The 11 Best Snorkeling in Florida Locations

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Snorkeling in Dry Tortugas National Park

Recommended by Victoria of Florida Trippers

If you want to find the best snorkeling in Florida then visit Dry Tortugas National Park. This incredible national park is located 70 miles off the coast of Key West. So, you will need to take the Yankee Freedom III ferry from Key West to visit.

Tickets are $190.00 per person and the journey will take around 2 hours and 15 minutes each way. But, you will get water, breakfast, and a box lunch to fuel you up before you go snorkeling in the park.

One great place to snorkel there is the water around the white sand beach near historic Fort Jefferson. The water is shallow and between five and fifteen feet deep. Therefore, it’s easy to spot live corals, tropical fish, starfish, queen conch, and more in this protected marine sanctuary. You also don’t have to bring your own gear since complimentary fins, masks, and snorkels are provided by the crew of the Yankee Freedom III ferry.

Another great area to snorkel is near the western end of the moat wall. This spot is filled with large swaths of seagrass and is home to both large coral heads and tons of tropical fish. You can also see the remains of the South Coaling Dock Ruins and see what marine life you can find here.

Type of Snorkeling: On the beach
Closest Airport: Key West International Airport (EYW)
Where to Stay Nearby: There is primitive camping in the park or you can stay at Ocean Key Resort and Spa in Key West.

Snorkeling in Key West, Florida

Recommended by Lori of Travlinmad

When it comes to snorkeling in the Sunshine State, some of the best snorkeling in Florida is on the coral reef around the Conch Republic of Key West. This pristine protected reef rivals almost any that can be found in the Caribbean for clarity, colors, temperature, and species.

Sure you can snorkel from the beach in Key West — Smathers Beach and Higgs Beach are two of the best beaches on the island — but the water is shallow and usually clouded by wind and surf. The chances of seeing any wildlife at the beach other than shore birds is limited.

For the best snorkeling adventure, book an offshore snorkeling tour for a trip to the reef. One of the most popular tours is the Sunset Snorkel Cruise with Draft Beer & Wine includes several hours of both sailing and snorkeling followed by an awesome sunset display.

Once you’re moored at the reef, it’s over the side and into this incredible underwater world. You can expect to see several species of snapper, grouper, damsels, sergeant majors, nurse sharks and blacktip sharks, and a variety of rays, barracuda, and colorful corals.

Getting to Key West is half the fun — you can fly into Miami and drive the famous 3-hour stretch of A1A to Key West, or save time by flying directly into Key West airport. Either way we recommend renting a car or renting bikes to explore.

Type of snorkeling: Off a tour boat
Closest airport: Key West International Airport (EYW)
Where to stay nearby: Old Town is especially popular for its charm and proximity to all things Key West, and we love staying at the Heron House.

Check out our blog post for more of the best snorkel locations in the Florida Keys!

Snorkeling in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Recommended by Jess of Uprooted Traveler

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, found along the southern coastline of Key Largo, Florida, is actually the United States’ first underwater park. Sprawling across 70 square nautical miles, the park protects a large swath of the Florida Keys Reef tract, which is the third largest living coral reef on the planet. So you can see why it would be one of the best snorkeling in Florida destinations!

There are a few options to snorkel directly off shore at the park, such as off Cannon Beach, which has a sunken Spanish ship that’s an excellent place to spot small fish, crabs, and other small marine life.

For the best snorkeling or scuba diving in Key Largo, though, you’ll want to join this awesome boat tour, which can take you out deeper into the reef, where you can see vibrant tropical fish, sea turtles, sharks, and dolphins. There’s even some unique underwater features here, like the iconic Christ of the Abyss, a nine foot tall submerged bronze statue, or centuries old sunken shipwrecks.

Type of snorkeling: Coral reef snorkeling off a beach or a boat
Closest airport: Miami International Airport (MIA)
Where to Stay Nearby: Largo Resort is an upscale resort in the Florida Keys, with its own beach, a beautiful pool, and complimentary bike rentals.

