#scuba 8 Best Snorkeling Spots In Florida – TheTravel

June 16, 2024 - Comment

[ad_1] Summary Dive into Devil’s Den in Williston for glowing waters and unexpected marine species. Explore Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park for a unique snorkeling experience from the beach. Visit Bahia Honda State Park for crystal clear waters and incredible marine life sightings. Florida sits on the southeastern ridge of the United States, making

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Summary

  • Dive into Devil’s Den in Williston for glowing waters and unexpected marine species.
  • Explore Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park for a unique snorkeling experience from the beach.
  • Visit Bahia Honda State Park for crystal clear waters and incredible marine life sightings.

Florida sits on the southeastern ridge of the United States, making it home to year-round sunshine. Florida has plenty of charming towns, stunning beaches, incredible attractions like theme parks and historic landmarks, and, of course, an 825-mile coastline that offers breathtaking snorkeling opportunities. Anyone who loves snorkeling will be guaranteed an amazing experience in Florida. The warm waters and 99% chance of sunshine make the activity even more enjoyable.

The Sunshine State boasts a gorgeous coastline, and snorkeling on its reefs and sandy spots is extremely beautiful; here, you will be stunned at the colorful marine species living underneath the water. When snorkeling in Florida, you might see great barracuda, blacktip sharks, elkhorn coral, stoplight parrotfish, and many more fascinating marine species that bustle below the warm waves, from dolphins to colorful reef fish.

With so much diversity and marine life to witness, let’s dive in and discover some of the state’s top snorkeling spots, some of which are right by the best beaches in Florida.

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8

Devil’s Den, Williston

An easy-to-walk-past but not-to-miss snorkeling spot is Devil’s Den, home to sparkling blue waters and huge fish

Devil’s Den in Williston, Florida, might be difficult to spot. When you walk past the entrance, it might not look like much. But after walking down the steep stairs to the cave, you will be happy that you took your time to explore.

The cave offers glowing blue waters and sparkling greenery thanks to the open top of the dry cave. Although it’s a fairly small space, you can scuba dive or snorkel in the depths of Devil’s Den and expect to see 50-pound catfish, large guppies, and beautiful crappies.

The best time to visit

All-year-round

Possible sightings

Crappies, guppies, and catfish

Difficulty level

Beginner-friendly

Cost of entry

$7

7

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne

Snorkeling typically requires a boat trip, but not in the one-of-a-kind Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

Visiting Florida in the summer or winter? You will love heading to the beach for a spot of snorkeling (as long as the hurricanes don’t appear) at Bill Baggs. You won’t want to miss Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in Biscayne National Park; the water doesn’t require a boat to access the snorkeling world.

You can swim right from the white sandy beach as long as you bring your own snorkeling gear and swim toward the abundance of marine species. Bill Baggs boasts popular fish species like mahi mahi, tuna, shrimp, crab, and sea turtles, which snorkelers might be able to spot as they explore the underwater sites here.

The best time to visit

November to April

Possible sightings

Tuna, mahi mahi, shrimp, crab, and sea turtles

Difficulty level

Beginner-friendly

Cost of entry

$8 per vehicle (2 to 8 people)

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6

Bahia Honda State Park, Bahia Honda

This state park is a hidden snorkeling gem located in the Florida Keys

This 500-acre state park is part of Bahia Honda, an uninhabited island between central Florida and Key West. You can find plenty of snorkeling spots there if you swim from the shore.

Snorkeling is easily among the best things to do in Bahia Honda State Park; the top snorkeling spot here is Looe Key Marine Sanctuary, thanks to its outstanding crystal-clear waters. The location is named after an old shipwreck and now boasts over 50 species of marine life, from star coral, brain coral, and fire corals to staghorn and elkhorn.

Start your journey from the shoreline and make your way into the water to discover the incredible underwater world.

