Very similar to its Gulf Shores, its next door neighbor, snorkeling in Orange Beach can be a fascinating experience with couple great spots despite its relatively subpar visibility and underwater ecosystem.
If there is one place that embodies the beauty of the Alabama Gulf Coast, it is Orange Beach. This area, which was once filled with orange groves, is now miles and miles of hotels and resorts. Similar to its sister town in the west, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach is well known for its ocean fishing, boating, golf courses, in addition to the sandy beaches. It also connects to Pensacola, Florida via the Perdido Pass Bridge which goes over the Perdido Pass. And Perdido Pass is where one can also enjoy some good snorkeling in Orange Beach. While visibility may not be crystal clear, the marine life should be good enough for those that want to enjoy some time underwater.
Orange Beach Snorkeling Profile
Closest Major Airports: Pensacola International Airport (Pensacola, FL) – 30 miles away, 50 minute drive
- There aren’t any commercial airports in the Orange Beach area, so you will have to fly into the bigger regional airports nearby. The closest airport to Orange Beach is Pensacola International Airport, which is about fifty minutes east. While it is a small airport, the key airlines do fly into Pensacola from major hubs such as New York, Atlanta, and Dallas. The other major airport in the vicinity, Mobile Regional, only has four destination from the Big Three Airlines and is much further away.
Closest Major Metro Area: Pensacola, Florida
- Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida panhandle. It is approximately thirty miles, or fifty minutes, east of Orange Beach. Pensacola is a resort city in itself, with Perdido Key as its primary destination area, with the coastline extending across from Gulf Shores to Panama Beach. If you want to take a historic tour during your vacation, Pensacola is a great destination as it is one of the earliest settlements in the United States.
Recommended Method of Transportation to Destination: Fly into Pensacola International Airport and Drive to Orange Beach.
- Flying into Pensacola is the smart route to take here. Given the amount of flights available through the airport as well as its proximity to Orange Beach, it makes the most sense. Mobile would be the second choice after Pensacola, but there are limited flight options and is further from the coast. Given the length of the coastline, it would be wise to rent a car here.
Introduction
Once a major stronghold of the Creek Indians, the area was a hotbed of timber industry during the early-to-mid 19th century. As forests began to deplete, Leumeul Walker Sr began growing his orange groves in the cleared area, which became the reason for the name of the town. The citrus industry eventually died out due to severe freezing during the early 19th century, but the development of the area as a destination occurred concurrently. Much like Gulf Shores, the development of intracoastal waterway was the primary driver of the growth of the city during the mid-20th century.
Hurricanes have had a significant impact on Orange Beach and Gulf Shores throughout history. Hurricane Frederic in 1979 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 were the two most impactful events which caused sizable damage to the area. However, the city has persevered through these challenges and continues to grow and maintain its status as a resort city.
Tourists flock to Orange Beach during the summer, while many snowbirds from the north swing by during the winter. The Alabama Gulf Coast, which includes Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, is one of the most popular destinations in the southeast with approximately 8 million visitors annually. Most tourists love to enjoy the pristine beaches or go golfing at world class country clubs nearby. But don’t dismiss snorkeling in Orange Beach as there are decent options not too far off.
Where to Go Snorkeling in Orange Beach
Orange Beach and Gulf Shores have combined 32 miles of coastline filled to the brim with pristine white sand. So there are miles and miles of locations you can dip your toes in. Thankfully, there are only couple spots that you would need to focus if you want to go snorkeling in Orange Beach area. However, both spots are miles away from each other so you can choose where to go depending on what type of experience you prefer.
Rocky Jetties at Alabama Point
If you are staying around Orange Beach, which is east of Gulf Shores, then the rocky jetties at the Alabama Point might be the ideal snorkeling spot. The Perdido Pass, which connects the Gulf of Mexico to the Perdido Bay, also separates Alabama and Florida. The jetties create sufficient barriers for the Perdido Pass and are on both sides. Before you cross the Perdido Pass Bridge, there will be parking spots on the sea side where you can park and walk on the beach to get to the jetties.
The visibility at jetties is decent at best, similar to Whiskey Wreck. But once you get underwater, you should be able to spot flounders, stone crabs, minnows, pinfish, and damselfish. There are occasional sightings of sharks although it is doubtful you will encounter one during snorkeling. The waters around the jetties are calmer than those of the ocean as jetties serve as a barrier to the waves. This is a high traffic area, however, with fishermen and lots of boating activity, so one should be mindful of its surroundings.
Whiskey Wreck
For those staying closer to downtown Gulf Shores, Whiskey Wreck is only a swim away from the beach. The wreck of this Spanish rum boat is approximately 150 yards away from the beach, with Bahama Bob’s Beach Side Cafe as a reference point. You need to swim out from the shore and while it shouldn’t be too taxing for experienced swimmers, it bears reminding that everyone should be careful.
There isn’t much of a shipwreck left, as only the hull of the boat is sticking out from the sand. While generally known as a diving spot, it is shallow enough for snorkelers to go and enjoy. The visibility is lacking around this area so you may only faintly see schools of spadefish and flounders that float in the area. But given the proximity to the shore, it is worth a swim if you wish go to snorkeling in Orange Beach.
Final Word:
To break the doldrums of constant beachgoing and golfing, it is highly recommended that you try out snorkeling in Orange Beach. The distance between the two locations is around ten miles. So while not too far away, distance should play somewhat of a factor.
Between the two, the better spot to go snorkeling is the jetties at Alabama Point. The Whiskey Wrecks can be a hit or miss as you will be watching from afar since the depth is approximately 15-20 feet. Therefore, visibility will have a significant impact. Nonetheless, you should take at least half day out of your schedule to visit either spot and enjoy some good snorkeling in Orange Beach.
Snorkeling in Orange Beach Rating: 2/5 Snorkels – Decent Options Around!
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