Snorkeling in Biscayne National Park

Recommended by Wendy of Travel the Parks

Ah, exploring the turquoise-blue waters of Key Biscayne is like diving into a living, underwater paradise. Biscayne National Park is 95% water hence there is no better way to see this marine environment than with a boat tour around one of the offshore coral reefs, shipwrecks, or the Bayside mangroves.

The Biscayne National Park Institute and their guides offer a wide range of adventurous snorkeling tours specialized to ensure optimal exploration. Tours depart from Convoy Point, which is next to Dante Fascell Visitor Center at Homestead, FL.

We have enjoyed the “Sail, Paddle, Snorkel, and Island Visit” tour which included a visit Boca Chita, a beautiful island featuring a historic lighthouse. The tour includes a boat ride to the snorkel site, with an experienced guide. Snorkeling equipment is available for rent.

Biscayne Bay’s gentle currents and clear visibility make it an ideal spot for first-time snorkelers. We find snorkeling is a great way to explore while getting a fun workout. The waters are rich in marine life here, and you can always find colorful tropical fish, sea turtles, rays, and sometimes even manatees. The climax of our trip was the sight of the bow wave with two dolphins riding it as we neared the Boca Chita island.

Type of Snorkeling: Off a Boat
Closest Airport: Miami International Airport (MIA)
Where to Stay Nearby: If your budget allows, we highly recommend The Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne, but The Courtyard in Homestead is a great budget option instead.

Snorkeling in Hollywood, Florida

Recommended by Daria of The Discovery Nut

Hollywood is one of the best places for snorkeling in South Florida thanks to its calm and clear waters and nearby amenities.

The beach is a good place to start if you want to snorkel close to the shore. There may be some small fish and other marine life in the shallows, but it’s not known for coral reefs or abundant sea life. However, it’s a perfect beach for families and anyone looking to enjoy a relaxed snorkeling experience after enjoying a savory meal along the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk.

The beach is situated along the Atlantic coastline, approximately halfway between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. To get there, take Interstate 95 (I-95) south and exit at Hollywood Boulevard or Sheridan Street, heading east.

Hollywood Beach is about 20 miles north of Miami. Take I-95 north. The closest airport to Hollywood Beach is Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) about a 15-20 minute drive away. From the airport, you can rent a car, take a ride share service, or use public transport to get to Hollywood Beach.

To enjoy snorkeling in Hollywood Beach, you can just grab snorkeling gear and get in the water. You can enjoy your experience without buying a tour.

If you want to see more marine wildlife, then head to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, which is a hub for diving and snorkeling in the region.

The coral reef is just 15 feet off the beach and offers opportunities to see manta rays, nurse sharks, lobsters and other amazing animals. There’s also remains of a shipwreck which ran aground in 1900 and serves as part of the artificial reef.

Type of Snorkeling: On the beach
Closest airport: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Where to stay nearby: The Marlin Beachside

Snorkeling in Looe Key Reef

Recommended by Meghan of The Traveling Teacher

Looe Key Reef is located in the Florida Keys, close to Key West. It is widely considered some of the best snorkeling in Florida and all of North America. The water clarity is excellent, and the bright blue water will keep you in awe as you swim past turtles and other marine life. Because of its unique shape and generally moderate sea conditions, it is accessible for snorkelers of all skill levels.

To get to Looe Key Reef, most tours will take a boat tour that takes about 40 minutes. The ride is really pretty, and you may even see dolphins, sea turtles, and other sea life along the way!

When you hop in the water, you’ll be immediately greeted with wildlife. The reef is three miles wide, and the number of fish and other sea animals you’ll see on a clear day will leave you in awe. On a clear day, it’s typical for visibility to reach 60 feet or more, and it was some of the best snorkeling you can do anywhere and definitely some of the best in Florida!

Type of snorkeling: Off a boat
Closest airport: Key West International Airport (EYW)
Where to stay nearby: Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Key West

The Best Snorkeling in Central Florida

While the snorkeling in Florida is most prevalent in the southern part of the state, there’s several wonderful and more unique locations located in central Florida that we absolutely love! Here’s some of the best locations that you should check out.

