While snorkeling in Gulf Shores may not be as good as that of the Caribbean, there are couple ecosystems in the area that provide good environments for snorkeling.
The most southern point in the state of Alabama is also the one with the best views of the sea. Gulf Shores faces the Caribbean Sea on the mouth of Bon Secour Bay. This seaside community is the state’s most famous resort city. In addition to miles and miles of coastline, Gulf Shores is also home to fantastic ocean fishing, boating, and golf courses. The city’s main coastline attraction, the Gulf Place, has undergone significant transformations to become the icon of the area.
Given its location along the northern border of the Gulf of Mexico, while the water may be warm, it does not provide crystal clear visibility unlike points much further south. Despite that, there are couple stand up places that offer solid snorkeling in Gulf Shores and nearby Orange Beach.
Gulf Shores Snorkeling Profile
- Water Visibility: Poor to Below Average.
- Current Strength: Average.
- Coral Reef Presence: Alabama Gulf waters are still too cold for coral reefs to grow.
- Marine Life: Plenty of fishes swimming around.
- Crowd: Usually pretty big crowd but it thins out once you get into the Gulf.
Getting There
Closest Major Airports:
- Pensacola International Airport (Pensacola, FL)- 40 miles away, 1 hour drive
- There aren’t any commercial airports in the Gulf Shores area, so you will have to fly into the bigger regional airports nearby. The closest airport to Gulf Shores is Pensacola International Airport, which is about an hour east. While it is a small airport, the key airlines do fly into Pensacola from major hubs such as New York, Atlanta, and Dallas. The other major airport in the vicinity, Mobile Regional, only has four destination from the Big Three Airlines and is much further away.
Closest Major Metro Area: Pensacola, Florida
- Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida panhandle. It is approximately thirty miles, or fifty minutes, west of Gulf Shores. Pensacola is a resort city in itself, as the coastline extends from Gulf Shores to Panama Beach. If you want to take a historic tour during your vacation, Pensacola is a great destination as it is one of the earliest settlements in the United States.
Recommended Method of Transportation to Destination: Fly into Pensacola International Airport and Drive to Gulf Shores.
- Flying into Pensacola is the smart route to take here. Given the amount of flights available through the airport as well as its proximity to Gulf Shores, it makes the most sense. Mobile would be the second choice after Pensacola, but there are limited flight options and is further from the coast.
Introduction
The development of intracoastal waterway and the subsequent establishment of Gulf State Park on the coastline initiated the settlement of Gulf Shores. What was once a sleepy fishing village turned into a major resort town within years. In order to further attract tourists, the city started the National Shrimp Festival in 1971 which is held annually in downtown. It has become one of the biggest festivals in the Alabama coast with approximately upwards of 150,000 attendance each year over a four-day weekend.
Unfortunately, hurricanes has made significant impact on Gulf Shores from time to time. Hurricane Frederic in 1979 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 were the two most impactful events which caused sizable damage to the city. Nonetheless, the city continues to grow and maintain its status as a resort city. Tourists flock to Gulf Shores during the summer, while many snowbirds from the north swing by during the winter. Gulf Shores is one of the most popular destinations in the southeast with approximately 8 million visitors annually. Most tourists love to enjoy the pristine beaches or go golfing at world class country clubs nearby.
Where to Go Snorkeling in Gulf Shores
Gulf Shores is blessed with 32 miles of coastline filled to the brim with pristine white sand. So there are miles and miles of locations you can dip your toes in. Thankfully, there are only couple spots that you would need to focus if you want to go snorkeling in Gulf Shores. However, both spots are miles away from each other so best to choose one depending on what type of experience you prefer.
Whiskey Wreck
For those staying closer to downtown Gulf Shores, Whiskey Wreck is only a swim away from the beach. The wreck of a Spanish rum boat is approximately 150 yards away from the beach, with Bahama Bob’s Beach Side Cafe as a reference point. You need to swim out from the shore and while it shouldn’t be too taxing for experienced swimmers, it bears reminding that everyone should be careful.
There isn’t much of a shipwreck left, as only the hull of the boat is sticking out from the sand. While generally known as a diving spot, it is shallow enough for snorkelers to go and enjoy. The visibility is lacking around this area so you may not be able to see schools of spadefish and flounders that float in the area. But given the proximity to the shore, it is worth a swim.
Rocky Jetties at Alabama Point
If you are staying around Orange Beach, which is east of Gulf Shores, then the rocky jetties at the Alabama Point might be the ideal snorkeling spot. The Perdido Pass, which connects the Gulf of Mexico to the Perdido Bay, also separates Alabama and Florida. The jetties create sufficient barriers for the Perdido Pass and are both sides. Before you cross the Perdido Pass Bridge, there will be parking spots on the sea side where you can park and walk on the beach to get to the jetties.
The visibility at jetties is decent at best, similar to Whiskey Wreck. But once you get underwater, you should be able to spot flounders, stone crabs, minnows, pinfish, and damselfish. There are occasional sightings of sharks although it is doubtful you will encounter one during snorkeling. The waters around the jetties are calmer than those of the ocean as jetties serve as a barrier to the waves. This is a high traffic area, however, with fishermen and lots of boating activity, so one should be mindful of its surroundings.
Final Word:
To break the doldrums of constant beachgoing and golfing, it is highly recommended that you try out snorkeling in Gulf Shores. The distance between the two locations is around ten miles. So while not too far away, distance should play somewhat of a factor. Between the two, the better spot to go snorkeling is the jetties at Alabama Point. The Whiskey Wrecks can be a hit or miss as you will be watching from afar since the depth is approximately 15-20 feet. Therefore, visibility will have a significant impact. Nonetheless, you should take at least half day out of your schedule to visit either spot and enjoy some good snorkeling in Gulf Shores.
Snorkeling in Gulf Shores Rating: 2/5 Snorkels – Decent Options Around!
