Snorkeling in Biloxi is tough as it lies on the Mississippi Sound, which carries lots of sediment from the Mississippi River providing poor visibility, so either visit Ship Island or go east to Gulf Shores or Orange Beach.
Biloxi has been a favorite destination for many southerners since the 19th century. The city is abundant with activities, from award-winning golf resorts to multiple casinos on the waterfront to the warm, sandy beaches. While Hurricane Katrina has impacted the area significantly, Biloxi has made a stunning recovery with tourism peaking once again.
The city is on the Mississippi Sound, where the Mississippi River meets the Gulf of Mexico, creating an estuary where fresh water meets the sea. The Sound plays an important role in life cycles of many marine species, and as such, it has some of the finest sportfishing and seafood in the country. But the water in the Sound is very murky with the sediments inflowing from the Mississippi River. With minimal visibility, snorkeling in Biloxi is a tough activity and you would be much better served going off the coast or east towards Alabama and Florida to improve your chances.
Biloxi Snorkeling Profile
Closest Major Airports: Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (Gulfport, MS)- 20 miles away, 25 minute drive
- Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT) serves the Mississippi Gulf but is tiny and only connects to seven cities. Luckily, the main airlines all fly into GPT from their southern hubs: American from Dallas and Charlotte, Delta from Atlanta, and United from Houston. The most efficient alternative to GPT would be New Orleans, as Mobile has even lesser flights, but that is more than an hour away. Some may prefer to fly direct into New Orleans and spend some time in the Big Easy. But if Biloxi is your primary destination, it would be more convenient to fly in closer.
Closest Major Metro Area: Gulfport – Biloxi, Mississippi
- Gulfport-Biloxi metro area is the second largest metro in Mississippi after Jackson and has a population of approximately 400,000. Gulfport is the second largest and Biloxi is the fifth largest city in Mississippi. Biloxi was the third largest city pre-Katrina, but the hurricane devasted the area and displaced many residents. Gulfport is primarily known as a port city, the second largest American port on the Gulf of Mexico, and Biloxi is the resort city. But both cities have amazing coastlines and are rich in history, well worth the time.
Recommended Method of Transportation to Destination: Fly into Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport and Drive to Biloxi.
- Once again, this is all dependent on your original location and itinerary. If New Orleans is part of your schedule, it makes sense to fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. But if you are dreaming of the golf resorts and the casinos in Biloxi, fly into Gulfport-Biloxi. Renting a car is a must, as there is no public transportation to speak of. And while the city itself is not huge, not all of the casinos and resorts are on the waterfront. You wouldn’t want to be walking all the time, so get the car.
Introduction
Biloxi is the location of For Maurepas, an old French fort at the border between French Louisiana and Spanish Florida. It thrived as a resort city for Southerners, mostly from New Orleans, during the 19th century. Its ideal location on the Sound resulted in rapid expansion of the seafood industry. Furthermore, the development of Keesler Air Base during WWII diversified the city’s already heterogenous population. When Mississippi legalized gambling during the 1990s, the city experienced a boom in construction of resort casinos. It became the center of gambling in southern United States.
Hurricane Katrina in 2005 had a devastating impact on Biloxi and Gulfport. Approximately 90% of the buildings along the Mississippi Gulf Coast was destroyed. In addition, the hurricane also harmed the city’s famous casinos, although eight have since reopened. Many residents have relocated since the hurricane, dropping the city’s population significantly. While many areas of the city continue to be in recovery, tourism has once again found Biloxi and Gulfport. Commercial properties in Biloxi have been under significant redevelopment as the city looks to prioritize tourism to revive the economy.
How is Snorkeling in Biloxi, Mississippi?
Biloxi anchors the Mississippi Gulf Coast, which has miles of beautiful beaches with various barrier islands just off the coast. The Sound is significantly shaped by the Mississippi River, which outflows to the saltwater of Gulf of Mexico. However, the Mississippi River carries lots of sediment over the 2,340 miles it traverses over North America. So when the sediment-rich freshwater mixes with the saltwater in the Sound, it produces poor water visibility. While the marine life in the area is rich, the poor visibility means there isn’t any good snorkeling in Biloxi.
However, there is one place near Biloxi that has okay snorkeling environment. It is Ship Island, part of the Gulf Shore National Seashore and about ten miles south of Biloxi. It takes about an hour via ferry from Gulfport and costs about $40 roundtrip. While not a great option, this may be the best place to go snorkeling in Biloxi if you must.
Don’t get your hopes up for good visibility as the water remains full of sediments and murky. The northern part of the island, around the pier near Fort Massachusetts, is calmer as the island acts as a barrier to the waves and contains rocks for marine life to exist. There will be plenty of blue crabs crawling at the bottom, the occasional stingrays, with saltwater fishes such as mullets, pinfish, and damselfish. Once again, nothing special here and the experience can be below average, but it is the best option for snorkeling in Biloxi.
Final Word:
Biloxi is a fantastic destination filled with all kinds of activities for the whole family to enjoy. Given its reputation for fishing and casinos, those are the best ways to spend your time here. But if you want to go snorkeling in Biloxi, make sure to take that ferry out to Ship Island. Anywhere else will be a waste of your time, and even snorkeling in Ship Island won’t be easy with the poor visibility.
Another option to consider is to save the snorkeling for locations such as Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and even Destin, all of which are within a three hour drive. Waters from the Gulf of Mexico push counter-clockwise, so those destinations are saved from the sediments that come out from the Mississippi River.
Snorkeling in Biloxi, MS Rating: 2/5 Snorkels – Okay but Not Good.
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