Snorkeling in Crystal River

Recommended by Kat of Staying Afloat

Crystal River is a unique snorkeling in Florida destination, located on the western coast of the state. This day trip destination tends to have cooler water temperatures, 60s in the winter and 80s in the summer. The two main reasons adventure seekers are attracted to Crystal River for snorkeling are to hang out with manatees in the Fall (November through April) and harvest scallops in the summer (July through September).

If you’re not within driving distance, then you may opt to fly into the Tampa International Airport and rent a car to make the approximately one hour drive to Crystal River via Hwy 589.

This area is unique due to the several natural springs that are present in the area. These ecological wonders create a special habitat that caters to manatees. While there aren’t really any large beaches in the area, there are the options to snorkel from public docks, as well as from boats.

If you are looking to book a snorkeling tour, there are a couple local companies to book through, but we highly recommend booking through Crystal River Watersports. Their kind and knowledgeable staff make for an amazing experience you won’t soon forget.

Type of snorkeling: off a boat, off the beach, in a spring
Closest airport: Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Where to stay nearby: Paddletail Waterfront Lodge

Snorkeling in Vero Beach

Recommended by Lisa of Planning Away

One of the best places to snorkel in Florida is Vero Beach.  It is about 2 hours away from Disney World and Orlando.

Vero Beach is located along the Treasure Coast.  Why does it have this name you ask? Well, in the early days of exploration, many ships sunk.  These ships contained GOLD!

Located only 400 yards from shore is a sunken ship. The SS. Breconshire sunk in 1894.  There is a tall white flag pole with an American Flag that sticks right out of the water, so those eager to snorkel will know exactly where to explore the sunken ship.

If you are a strong swimmer then you can swim right out to it.  If you are nervous then there are kayaks you can rent and paddle out.

Snorkeling around the ship is a highlight as there are lots of fish and fun sea creatures floating around like rays, jellyfish, and snappers. There are no official tours however so you will want to purchase snorkel gear before you arrive.

If you find gold under the water, sorry you can’t keep it. However, if you grab your metal detector and find it on land it’s yours! Someone as recently as of February of 2020 has found some of these gold coins.

Type of snorkeling: Off the beach and by kayak options
Closest Airport: Vero Beach Regional Airport (VRB)
Where to Stay Nearby: If you want to plan a weekend getaway then there are some amazing resorts in the area.  Disney’s Vero Beach is a great option if you have kids. If you are looking more for a romantic getaway, then Costa d’ Este is a fantastic option.

The Best Snorkeling in Northern Florida

You might be surprised to learn that there are in fact some really great places to snorkel in Florida on the northern side of the state! Here’s the best choice for snorkeling in the panhandle.

Snorkeling in Pensacola

Recommended by Rachel of Oahu Travel Secrets

Pensacola is flooded with shipwrecks and man-made reefs teeming with sea life. There are also islands and keys just outside the main beach area, with even more opportunities to snorkel and dive. It’s one of the best snorkeling in Florida destinations you can find, without even having to travel all the way to the southern tip of the state!

They don’t call it the emerald coast for nothing – Pensacola has water as clear as Honolulu, making it the perfect snorkeling destination.

The most popular reef is located right off the famous Pensacola Beach Pier.

You can snorkel there off the beach, though at 450 yards out, it might be a bit of a swim for some folks. A paddle board or a kayak is the most ideal way to get out to the reef.

However, if you prefer snorkeling by boat, Frisky Mermaid tour company will take you to locations further from shore like the Santa Rose Sound and Sand Island.

With a particularly energetic marine life at the pier, you’ll see schools of fish like tarpon, bluefish, and mahi mahi. Sharks occasionally make their way around here as well.

If you’re lucky, then you’ll spot a lone sea turtle popping in and out of the water. From the boat tours, you’ll get a chance to spot dolphins, stingrays, and turtles.

Type of snorkeling: Both off the beach and by boat options
Closest Airport: Pensacola International Airport
Where to Stay Nearby: The Pensacola Beach Resort