While Destin is known for its spectacular powdered-sugar-like sand and beautiful, clear emerald waters, there’s a lot of beauty to be seen under the water here as well. While snorkeling in Destin may not be as popular as other parts of the world, diving in to see what our local ecosystem offers is a totally unique experience.

If you’re ready to strap on your snorkeling gear and jump in our stunning Gulf waters, here are our favorite places to go snorkeling in Destin:

1. The Destin Jetties

This man-made rock structure was erected years ago to help prevent tidal sand erosion in the East Pass, which was dug out to connect the Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. This pass is used by Destin’s charter fishing fleet, which is the largest in the country, and the jetties have become home to a number of sea creatures. The once simple piles of rocks have turned into a reef-like structure and is now one of the most popular places to go snorkeling in Destin.

2. Henderson Beach State Park

Our neighbor, Henderson Beach State Park, is a perfect place to go snorkeling in Destin. Before you even get in the water, you’ll see the park’s stunning 30-foot sand dunes. Its mile of undisturbed beach remains an important nesting area for loggerhead sea turtles, so you might catch a glimpse of one while in the water. Still, keep in mind when you’re snorkeling that turtles are a protected animal, and you should not approach or do anything to disturb them.

3. Norriego Point

This small peninsula sits close to the Destin jetties, but it’s just far enough to be considered its own location. It’s unique in that the soft sand coming off the edges provides interesting geography that brings in a variety of life to the space. If you’re not a strong swimmer, this might be your best bet for snorkeling, as the water is usually quite calm in this area.

4. Dune Lakes

While visibility may be less than ideal when trying to go snorkeling in Destin, our area’s dune lakes are a rare natural occurrence. Only a handful of other locations in the world have dune lakes, and these lakes remain home to countless types of wildlife. You can see everything from sea cucumbers to varieties of fish.

5. Underwater Museum of Art

Ok, so you can’t really snorkel here, but if you’re scuba certified, you should absolutely check it out. It’s the first permanent underwater sculpture garden in the country. Resting at a depth of 58-feet of water, the sculptures, which are created by local artists, have created a reef-like ecosystem, and you’re not going to want to miss out. You can learn more about the museum on its website.

All of these locations are at most a quick drive from Henderson Park Inn, so if you’re ready to book your beach vacation that features snorkeling in Destin, head to our Rooms & Rates page to secure your room.