A cultural icon and one of the most heavily visited areas in the Northeast, snorkeling in New Jersey Shore is not recommended due to the muddy waters and lack of a widespread coral and marine life by the beaches.
With over 140 miles of gorgeous coastline down the North Atlantic, populated by hotels, casinos, and boardwalks, the Jersey Shore is an iconic region in the Northeast. Further buoyed as a cultural establishment due to the popularity of the MTV show ‘Jersey Shore‘, this coastline is one of the most visited vacation spots in the country not only from the New York and Philly folks but people from all over the region. Every summer, the beaches are filled with beach umbrellas, sand toys, beach chairs, and balls as well as folks taking a cool dip into the ocean. The boardwalks glimmer during the night with vacationers enjoying roller coasters, games, and arcades.
The incredible popularity of the Jersey Shore and the sheer volume of activities available by the beaches make it an ideal vacation spot for many. But there are many who will be interested to know how snorkeling in New Jersey fares. Unfortunately, prospects for any underwater activities by the Jersey Shore is quite poor as the waters are cold, devoid of corals and marine life, and muddy, primarily driven by sediments from nearby rivers as well as pollution from major urban areas. It would be best for all beachgoers to simply enjoy the sun and walk on some of the most memorable boardwalks you can find in the country.
Snorkeling in New Jersey Profile:
- Water Visibility: Very poor. Beaches are nice but the water are not clear by any means and can look a bit grey at times.
- Current Strength: Above Average. Unbeknownst to many, New Jersey is one of Northeast’s prime surfing spots. Jersey Shore is flat and exposed, similar to a peninsula, so wind speeds can get up in a hurry.
- Coral Presence: None. All sand.
- Marine Life: There is very sparse marine life anywhere close to the shore.
- Crowd: Always significant crowds at Jersey Shore, especially during the summer. Watch out for the surfers and boogey boarders if you plan on exploring underwater.
Getting There:
Closest Airport: Newark International Airport / Philadelphia International Airport
- New Jersey is between New York and Philadelphia so it is incredibly convenient to get to beaches if you’re in either mega metros. Northern Shore, typically around the Long Branch area and so forth, is about an hour away from New York proper, while Southern Shore, around Atlantic City and Cape May, is about an hour away from Philadelphia. Both Newark and Philadelphia airports are in the top twenty busiest airports in the country so folks should not have any issues getting to New Jersey no matter where they are.
Closest Major Metro: New York / Philadelphia
- The Atlantic Expressway provides a direct route from Philadelphia to Atlantic City in about an hour, as easy as it can get if you want some sun after experiencing American history in the City of Brotherly Love. Coming from New York is slightly more complicated but still pretty direct as the Garden State Parkway swings by every major town on the coast while connecting to the Turnpike. It shouldn’t be a surprise that many visitors to both towns often times like to take a day to go out to the shore to breathe and relax.
Best Transportation Method to Destination: Fly into Newark or Philadelphia International Airport – Rent a car
Introduction
Miles of windy, sandy coastlines accompanied by countless boardwalks, amusement parks, and gift shop stores, the Jersey Shore is an iconic cultural monument of the Northeast US. Every year during the heat of the summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day, millions of visitors descend onto the shores of the Garden State to enjoy the best of the summer nights. There aren’t many places in the world, let alone the country, where you can experience the glitzy summer beach life like you can in Jersey Shore.
Visitors have plenty of flavors to choose from, with the wealthy Long Branch to the north, the hard party Seaside Heights in the middle, the Northeast gambling mecca that is Atlantic City to the south, and finally the quiet, charming Cape May at the tip of the state. While there are lots of fun things to do and beaches to soak up the sun in up and down the state, the conditions of the Atlantic Ocean this far up north and close to major metros make snorkeling in New Jersey a lost cause.
Where to Go Snorkeling in New Jersey
There is probably one place that I would begrudgingly recommend if you just had to go snorkeling in New Jersey. Just south of Seaside Heights lies Island Beach State Park, one of the more secluded areas in all of Jersey Shore which serves as a barrier between Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay (map above). Due to its relative isolation, the water visibility is decent and you will be able to find marine life and plants especially around Sedge Island which is also a marine conservation zone.
This is not to say that Sedge Island is an effective underwater adventure replacement for some of the amazing areas in the Caribbean or Florida; not even close. For anyone who wishes to truly experience an amazing underwater excursion, I recommend going as far down the Atlantic as you can. Anywhere around the Northeast, whether it is New Jersey, Delaware, or even somewhat south areas such as Virginia, is tough due to its muddy waters and lack of a sustaining marine life. Instead, enjoy the Jersey Shore by lounging on the beach during the day and checking out the fun on boardwalks at night.
Final Word:
Jersey Shore is the ultimate American experience, from the beautiful ocean to the loud boardwalks, it is the perfect blend of fun. Families can enjoy some of the quieter neighborhoods, such as Wildwoods and Cape May, while the singles can party away in Seaside Heights or Atlantic City. But think elsewhere if you look to plunge into the ocean as the lack of marine life and the muddy waters make snorkeling in New Jersey a below par experience. There is plenty of fun here elsewhere.
Snorkeling in New Jersey Rating: 1/5 Snorkels – Go on the Boardwalk Instead!
