boat trip to the island, but on some days the shallows by the old lighthouse make you think of the Bahamas.
The ST. ANDREWS STATE PARK jetties in Panama City have been a popular snorkeling area although the lack of dive buoy enforcement has been an issue.
The shallow sea grass beds of ST. JOSEPH BAY provide an exotic and different type of snorkeling. The other snorkelers you’ll see will probably be licensed scallop collectors.
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