Guide For Snorkeling Fort Lauderdale – Best Spots And Things To Know
Fort Lauderdale has been named one of the best places for snorkeling in Florida, and for good reason. A large number of beach snorkel spots, shallow, close-to-shore reefs, and wrecks allow ocean explorers at all levels to discover the undersea world and its creatures. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced snorkeler, snorkeling in Fort Lauderdale will not disappoint. To find out where you find the best spots and what to expect, read this guide we have prepared to help plan your trip.
Best Snorkeling Spots In Fort Lauderdale
Vista Park Reef
A top Fort Lauderdale snorkeling site, Vista Park Reef offers shore access to fantastic aquatic life. Unlike dive spots that must be accessed by boat, at Vista Park, you can simply drive, park, and dive!
In fact, this easy access makes Vita Park Reef a popular option with locals. Luckily, this spot is not well known by tourists, so it is still a hidden gem.
The first part of the reef (which is the recommended snorkeling area) lies just 600 feet (180 m) from the shore and is about 11 feet and 15 feet (3.3-4.5 m) deep, so it is suitable for beginners, too. Since the reef is close to the shore and shallow, you can explore it by yourself without a boat or guide. The waters here are teeming with corals, schools of fish, lobsters, snappers, and sting rays.
Hall of Fame Reef
The Hall of Fame Reef, 5 miles off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, is home to a medley of marine life. Its name comes from its proximity to the International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum.
Shallow depths (15-30ft/4.5-9m) and high visibility make this spot a favorite for beginners. Snorkelers can enjoy an underwater landscape consisting of overgrown reef ledges. Many people like to reach the Hall of Fame Reef by kayaks launched from the Vista Park kayak launch.
Twin Ledges Reef
Offering a rare glimpse into Florida’s best seabed, Twin Ledges Reef sits just 1200 ft (365 m) from the bustling Las Olas Beach in Fort Lauderdale. This site gets its name from the two prominent ledges running parallel to the shore that frame it. Depths at Twin Ledges run from 12 to 22 feet (3.6-6 m).
A small valley formed by spliced bedrock creates a robust habitat for nurse sharks, grouper, yellowtail snapper, puffers, Bermuda chubs, hogfish, lobsters, sea turtles, and much more.
Fisher’s Pedestal
Defined by its three mushroom-shaped pinnacles rising 18 feet (5.4 m) from the water’s surface, Fisher’s Pedestal offers access to a coral-encrusted wonderland filled with Nassau groupers.
Another unique feature of Fisher’s Pedestal is that it’s positioned in an open sandy area in the middle of the reef, just offshore of Fort Lauderdale Beach, in front of Sunrise Boulevard.
This dive spot isn’t just a hot zone for snorkelers and divers. Its overhanging coral creates a natural “cleaning station” for fish and other reef life seeking to remove unwanted debris and parasites from their scales and gills. Like an undersea car wash, this spot attracts lines of shrimp, barracudas, and tiger groupers waiting for their turn to get cleaned up under a coral-covered arch. Depths at Fisher’s Pedestal reach 9-30 feet (2.7-9 m).
Erojacks Reef at Dania Beach
Erojacks Reef is a must-visit Fort Lauderdale snorkeling spot. It is located just a few hundred yards north of the famous Dania Pier near Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park (former John U. Lloyd Park).
What makes this spot so special is that it consists of hundreds of concrete Erojacks that were used to form an artificial reef in a shallow dive and snorkel site. In fact, depths reach just 14 to 20 feet (4.2-6 m).
While the Erojacks that form what looks like a game of jacks played by children on the seafloor are artificial, they have become a natural habitat for countless species of sea life. Fish come in droves to feed on corals, sponges, barnacles, and shellfish.
It’s common to see nurse sharks, tarpons, angelfish, parrotfish, and sea turtles gliding along the underwater Erojacks. Low currents, shallow depths, and novelty appeal make Erojacks Reef a top spot for beginner snorkelers!
Hollywood North Beach Park
Known for its rocky ledges that provide inviting nooks for angelfish, barracudas, and nurse sharks, Hollywood North Beach Park is accessed using a series of 4-foot (1.2 m) ledges located roughly 175 yards (160 m) from the shore. Depths at this popular shore snorkeling site reach 13 to 20 feet (3.9-6 m).
Clear conditions make exploring this area easy and satisfying. After an adventure, snorkelers can relax in the gorgeous white sand that carpets the beach near the dive site. This is a great beach park to go for those who are looking to snorkel near Miami, as it is just 26 miles (41 km) from South Beach.
Suzanne’s Ledge at Pompano Beach
Located less than a mile from shore, Suzanne’s Ledge offers top snorkeling near Pompano Beach, a little north of the pier. It is considered unique among Fort Lauderdale snorkel sites because it sits on top of a ridge complex that runs parallel to the shore all the way to the Pompano Beach Drop-Off.
The ledge’s structure creates many nooks and corners that attract lobsters, moray eels, and other creatures seeking secure pockets. Depths here range from 15 to 30 feet. Snorkelers have also been known to find colonies of staghorn corals at Suzanne’s Ledge.
