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Space Coast Snorkeling |
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 While
the Space Coast of East Central Florida
may not be regarded as a top snorkeling
destination, quality opportunities do
exist, most notably in the vicinity of
Sebastian Inlet and along the beaches
just south. In fact, snorkeling and
diving are fast becoming one of the more
popular activities at Sebastian Inlet
State Park and is allowed, but there are
no areas specifically set aside for
diving so caution must be used at all
times to avoid getting hooked by
fishermen on the bank and avoiding boat
traffic. Let common sense preval, make
sure that you are properly equipped
before getting in the water, use a Dive
Flag (required by law) and always dive
with a buddy! Tidal Currents are
prevalent but are not too strong to
deter snorkeling as most of the
structure is close to shore.
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Sebastian Inlet Google Satellite Image
Sebastain Inlet State Park Website
The visibility within the Inlet can vary
throughout the course of the day. At
outgoing tide during the lower tidal
phase the visibility can be quite poor
as the tide has been going out for
several hours and the water coursing
through the inlet is "Lagoon Water" with
suspended sand and other particles. As
the tide changes to incoming, the first
water to come in will be the same lagoon
water that was just pushed out, complete
with the suspended sediment, still poor
visibility. However, as the tide rises
you will see a distict color change,
sometimes even a distinct "line" or edge
of color change, where the change from
recently expelled lagoon water to clean
ocean water can be seen. This is the
time to snorkel for best results as
there is a dramatic change in underwater
visibility for the better. Just after
the tide changes again and starts going
out you will probably still have an hour
or so of decent visibility because the
water leaving the lagoon through the
inlet is the same clean ocean water that
was just sucked in. Now for some
particular spots. |
Snorkeling Spots
Click on name to see aerial view
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The Cove
This cove on the North side of the inlet
is the perfect place for beginners and
kids to try snorkeling as the entry to
the water is a nice sandy beach on a
calm-water sandy bottom cove separated
from the main inlet by two rock jettys
with an opening to the inlet between
them. Snorkeling along the inside of the
rock walls forming jettys you are likely
to see species such as Snapper,
Sheepshead, schools of little silvery
jacks and many small tropical looking
fish. We were once even given to a
surprise visit by a manatee. This cove
almost dries up at low tide but the
water along the inside walls are still
deep enough for snorkeling near the
mouth. |
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Outside wall of the Cove
On an incoming tide, assuming no one is
fishing from the rocks this can make an
interesting drift dive or snorkel. Swim
out the opening of the cove and let the
current carry you along the rocks
forming the western wall. Soon after the
wall there will be a sand beach where
you can easily exit the water. You can
also enter the water to the east of the
opening and drift to the mouth of the
cove assuming nobody is fishing along
your desired drift route. |
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North Rocks
The rocks that line the north
side of the inlet between the cove and
the base of the north jetty is a very
popular drift snorkel, but not likely
suitable for beginners, and should be
done on an incoming tide. The strategy
here is to enter the water from the
rocks anywhere east of the A1A bridge
and drift along the rocks with the
current westward until you go under the
fishing catwalk of the bridge and then
enter the mouth of the cove for an easy
sandy beach exit. |
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North Jetty
This should only be attempted during
calm days with no surf.
At the base of the north jetty
where the inlet walking path transitions
into the jetty there is a rock support
base that extends out into the oceanside
along the jetty until you get to the
pilings of thre jetty itself. During
periods of surf, waves crash onto these
rocks and it would not be adviseable to
snorkel here due to the possibility of
either being washed into the rocks by
waves, or being run over by one of the
hundreds of surfers that tend to crowd
this area when waves are rideable.
Fishermen on the jetty will likely be
farther out. But on calm flat days that
do occur in the Doldrums of Summer, easy
access can be had from the beach and
this can be a very interesting snorkel
with blue runners, snapper, and
including the possibility of seeing
large barracuda. |
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The Kiddie Pool
This spot is located on the
South side of the Inlet near the
campground, just east of the dock. I
call this spot the Kiddie Pool because
for most of the tidal cycle there is a
ring of rocks, that completely encircle
this spot forming a little pool maybe 50
feet by twenty feet at the widest point
that is separate from the rest of the
inlet. Not really much room to swim
around but a great place for little kids
to get used to being in the water with a
mask and snorkel, (no fins are really
needed, the water depth runs from about
a foot to maybe 3 feet at high tide with
a sandy bottom with a few rocks within
the pool. Float face down quietly in
this pool and after about a minute
you'll start seeing juvenile snappers,
grunts, blennies and other small fish
darting in and out of the rocks that
form the pool carrying on like you are
not there. Again a great place to
introduce younger kids to snorkeling
without worrying about the tidal
current. |
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Outside the Wall of the Kiddie Pool
This is best on an incoming
tide. Enter the water east of the
"Kiddie Pool" and let the current draw
you along the rock a few feet from shore
and you'll see the usual assortment of
snapper, grunts, and other species while
swimming a few more feet offshore into
water about 6 to 10 feet deep and diving
down you may find yourself swimming
among schools of snook. After drifting
past the rocks that form the Kiddie Pool
there is a nice sandy exit point just
before the dock. |
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Campground
Along the Campground shoreline
it's pretty much a sandy bottom with
isolated clusters of rock. However,
these rock clusters do tend to attract
small grunts, snappers, and other
assorted small fish. |
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Sebastian South Jetty
The North Jetty is a fishing
and surfing area so snorkeling the
Oceanside of the jetty is not likely the
best idea. The South Jetty is used much
less and on a calm clear day can provide
an interesting snorkeling area with easy
beach access. |
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Sebastian South Beach
Beginning just south of the inlet and
running south about 25 miles to Riomar
are a series of coquina and limestone
ridges that begin within 100 yards of
the beach and extend out for about half
a mile offshore. This habitat is home to
many kinds of marine life. Lobsters,
Turtles, rays, sharks and over 200
species of fish. About a mile south of
the Inlet lies the site of the El
Capitana Wreck. The McClarty Treasure
Museum marks the spot of the shipwreck
survivors camp from the 1715 hurricane
induced disaster that claimed 11 ships
along the east coast of Florida. The El
Capitana is the northernmost wreck from
this disaster. |
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