Snorkeling in Marco Island, Florida – “La Isla de San Marco”

This famed resort city may be glittered with sun-soaked beaches, but snorkeling in Marco Island is not great due to the sandy bottoms that do not provide support for corals and marine life.

Southwest Florida is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the United States. Marco Island is one of the standout destinations in southwest Florida, and home to two amazing beaches. Those who have been to Marco Island understand the beauty of Tigertail Beach and South Beach, two mainstays in Best Beaches collections on various travel publications.

But miles and miles of sand that covers these beaches is also why snorkeling in Marco Island is not ideal. While the water may be warm and calm, there is only sand here and not much else. Given the lacking corals and marine life in the shallows, it may be best to keep your head above the water instead. Otherwise, there are alternatives to explore if snorkeling is a must during your visit to Marco Island.

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Marco Island, Florida Travel Profile

Closest Airports: Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, FL)- 50 miles away north, 1 hour drive

• Nearby Naples does have an airport but does not have any commercial flights. Unless you can afford a private jet, Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers will have to do. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is about two hours away from Marco Island as well.

Nearest Major City: Fort Myers, FL

• Marco Island and Naples are usually grouped together as an area and both are very similar in size and population. The nearest major city would be Fort Myers, about sixty miles north, and itself a major tourist destination. Of course, Miami metro area is about two hours east if you really need big city amenities during your trip.

Preferred Transportation to Destination: Fly into Southwest Florida International Airport and drive to Marco Island

• Southwest Florida International Airport serves major airlines and has flights from major cities across the United States. Unless you want the Miami nightlife as part of your trip, fly into SFA and take the hour drive into Naples and Marco Island.

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Introduction

Early development on Marco Island began when William Collier, for which the county was named after, founded the village on the island in 1870. Significant development occurred during the 1960s and became the resort city that it is now. A significant portion of the island has been built, and with the amazing weather, you can see why this is one of the most desired communities in Florida. There are two public-accessible beaches in Marco Island: Tigertail Beach and South Beach. Both beaches are the primary locations for tourists, so they will be our focus.

Two Potentials For Snorkeling in Marco Island: Tigertail Beach and South Beach

The two beaches have their own charm and where you want to go really depends on your preference. South Beach is very accessible as it is right off the road, but can also get very crowded. Tigertail Beach is a few miles north of South Beach and is more remote. But unfortunately, getting there requires work as it is a few miles off the road and you have to cross a lagoon.

Given the proximity to each other, however, both beaches maintain similar characteristics. So it is easy to group these two together when evaluating snorkeling in Marco Island. However, for both beaches, the only thing you are pretty much going to see here is sand and some small critters. No schools of fish will be in sight. There isn’t any corals or rocks at these sandy bottoms to attract marine life.

Final Word:

So first things first; going snorkeling in Marco Island is a poor experience. What are some of the other recommendations that we’ve seen online? Some suggest going about thirty minutes north to Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, but it’s not a big step up. To be perfectly honest, southwest Florida in general lacks the proper environment that provides great snorkeling. That’s why other majestic destinations in the region, including Sanibel island up north, also are not known for their underwater environments.

The best spot to go around the area within driving distance (or boating, in this instance), would be the Florida Keys. It takes about five hours to drive down to Key West from Marco Island, but there is the Key West Ferry will cut that trip to three and half. Sorry to disappoint folks who want to stay within the vicinity, but the snorkeling in Marco Island will not be a positive experience overall.

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Snorkeling in Marco Island Rating: 1/5 Snorkels – Yuck, Do Something Else!

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