Snorkeling in Gulfport can be a problem 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.
Long a favorite destination for many southerners, the Mississippi Gulf Coast 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, both Gulfport and Biloxi have made a stunning recovery with tourism peaking once again.
Gulfport is on the Mississippi Sound, where the Mississippi River meets the Gulf of Mexico, creating an estuary as the 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 Gulfport is not easy and you would be much better served going south off the coast or east towards Alabama and Florida.
Gulfport Snorkeling Profile
Closest Major Airports: Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (Gulfport, MS)- 5 miles away, 10 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 the Mississippi Gulf Coast 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. While Biloxi has historically been the resort city and Gulfport primarily known as a port city, the latter has recently seen rapid development to attract tourism. Both cities have amazing beaches and are rich in history, so it is well worth the time to visit either or both.
Recommended Method of Transportation to Destination: Fly into Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport and Drive to Gulfport.
- 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 on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, 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
Gulfport is a relatively recent city compared to Biloxi, which sprang up as an old French fort at the border between French Louisiana and Spanish Florida. It began as a port city to ship out the lumber from the mills inland. The city continued to grow primarily as an important port, rather than a resort unlike its sister city. Gulfport recently evolved into a diversified city, hosting notable events such as Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo and Black Spring Break.
Hurricane Katrina in 2005 had a devastating impact on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, especially Gulfport and Biloxi. Most of the buildings in the cities were destroyed or flooded during the first two days of the hurricane. Many residents 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 the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Among its casinos, only the Island View Casino survived the hurricane but has been thriving with several expansions completed. In addition, other significant commercial developments are under way in Gulfport, prioritizing economic revival through tourism.
How is Snorkeling in Gulfport, Mississippi?
Gulfport anchors the Mississippi Gulf Coast with its sister city Biloxi, which has miles of beautiful beaches with various barrier islands just off the coast. Both cities are located right on the Mississippi Sound. 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 Gulfport and Biloxi.
There is one place near Gulfport that has an okay snorkeling environment. It is Ship Island, part of the Gulf Shore National Seashore and ten miles south of Gulfport. It takes about an hour via ferry and costs about $40 roundtrip. While not a great option, this may be the best place to go snorkeling in Gulfport 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 Gulfport.
Final Word:
Gulfport has diversified into a popular vacation spot in the South during recent times. With its reputation for fishing and casinos, those are the best ways to spend your time here. But if you want to go snorkeling in Gulfport, the only reasonable route would be 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 Gulfport, MS Rating: 2/5 Snorkels – Okay but Not Good.
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