Snorkeling in Hunting Island, the most visited state park in South Carolina, is a bummer, not unlike its neighbors Hilton Head and Charleston, with significant amount of sediment in the waters driven by Edisto River.
The most visited state park in the Palmetto State, Hunting Island has a reputation of secluded beauty among various world class resorts and golf courses. Located roughly equidistant from Savannah and Charleston, and about an hour north of Hilton Head, Hunting Island is the one peace of mind among all these buzzing destinations. It is one of the last remaining Sea Islands that remains untouched. The park is known for its towering trees, the Hunting Island Lighthouse, and the beaches filled with driftwood.
Its silent, remote beauty may appear to be ideal for underwater activities, but unfortunately snorkeling in Hunting Island is not a recommended activity. Much like its neighbors, the numerous rivers that flow out to Atlantic Ocean nearby carry significant sediment. This makes the water murky and results in poor water visibility. The primary cause of this around Hunting Island is Edisto River, one of the longest blackwater rivers in the country, which flows out just miles north by Edisto Beach.
Hunting Island, South Carolina Travel Profile
Closest Airport:
Hilton Head Island Airport – 55 miles away, 65 minute drive
Savannah International Airport – 60 miles away, 75 minute drive
- The nearest airport is Beaufort County Airport, approximately ten miles away from the park, which only provides general aviation services. The two commercial airports nearby are: Hilton Head Island Airport, which is slightly closer but has limited number of flights, with American, Delta, and United each servicing one direct flight from Charlotte, Atlanta, and Washington, respectively, and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, ten minutes further but has numerous direct flights with several leading airlines.
Closest Major City: Savannah, GA
- The historic city of Savannah, the fifth largest city in Georgia, is approximately 65 miles away to the south from Hunting Island. Charleston is in the other direction, to the north, but about 85 miles away from the island. Whether you are coming from Savannah or Charleston to Hunting Island, both cities are worth a visit.
Recommended Method of Transportation to Destination: Fly into Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport and Drive to Hunting Island.
- There isn’t much of a distance between the two airports and Savannah-Hilton Head offers much more options. The ideal trip would be to spend a night or two in Savannah and take in all its amazing history and then head to Hunting Island to get a glimpse of nature’s beauty.
Introduction
The beauty of Hunting Island is that it was never significantly developed throughout history. The nature has been untouched as far as written history can tell. As its name suggests, Hunting Island served as the hunting preserve for planters in South Carolina during the antebellum. The state designated the island as a state park during the early 20th century, preserving the area as a wildlife refuge. The island, which covers approximately 5,000 acres, is crowded by palmettos and is home to many wildlife indigenous to South Carolina, including alligators, loggerhead turtles, and diamondbacks.
The island is an extension of the city of Beaufort, one of the most well-preserved historic towns in South Carolina, which is fifteen miles west. There are only campgrounds within the state park, while the closest resorts will be in Beaufort or Fripp Island to the south. But walking along the unspoiled beach and among the towering forests, you may want to be one with the nature. The beauty that one experiences here is stunning and feels like a whole different world than resort destinations nearby.
How is Snorkeling in Hunting Island?
The snorkeling in Hunting Island is unremarkable for several reasons. Its location at the mouth of Edisto River, which carries significant sediment as it flows through South Carolina’s Lowcountry, is significant. This causes the water to be murky which results in poor water visibility. The currents by the Atlantic Coast flow south, so Hunting Island is heavily impacted by Edisto River, which ends just north of the island.
Furthermore, the island can be exposed to strong currents and the waves are generally harder than needed for underwater activities. Therefore, you may see some surfers in the area. The truth is that you won’t see anybody snorkeling in Hunting Island and neither should you. These conditions are the same ones that plague nearby destinations, and as such, don’t expect anything different in terms of the underwater environment for Charleston and Hilton Head.
Final Word:
Despite over four miles of coastline, there isn’t any good place to go snorkeling in Hunting Island. There are plenty of other activities to do on the island that will be much more worth your time. Marvel at the driftwoods that litter all over the island’s beaches, or walk along the Marsh Boardwalk Trail. There will be so much wildlife to see and nature to enjoy, that you will completely forget about snorkeling before your trip ends.
Snorkeling in Hunting Island Rating: 1/5 Snorkels – Yuck, Do Something Else!
Hi my friend! I want to say that this post is amazing, nice written and include almost all significant infos. I would like to see more posts like this.
It is in point of fact a nice and useful piece of information. I’m satisfied that you shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
I like this website very much so much excellent info .