Due to nearby St. Mary’s River carrying significant sediment from its swamp sources, snorkeling in Amelia Island is inadequate and visitors should rather look to enjoy the spacious beaches.
By the Florida and Georgia border is a hidden gem in the Florida’s First Coast that unknowingly gets significant less attention than its neighbors to the south, Jacksonville and St. Augustine. Amelia Island is a barrier island on the northeast corner of Florida and part of the Sea Chain Islands that comprise over 100 islands in South Carolina and Georgia. As the southernmost tip of the chain, Amelia Island possesses similar characteristics to its sister islands to the north. There are three communities within the island, each with their own charm and specialty: Fernandina Beach, Amelia City, and American Beach.
Its somewhat remote location to the major metros have made it much less crowded, which means more space for visitors. As you may expect from an island on the First Coast, there are plenty of golf courses, great fishing, miles of hiking trails, and beautiful beaches. But due to the proximity of major blackwater rivers, such as St. Mary’s River, the water is too murky for snorkeling in Amelia Island. Furthermore, the Atlantic Ocean’s rough waves make any underwater activities risky, once again not providing a good environment.
Amelia Island Snorkeling Profile
Closest Major Airport: Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), Jacksonville, FL- 30 miles away, 40 minute drive
- Amelia Island is located approximately thirty miles northeast of Jacksonville International Airport. As the northern regions of Jacksonville are quite sparse, there won’t be much traffic coming over to Amelia Island. JAX has plenty of flights to major cities in the east coast with major airlines, so there shouldn’t be any problem with finding flights.
Closest Major Metro Area: Jacksonville, Florida
- Jacksonville has been one of the largest cities in the Sunshine State for some time, but it continues to develop its reputation as a destination. Downtown Jacksonville to Amelia Island is approximately thirty-five miles, or about a forty minute drive. So visiting the city and its various attractions should definitely be on your list during your visit. The city is known for its vibrant, historic neighborhoods, breweries, and its various museums and gardens. Of course, part of the city’s charm remains with its proximity to the beaches, which offer some of the state’s best surfing, sailing, and fishing.
Recommended Method of Transportation to Destination: Fly into Jacksonville International Airport and Drive to Amelia Island.
- Given that Amelia Island is only close to one notable metro, there’s really no need to complicate things here. Fly into Jacksonville International Airport, which has connections to major cities all across the eastern United States, rent a car, and drive up for thirty minutes. Due to its remote location, rideshare won’t be easy to get. Be sure to get that rental car before you begin your trip.
Introduction
Much like rest of the First Coast, site of one of the earliest European settlements in North America, Amelia Island is rich in history. Due to its location on the border of the British colonies and Spanish Florida, the island was under the rule of various powers across centuries. Fort Clinch on the northern part of the island demonstrates the island’s strategic importance. There are many significant memorials to the history of Amelia Island scattered around downtown Fernandina Beach, including the Amelia Island Museum of History which is inside an old jail.
Amelia Island is approximately thirteen miles in length and four miles in width. The main city on the island, Fernandina Beach, is in the north, while the southern part of the island is mostly nature anchored by the Amelia Island State Recreation Area. The western coastline of the island is mostly marsh, while the eastern coastline is entirely sandy beaches. Majority of the resorts on the island, including Ritz-Carlton and Omni, are in the south. The most popular beach on the island is the Main Beach Island, east of Fernandina Beach, with miles of uninterrupted coastline without a pier in either direction.
Amelia Island is home to several notable annual events, including the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, which attracts more than 100,000 visitors. It also maintains five famous golf courses nearby, including the Amelia Island Golf Club, and extensive fishing opportunities on the George Craddy Bridge Fishing Pier, which is above Nassau Sound. With so many activities available around, how does snorkeling in Amelia Island fit here in this environment? Unfortunately, it is at the bottom of the totem pole in terms of activities to pursue while you are here.
How is Snorkeling in Amelia Island?
Visitors have plenty of activities, many of them year-round, to choose from while in Amelia Island. enjoying those activities all year-round. But the waters by the coast in the Florida’s Fist Coast share significant similarities as it is all within the same marine ecosystem. The waters by Amelia Island are much murkier than the crystal clear waters you see in the Caribbean. Due to the island’s location at the mouth of St. Mary’s River, and the smaller Amelia River, both which primarily flows through swamps and wetlands, all those sediments are carried to the Atlantic Ocean.
The sediments from the aforementioned rivers contribute heavily to poor water visibility, and overall a poor environment for snorkeling in Amelia Island. Furthermore, waters by Amelia Island are too coo for coral reefs to thrive, so the on-shore marine life is not great as well although you may notice some bigger wildlife around. In addition, with no piers or jetties around, there aren’t any locations where marine life can gather for folks to casually observe as well.
Final Word:
Snorkeling in Amelia Island will be tough due to how poor the water visibility is. But you are in luck, as the island is full of activities for people of all ages can pursue. World-class golf courses are all around and miles and miles of trails are available for travelers. The most suitable snorkeling environment in Florida are a couple hundred miles down the coast from Amelia Island. But it may be a waste of time to go underwater anywhere around Amelia Island.
Snorkeling in Amelia Island Rating: 1/5 Snorkels – Yuck, Do Something Else!
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