Strong sediments from Saltilla River and East River contribute to low visibility which makes snorkeling in Jekyll Island unfavorable, although the offshore sandbars allow for some swimming along the coast.
The Golden Isles of Georgia represent the finest seaside destinations that the Peach State has to offer. These four barrier islands off of Georgia’s Atlantic coast provide miles of coastline for lounging, fishing, golfing, and sailing. Many consider Jekyll Island to be the prettiest of the four. The island is mostly tidal marshlands with strips of gorgeous sandy beaches lining the eastern shore. This is consistent with the terrain of southeastern United States in general, a low country with marshes and significant sediment flowing down to the Atlantic.
Despite its beauty, the strong sediments from the nearby Saltilla River and East River creates low visibility and ultimately, a poor environment for snorkeling in Jekyll Island. This impacts underwater activities all up the Georgia coast, as far as Tybee Island. As it is not very accommodative, it’s best to enjoy the beautiful beaches during your time here.
Jekyll Island Snorkeling Profile
Closest Major Airports: Brunswick Golden Isles Airport, Brunswick, GA (BQK) – 20 miles away, 35 minute drive
- Brunswick Golden Isles Airport is the closest airport to Jekyll Island. However, there is only one commercial flight from the airport, a Delta flight connects to Atlanta. The alternatives are Jacksonville and Savannah, but those two are about an hour away. However, both airports do not have a plethora of flights as well. Unless you wish to visit Jacksonville or Savannah, both wonderful, highly underrated destinations, best to have that layover in Atlanta.
Closest Major Metro Area: Brunswick, GA
- Brunswick is approximately ten miles northwest of Jekyll Island. The city is on a peninsula which juts out, similar to Charleston, and is small with a population of about 100,000. But it has all the amenities and restaurants that one would need for days out on Jekyll Island. Downtown Brunswick provides an old Georgia feel that is reminiscent of other coastal towns such as Savannah. It’s also located on the I-95 corridor so provides easy access from anywhere along the coast.
Recommended Method of Transportation to Destination: Fly into Brunswick Golden Isles Airport and Drive to Jekyll Island
- Unless you are spending some time exploring Jacksonville or Savannah, it is best to fly into Brunswick Golden Isles Airport for quick access. Even though the island is easily accessible via Interstate-95 from the alternative airports, it’s still a significant distance. From BQK, it’s an easy drive through the town of Brunswick and then cross the magnificent Sidney Lanier Bridge onto the island. Be sure to rent a car at Brunswick as there is limited ridesharing or taxi options on the island. And you will want to go through each corner of the island to appreciate all that it provides.
Introduction
Jekyll Island had historically been a seasonal settlement by the Guale and Mocama people. When Frenchman Charles Du Bignon settled on the island during the 19th century, it became a major plantation center. His nephew, John Eugene Du Bignon, remade the island as a destination for the wealthy and constructed the Jekyll Island Club. It soon accommodated some of the wealthiest people in the country at that time, with cottages for lodging and significant activities to be enjoyed. After the government ordered evacuation of the island during WWII for security reasons, the state of Georgia purchased the island with plans to enact a park within after the war.
The state seeked to implement more residential and commercial development in the island to spur tourism. Significant hotel, restaurants, and other tourism support structures were built on the island. In addition, as part of this strategy, the state also built attractions such as the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and the Soccer Complex. While development initially took off, law of Jekyll Island stipulates that sixty-five percent of the island must remain natural which means tourists will have plenty of nature to enjoy.
How is Snorkeling in Jekyll Island, GA?
There are plenty of beautiful locations in Jekyll Island to enjoy oneself. The island’s eastern shore is the beautiful coastline, but the remaining island is full of marsh including the western shore. The two primary beaches on the island are Driftwood Beach in the north and Glory Beach in the south. Driftwood Beach, as its name states, has lots of driftwood which makes for some picturesque scenes. Glory Beach in the south, famous for its scenes in the Academy-winning film, Glory, also offers amazing sunsets and tranquility.
Despite the amazing scenery that these beaches offer, the snorkeling in Jekyll Island isn’t great. Looking at a map, there are lots of rivers and estuaries that flow out to Atlantic around the island. All the sediments in the river makes the water murky resulting in low visibility. In addition, as a barrier island, Jekyll Island is situated around sounds which settle the river before flowing out to the Atlantic. That means additional sediments are laying around in the sounds, which make the nearby waters on the island even murkier.
One interesting item to note on Jekyll Island is that there are lots of offshore sandbars. These act as buffers for waves, which means the waters can be calm. But due to the limited visibility, you won’t see anything while snorkeling in Jekyll Island. This is a common trend across beaches and coastlines across Georgia, which maintains lots of blackwater rivers which flow through swamps and wetlands and carry significant sediment. As water flows clockwise in the Atlantic Ocean, all the sediments from rivers as far south as St. John’s River, make the water murky.
Final Word:
With low visibility all around, snorkeling in Jekyll Island will leave much to be desired. Thankfully, there are plenty of activities to do and beaches to walk on the island. There is rich history on the island, where the wealthy spent their vacations during the 19th century. In addition, the untouched nature restores the spirits of many who step on the island. Spend your precious time with activities that are the strong suits of Jekyll Island, and snorkeling is not one of them.
Snorkeling in Jekyll Island Rating: 1/5 Snorkels – Yuck, Find Something Else to Do!
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