Staff Answer
Jun 22, 2026 - 09:09 PM
when someone ask me this, I would usually recommend snorkeling from a boat, especially if it is your first visit to Destin. The biggest advantage is that a boat can take you to places that are much harder to reach from shore and often have better visibility and more marine life. Around the East Pass and the jetties, you will usually see a lot more fish than you would at a typical public beach, and the captains know how to find the spots that are looking their best that day. If one area is cloudy or crowded, they can simply move somewhere else. When you are snorkeling from the beach, you are limited to whatever conditions happen to be there when you arrive. That does not mean beach snorkeling is bad. If the Gulf is calm and the water is clear, you can still have a great time and see plenty of fish, especially near the jetties. It is also the less expensive option if you already have your own gear. The reason I usually steer first time visitors toward a boat tour is because it takes a lot of the guesswork out of the experience. The crew provides the equipment, helps fit your mask, points out interesting marine life, and chooses the best location based on the weather and water conditions that day. You spend less time wondering if you are in the right place and more time actually enjoying the water. For most families visiting Destin for the first time, that extra guidance is well worth it and usually leads to a much better overall snorkeling experience. Also, parking at some of these public beach is very hard to find and you have to get out there really early to find parking. Not an ideal way of spending my time on vacation.