The best time to visit

All-year-round

Possible sightings

Elkhorn, fire corals, brain corals, and more

Difficulty level

Beginner-friendly

Cost of entry

$8 per vehicle

5

Dry Tortugas, Florida

Visit a remote group of islands to witness some incredible marine species and clear waters

Dry Tortugas is a remote group of islands that is a journey and a half away from Key West, a 70-mile voyage to be exact. The islands are only accessible by boat or seaplane, so they make for quite the adventure if that is the kind of trip you desire.

It won’t be a waste of time, and Dry Tortugas has incredibly clear views when you dip your head under the water. They are so crystal clear you might be blown away. The 70-mile trip to Dry Tortugas will be worth it when you get to snorkel from the beach alongside predatory fish like amberjacks, wahoos, and vibrant corals.

The best time to visit

May to September

Possible sightings

Amberjacks, vibrant coral, and wahoos

Difficulty level

Beginner-friendly

Cost of entry

$15 per person

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4

Destin, Florida

Found on the Emerald Coast, Destin is a remarkable snorkeling spot for beginners who want to see fish in plentiful groups

Destin can be found on the Emerald Coast, where tourists and residents can enjoy calm water and plentiful marine species. This snorkeling spot is perfect for beginners, as you can swim off the beach and spot fish and coral within a few minutes.

The man-made reefs here allow you to spend hours taking in the colorful, abundant marine species. Destin is home to turtles, starfish, grouper, and amberjack, which you may be able to see while snorkeling here. If you head on a boat trip, you can even witness dolphins in their natural habitat. It’s a truly wonderful experience if you want to tick off dolphin-watching on your bucket list.

The best time to visit

Year-round from mid-morning to mid-afternoon

Possible sightings

Amberjacks, groupers, starfish, turtles, and dolphins

Difficulty level

Beginner-friendly

Cost of entry

Free from Norriego Point

3

Ginnie Springs, High Springs

Situated along the Santa Fe River, you can find a privately-owned snorkeling spot, perfect for freshwater snorkeling

At Ginnie Springs in Florida, snorkelers can expect to find a privately owned piece of land with something special on offer. The clear, cool, gin-like waters are fresh and abundant with freshwater marine species like bass, perch, catfish, and flounder.

Scuba divers are also welcome here to explore the spring floor, but there is plenty for snorkelers to see. It is also common to spot freshwater turtles, so don’t be shy and head to Ginnie Springs to see something a little different from the typical Floridian snorkeling spots.

The best time to visit

Summer to early Fall

Possible sightings

Bass, perch, turtles, flounder, and catfish

Difficulty level

Beginner-friendly

Cost of entry

$15 per person

2

Silver Glen Springs, Ocala National Forest

Head somewhere a little different and visit Silver Glen Springs, a warm paradise perfect for all levels of snorkelers

You can discover Silver Glen, a 72-degree water spring, if you fancy an Ocala National Forest road trip. It is the perfect spot for hours of snorkeling, and you won’t get bored as there are plenty of aquatic species to see.

At Silver Glen Springs, you can snorkel alongside turtles, striped bass, and sunfish. You can enjoy up to 25 meters of deep water, which is ideal for advanced snorkelers. If you are a beginner, you can also access the springs directly and snorkel within your comfort zone.

The best time to visit

Early fall

Possible sightings

Turtles, striped bass, mullet, and sunfish

Difficulty level

Beginner-friendly

Cost of entry

$8 per person on weekdays and $11 on weekends

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1

Crystal River, Florida

A short trip from Orlando is Crystal River, the ideal spot for all ages if you wish to snorkel with manatees

Swimming with Manatees, Crystal River, Florida

Photo: Thierry Eidenweil | Shutterstock

Swimming with Manatees, Crystal River, Florida

Crystal River is a short drive from Orlando, Florida. Whether you visit with the children or as an adult group, it is a great spot to snorkel and swim alongside more than 300 manatees. There is no other experience like this in the United States, let alone the Sunshine State.

Crystal River offers three individual springs, where clear waters are available from January to March. Although you might not witness much else, Crystal River is the only place in the United States where it is legal to swim with manatees, so it is worth a visit.

The best time to visit

January to March

Possible sightings

Manatees

Difficulty level

Beginner-friendly

Cost of entry

$70 per person

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