Hi there!
So you want to go snorkeling in Florida at Grayton Beach State Park!
In South Walton FL, there are a bunch of artificial reefs along the shoreline created by the South Walton Artificial Reef Association.
👆 See the map of South Walton reef locations.
The creation of the reefs means that they’ve created an environment that attracts marine life.
The reefs have been created in various shapes.
And one of these artificial reef is off the shores of Grayton Beach State Park, and the reef is in the shape of a turtle!
This means that you might try out Grayton Beach State Park for a snorkeling spot in the Florida Panhandle!
The reef is located a bit off shore, so you’ll need to swim to Turtle Reef from Grayton Beach.
Or you can paddle to Turtle Reef.
According to South Walton FL:
Sea Turtle Reef:
Located off the beach in Grayton Beach State Park, Turtle Reef sits about 783 feet from the shore and is comprised of 58 individual reefs deployed in the shape of a turtle.
The first of the nearshore snorkeling reefs to be installed, this reef took shape in the summer of 2015.
So the Grayton Beach snorkeling spot is around 780 feet from the beach, which is around 240 meters, which is around 0.15 miles.
So this is a bit of a swim from shore.
It’s not a snorkeling spot that you can walk into the water from the beach and then you’re there.
You will want to be very comfortable with swimming in order to snorkel at Grayton Beach State Park’s turtle reef.
Have a look at swimming along with a personal buoy float so you can be spotted more easily from shore!
Basically how it works is that there’s a kind of a belt that you’ll clip around your waist. Then, as you’re swimming, this bright buoy will be floating behind you as you swim.
And although it is not meant as a safety device, since it is a float, if you get a bit tired, you can rest on it too!
See more for your Grayton Beach snorkeling trip:
- Why swim with an open water swim buoy
- What to pack for snorkeling
- The Grayton Beach State Park beach
- Grayton Beach State Park campground
More below about how to get to the Grayton Beach snorkeling spot!
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How to find the Turtle Reef from Grayton Beach State Park
To find the Turtle Reef snorkeling spot, you’ll want to go to Grayton Beach State Park.
There is a Florida state park entry fee, so the cost to go to the Turtle Reef snorkeling spot from Grayton Beach State Park will be around $5 per car. See current fees.
Once you have entered Grayton Beach State Park, you will just keep driving until you reach the beach parking lot.
From there, you’ll take the boardwalk to the beach.
At the end of the boardwalk, you can look for the instructions on how to find the turtle reef snorkeling spot.
Basically, as you are swimming out to the turtle reef, you want to look back towards the beach and look for the yellow poles.
To know that you are swimming straight out to the turtle reef snorkeling spot, you want to look back to the beach and only be able to see one pole.
If you see 2 poles, it means that you are swimming off-course!
👆 Spot the yellow poles! As you are swimming out to Turtle Reef for the Grayton Beach State Park snorkeling spot, you will look back to shore to guide your way to Turtle Reef.
What to pack for Grayton Beach snorkeling at Turtle Reef
- cheapo waterproof phone case for underwater pics
- water shoes
- rash guard swimming shirt
- reef-safe sunscreen
- individual swim buoy
- plus more for your Grayton Beach State Park Florida beach vacation
More gulf coast beaches in the Florida Panhandle
Whether it’s for swimming, picnic, or VIEWS, here are some of the best beaches in the Florida Panhandle:
- Grayton Beach State Park
- Henderson Beach State Park
- St Andrews State Park
- Perdido Key State Park
- Gulf Islands National Seashore
HAPPY SNORKELING TURTLE REEF FROM GRAYTON BEACH!
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