Snorkelling in Fort Lauderdale?

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seadaug

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Falls Church, VA, USA
Hello all, just joined SB!!!

I'm heading to Ft. Lauderdale for a quick week end with a non "water-baby" friend. Can any of you tell me of any jetties or other spots for getting in a quick snorkel close to the downtown area?
 
Howdy!

And welcome to SB - the biggest, the best, the fastest growing, and :D the friendliest!
If you'll click ScubaBoard.com above, you'll be taken to our long list of forums, a wealth of information and resources. At the bottom, be sure to notice the Local & Singles Dive Club forums. Like Scott said, check there for the Florida forum.

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:cowboy: don
 
Heya and welcome to the Board! Believe it or not, I've never done the snorkel thing before (exceptions to classes) but we usually dive Lauderdale by the Sea. Usually right off of Hibiscus Street. Nice shallow reefs there, but I'm not sure of the water clarity atm..
Feel free to pm me with any more questions, I'll certainly try to find you an answer.

Cheers,
Vickie
 
WELCOME to ScubaBoard!!!
Hope you find your answer. And there are many other things SCUBA and non- to find and join in on ScubaBoard.
See you around the threads.

Tom
 
If you want to stay close to downtown, Ft Lauderdale beach is a good place to start. If go past the first set of floats you'll find the first reef. Do not know what the viz is right now. Lots of luck.


Dive Safely

Joe
 
Hi seadaug, my name is Matt. I’d like to welcome you to Scuba Board! It’s a really nice place for divers to meet other divers. Take care. :scubadive


Click here to greet a new member!
:happywave
No experience needed and it feels great!
 
Moved from Introductions & Greets forum.
 
seadaug:
SNIP...I'm heading to Ft. Lauderdale for a quick week end with a non "water-baby" friend. Can any of you tell me of any jetties or other spots for getting in a quick snorkel close to the downtown area?
Sure, but first a note... snorkeling here isn't like many places because though our reefs are shallow (10' to 20') they require some swimming to approach. I always suggest people take a float rather than a bouy. The yellow donut-type with the horiontal flag works great because you can rest on it and throw frozen bottles of water into the hole.

Not many people know about the great reef ledges right off the Marriott at the east end of the 17th Street Causeway. To get there, drive (or take the bus!) east and follow A1A as it swings north. Park to your right in the first public lot you see, at the south end. Walk a little south onto the Marriott's "beach" (it's public) and you're in the area.

I haven't been diving there for a couple of years, but the Marriott did a FANTASTIC discovery dive for Marvel - and look at her NOW! We can't get her out of the water. It's $150 if you have the cash and your "non water baby" will enjoy it, I promise. Snorkeling, of course, is free.

It takes a bit of swimming to get to our reefs and ledges, as I said, but they're fairly close in there as I recall - I'm not going to guess how much closer than the usual 150 yards but it's less.

The other spot I highly recommend is Lauderdale by the Sea, just south of the Commercial Blvd (Angler's) pier. Park at the pier or on Datura (one street south) and head into the water about 100 - 200 yards. The reef there is very close-in and has a lot of life - I've seen snorklers hovering over large morays, turtles, rays and of course all of our usual fish. In fact, I snorkel there often rather than use a tank.

Unfortunately, the hurricane season has taken its toll and a lot of the fans and georgonians have been blown off the "honeycombs" that were getting sparce enough LAST year. If you have a nice, clear day with calm water 2 days beforehand, though, you will enjoy yourself.

If you try it, make sure you post how 17th Street looks! It may be worthwhile to do a group trip there, folks.
 
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