SS Copenhagen Shipwreck
Marine exploration and history merge at this popular diving site! In 1900, the 325ft/long steam-powered SS Copenhagen sank on Pompano Ledge off the coast of Fort Lauderdale (situated parallel with a famous restaurant called Sea Watch On The Ocean) during a cargo journey.
Thousands of divers and snorkelers visit this site each year to explore the coral-encrusted 19th-century shipwreck. You can see here parrotfish, angelfish, sea sponges, and sea fans that use the buried ship as a hub. Depths at SS Copenhagen snorkeling range from 15 to 30 feet (between 4.5-9 meters).
Related post: Shipwrecks in Florida Keys for snorkeling
The Nursery
Located in front of El Prado Park in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, the Nursery is a popular dive and snorkel site that gets its name from the collection of nurse sharks that used to congregate here because they were being fed. Although it is not the case anymore, some still frequent the area.
This shallow spot is ideal for snorkelers of all levels. However, those looking to go deeper can focus on an eastern ledge that offers depths of 30 feet/9 m.
Anglin’s Pier Reef/Anglin’s Ledge
This is a great spot for beach diving that offers plenty of opportunities to spot marine life. Home to magnificent schools of goatfish and surgeonfish, the Anglin’s Ledge reef diving site features a 12-foot ledge protruding toward the shore parallel to the famed Anglin’s Pier in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. Reef sharks and sea turtles are also known to haunt these waters!
Datura Avenue Shipwreck Snorkel Trail
Located just south of Anglin’s Pier, this interesting dive and snorkel site consists of an artificial shipwreck from the 1800s that is peppered with replicated artifacts (cannons, anchors and ballast piles) just 200 feet from the beach. This shipwreck snorkel trail is an underwater archaeological preserve, a member of the Florida Museums in the Sea.
The experience can best be described as swimming inside a life-sized, boundary-free aquarium teeming with ocean life! Rays, reef fish, lobsters, cuttlefish, and nurse sharks can be observed in the area. The fact that you can dive right from the shore makes this one of the best spots for snorkeling in Fort Lauderdale.
Biorock Project
The Biorock Reef offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to snorkel above a living, active reef restoration project. Using low-voltage currents supplied by solar panels, the Biorock project is a pioneer in reef conservation, using solar power to accelerate reef growth.
Located just south of Datura Avenue Shipwreck Snorkel Trail, this Lauderdale-By-The-Sea snorkeling site can be accessed for easy shore snorkeling. The site is just below the noticeable swim buoys supporting the solar panels. A combination of low currents, agreeable 12ft/3.6m depths, and good visibility make this a suitable snorkeling site for all ages and experience levels.
Oakland Ridges Reef/Oakland Park Reef
Reaching depths between 10-16 feet (3-4.8 meters), Oakland Park Reef (in front of Oakland Park Boulevard) is an exceptional spot for tracking down lobsters in a submerged wonderland. Expect to see boats moored for fishing, spearfishing, and lobstering upon arrival.
This ridge area features fractured ledges and table rocks that provide young fish with secure hiding spots away from sweeping currents. Head westward from the center to explore more crevices and caves teeming with fish.
Fort Lauderdale Snorkeling Things To Know
Now that you know the best spots to go, let us share what we loved the most about snorkeling in Fort Lauderdale, and some things we think you should know before planning your trip.
Most snorkeling sites are easily accessible
Fort Lauderdale stands out among others due to the reef’s proximity to the shore and its good mix of shore snorkeling and moored snorkeling sites. This means that visitors can enjoy free snorkeling instead of paying for a boat charter.
The area has rich marine life
Fort Lauderdale’s position along the Florida Reef—which stretches along Florida’s shoreline almost 350 miles—makes it one of the best spots for exploring beautiful coral reefs that rival the Great Barrier Reef in size and diversity. Divers and snorkelers can access living reefs built up from a variety of hard and soft corals just a few hundred feet from the shore. The diverse marine life includes a variety of reef fish, cuttlefish, crabs, rays and lobsters. Moreover, you can see turtles, nurse sharks and manatees too.
The reefs are relatively shallow
The reef at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea lies just a few hundred feet from the shore and has a maximum depth of 30 feet (9.1 m). Most snorkel sites are between 10 and 15 feet (3-4.5 m) deep, making them perfect for kids and beginners looking for easy and shallow snorkeling.
You can snorkel from the shore at several spots
While most diving and snorkeling sites in the Florida Keys can only be accessed by boat, Fort Lauderdale has several snorkel spots that are located swimming distance from the city’s popular public beaches. Visitors can either dive alone or book a snorkeling tour.
We found the best snorkeling at Vista Park Beach and Hollywood North Beach Park
The shoreline of Fort Lauderdale offers many fantastic snorkeling beaches, but we liked Vista Park Beach and Hollywood North Beach Park the most. Vista Park Beach has easy access to clear waters, robust coral patches, and a huge population of sea fans located just 1,000 feet from shore. At Hollywood North Beach Park, you can see lots of tropical fish, barracudas, tarpons, and even nurse sharks on the deep ledges.
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