Best Snorkeling in St Pete Beach Florida

Looking for the best place to go snorkeling in sunny St Pete Beach Florida? Look no further!

We have compiled a list of the best snorkeling spots in this beautiful area. With crystal clear waters and plenty of marine life, you are sure to have a great time.

So pack your swimsuit and sunscreen and get ready for some fun in the sun!

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1. Egmont Key State Park

One of the best places to go snorkeling in St Pete Beach is Egmont Key State Park. This park is located about 20 minutes from St Pete Beach and boasts some of the clearest waters on the Gulf Coast.

Egmont Key also is a great spot for snorkeling as the water is mostly calm and shallow, which is perfect for any level.

One of the coolest parts about the island is its history as well as the sunken ruins of Old Fort Dade. And yes, you can snorkel these ruins, which are a piece of history from the Spanish-American war.

The island also has a large nature preserve where at least half the island is blocked off to the public, giving the various birds, sea turtles, and other wildlife undisturbed space. Which gives you prime viewing of nature at its finest.

🤿🐬Check out our favorite Egmont Key Snorkeling & Dolphin tour

Hubbard’s Marina, one of the local businesses, offers their Egmont Key ferry ride for $40 for adults and $20 for kids 11 and under.

This ferry leaves from Fort De Soto’s Bay Pier to Egmont daily and is a great option for small groups. Plan to leave around 10-11 am and return anywhere from 2-4 pm.

Snorkeling is an additional $25 which includes rental of any gear that you’ll need. One of the coolest parts of this ferry ride is the trip to Egmont Key where you’re almost guaranteed to see lots of dolphins and is a great way to see the wildlife and the island.

Another local business to check out is Dolphin Snorkeling Cruise which also offers a boat ride to the island as well as supervised snorkeling. They have some of the friendliest captains and staff which makes it arguably one of the best experiences on Florida’s gulf coast.

Spotted: Gopher Tortoises, bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, hermit crabs, shrimp, stingrays and devil rays, friendly octopuses, and other beautiful fish.

2. Fort De Soto Park

Another great place to go snorkeling in St Pete Beach is Fort De Soto Park. This park is located about 30 minutes from St Pete Beach and has over seven miles of beaches to explore. The waters around Fort De Soto Park are perfect for snorkeling, with plenty of marine life to see.

Fort De Soto Park is accessible via car so it can be a pretty high volume spot. For less of a crowd consider going there earlier in the day.

North Beach is one of the most popular areas of Fort De Soto to snorkel and you can see a variety of wildlife including crabs, live sand dollars, and even sea urchins. You might even get up close and personal with a manatee, or several, while you’re here!

We recommend buying your own snorkeling gear if you’re interested in snorkeling at Fort De Soto Park. It’s an awesome and affordable spot to snorkel (free if you already have gear) in the Tampa Bay area.

Spotted: Dolphins, starfish, loggerhead sea turtles, crabs, schools of mullet, birdwatching, manatees

Related: 17 Amazing Places to Visit in Florida

3. Shell Key Preserve

Shell Key Preserve State Park is another great place to go snorkeling in St Pete Beach. This park is located about 30 minutes from St Pete Beach and offers some of the best shelling in the area.

The preserve is over 1,800 acres and has a number of different areas to explore (including Shell Island), so you’re sure to find a spot that’s perfect for you.

This area is an undeveloped barrier island without any facilities, and you’ll need to take a private boat or a public ferry to get to it.

Shell Key is also a top-rated destination as one of the best places to kayak, which is another great option if you’re looking for how to spend your day in the Tampa Bay area.

Not only this, but it’s a fantastic spot for shelling as it has some of the coolest shells you can take home with you, including sand dollars and other fully formed shells.

🚣‍♀️ Prefer to kayak Shell Key Preserve? We love this tour and think you will too! 😉

You can take the Shell Key Shuttle which is $25 for adults and half the price for kids 12 and under. Included in the price is a beach umbrella as well as a mask and snorkel to use.

Spotted: Massive horseshoe crabs, devil rays, sea turtles, manatees.

What Snorkel Gear do you Need?

So what should you bring when you go snorkeling in St Pete Beach? You’ll need some basic necessities and your snorkel gear if you have it. Otherwise, most places offer the option to rent gear.

If you’re weirded out by using rental snorkel gear, you can find super affordable gear on Amazon. If you’re looking to buy some snorkel gear before your trip, we recommend the following items:

• A good quality snorkel set that includes a mask, fins, and a snorkel.
• Life jackets
• A wet suit if you’re snorkeling in cooler waters

Other items we recommend:

• UPF shirt and/or board shorts for women (so you don’t have to keep re-applying sunscreen as frequently, plus it’s more secure)
• Waterproof phone case (for all of the pictures you want to take underwater)
• Reef-friendly SPF (Don’t hurt the wildlife that you’re curious to spot!)

Related: The best beaches on Anna Maria Island

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Wrapping Up: Best Snorkeling St Pete Beach Florida

If you’re looking for a great place to snorkel in the St Petersburg Beach area, then Egmont Key State Park, Fort De Soto Park, and Shell Key Preserve are all excellent options.

These parks offer beautiful clear waters with plenty of marine life to see, making them perfect spots for a day of snorkeling. So grab your gear and head on out to explore!

Which of these spots are you most excited to visit? Tell us in the comments below.