Guide to Snorkeling in Virginia Beach, VA – “The Resort City”

While the beaches may be worth writing home about, snorkeling in Virginia Beach is not optimal with limited visibility and lack of a coral system that would house a voluminous marine life.

Miles and miles of coastline dominate the vibe of Virginia Beach, the anchor of the largest metropolitan area in Virginia known as the Hampton Roads. Guiness Book of World Records has Virginia Beach as the place with the longest pleasure beach in the world. The boardwalk which parallels the coastline has variety of activities and events every day of the week. In short, Virginia Beach earned its nickname of the Resort City. But with its location on the Eastern Coast facing the Atlantic Ocean, the waters are murky and more volatile than the pristine Caribbean destinations. Therefore, snorkeling in Virginia Beach does not present as ideal and tourists should consider taking up other activities during their vacation.

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Virginia Beach Snorkeling Profile

Closest Airports: Norfolk International Airport – 15 miles away, 25 minute drive

• Norfolk International Airport is the dominant airport in the region. The airport is a focus city for Breeze Airways and has connections to major cities on the east coast with the big four airlines. Norfolk Airport services not only the Hampton Roads but also the Delmarva Peninsula north via Chesapeake Bay bridge.

Nearest Major City: Virginia Beach, VA

• Virginia Beach is the most populous city in Virginia with approximately 500,000 people. The Hampton Roads metro area includes Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Newport News. It covers pretty much the entire southeastern coastline of Virginia.

Preferred Transportation to Destination: Fly into Norfolk International Airport and drive to Virginia Beach

• For folks that live in the US Northeast megapolis, Amtrak may also be a suitable option with stations in Newport News and Norfolk. But flying into Norfolk International Airport would be the most direct and easiest transportation option overall.

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Introduction

Virginia Beach and the Hampton Roads is the beginning of English colonization in the New World. Colonists of Virginia Company of London settled in Jamestown, up the James River from Chesapeake Bay. Although Jamestown was eventually abandoned, more colonists came and settled in and around the bay. The area grew significantly during the colonial period and developed as a haven for plantation agriculture later on. Virginia Beach began to grow as an entertainment area in the late 19th century with development of railroads nearby, and the opening of Cavalier Hotel in 1927 cemented the city’s status as a resort.

How is Snorkeling in Virginia Beach?

Snorkeling in Virginia Beach will leave much to be desired. Similar to waters in much of the Eastern Seaboard which hugs the Atlantic Ocean, there is significant amount of silt that outflows from the rivers. As such, the waters are very murky and not crystal clear like you see in the Caribbean. In addition, the Atlantic Ocean is not the calm waters that you want for snorkeling. This is a common theme across many resort destinations on the East Coast, including Savannah and Tybee Island, Hilton Head, and Myrtle Beach.

Some folks have mentioned Little Island Park in the Sandbridge area in southern Virginia Beach as a potential snorkeling spot. The waters remain murky down there and the ocean can be volatile, so it’s not somewhere you want to go. You will see lots of surfers in the area, which typically means that waves are good. And that is usually a no-go for snorkeling.

Recommended Itinerary:

You likely will not see anybody using their gear to go snorkeling in Virginia Beach. Because the conditions are not ideal for underwater activities in the area. But there are still plenty of things to do when you visit Virginia Beach, including going for some fun in the ocean and the sand. Save your snorkeling for trips to Florida or the Caribbean, and rather check the events calendar for Virginia Beach to see the various ways to have fun while you are around Chesapeake Bay.