The numerous rivers that flow through the River City carry significant sediment to the Atlantic Ocean, making snorkeling in Jacksonville and its beaches futile, but there are some good diving options for those looking to go further offshore.
While northeast Florida may not have the national reputation as a vacation destination, it remains a hotspot for many Americans looking for the ocean. With over 10 million annual visitors to the Jacksonville Beaches area, it is one of the most popular coastlines in the country. The Jax Beaches comprise of the community of Mayport in the north, which is technically part of the city of Jacksonville, with Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, and Sawgrass in the south. The Jax Beaches have some of the finest weather year-around, sprinkled with famous golf courses and white sandy beaches.
The Beaches are known for its deep water fishing, bountiful shopping along the shore, and fantastic waves for surfing. However, the underwater activities here remain quiet and rightfully so. The snorkeling in Jacksonville is meager due to poor water visibility, strong waves, and lack of a sufficient marine life by the coast. There are much better snorkeling options much further down south, such as Peanut Island and especially the Florida Keys. But northwest Florida has a bevy of rivers with significant sediments that flow out onto Atlantic Ocean, resulting in a poor underwater environment.
Jacksonville Snorkeling Profile
Closest Major Airport: Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), Jacksonville, FL- 25 miles away, 35 minute drive
- Jacksonville is a humongous city, the sixth largest city in the country by area and the second largest outside of Alaska. So from one side of Jacksonville to the other can take up to an hour. Jacksonville International Airport is on the northern outskirts of the town, so you will have to cross the St. John River to get to the beaches. There may be some traffic coming over onto central Jacksonville, but overall should not be too bad of a drive. 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 the Beaches is approximately fifteen miles, or about a twenty-five 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 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 the Jax Beaches.
- Given the proximity of the beaches to the city of Jacksonville, 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 down to the beaches. You can survive with rideshare by the beaches and the three main cities are fairly close by. But if there are additional items on your itinerary, perhaps a visit to downtown Jacksonville or a golf game at Sawgrass, it would be best to rent a car.
Introduction
The main communities that are commonly designated as the Jacksonville Beaches are Mayport, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and Ponte Vedra Beach. Palm Valley, including the famous Sawgrass, are south of Ponte Vedra Beach but are commonly see as separate entities. The Beaches are actually located on an unnamed barrier island separated by the Intracoastal Waterway from the mainland. So there is a distinctive resort feel when you enter the beaches from the city.
Jacksonville Beach has the highest concentration of resorts within its city limits. The fishing pier is here, with the Oceanfront Park surrounding it. Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach also have their fair share of resorts on their coastlines. Ponte Vedra Beach and the Palm Valley area in the south, which is the home to The Players Championship Sawgrass, feel more pastoral. Mayport in the north contains the naval station, so you may notice that it also lacks the distinct resort feel compared to its neighbors.
How is Snorkeling in Jacksonville Beaches?
The Jacksonville Beaches have fantastic fishing, sailing, and surfing, with visitors enjoying those activities all year-round. But if you observe the waters by the Jacksonville Beaches, you will notice that it is far from the crystal clear waters you see in the Caribbean. The main reason is that the Beaches are located at the mouth of St. Johns River, the longest river in Florida. St. Johns River is a blackwater stream, which means that it primarily flows through swamps and wetlands, one of main characteristics of the lands in northern Florida.
As St. Johns River carries all the sediments it collects as it snakes through Florida, that is all emptied at the Atlantic Ocean. Those sediments contribute heavily to poor water visibility, and overall an unacceptable environment for snorkeling in Jacksonville Beaches. Furthermore, waters by the Jax Beaches are a bit cool for coral reefs to thrive, so the on-shore marine life is not great as well although you may notice some bigger wildlife around. Certain locations have artificial reefs or jetties that provide a decent environment for snorkeling, and there are jetties by Mayport, but the water is simply too murky.
Final Word:
Snorkeling in Jacksonville Beaches doesn’t make a ton of sense because of how poor the water visibility is. The poor water visibility spreads across the entire Florida First Coast, from Amelia Island to the north to St. Augustine to the south. In addition, there are tons of more fitting activities to do around the area, including fishing, surfing, and golfing. You may find a more suitable snorkeling environment couple hundred miles down the coast, but the experience will be a big fat zero anywhere around the Jax Beaches.
Snorkeling in Jacksonville Beaches Rating: 1/5 Snorkels – Yuck, Do Something Else!
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