Shore Dive Sites
Park East Gulf Side Reef
Located apx. 1.4 miles east of Portofino on Pensacola Beach and 500ft offshore.
Parking Lot "H", Via De Luna, Pensacola Beach, FL
Directions to Site:
-Take Left out of MBT
-Go 2.4 miles on Barrancas and cross over bridge .
-Make a right at the 2nd light (Main St.) & follow Main/Bayfront along the bay for 2.9 miles. Keep right onto the 3 mile bridge Watch your speed!!!)
-Go 1.3 miles on HWY 98, stay in the right lanes. Exit right to Pensacola Beach (Marlin Sign)
- Go over the toll bridge ($1 pay by plate) and straight through the first light (Fort Pickens Road)
- Continue 6 miles, past 5 large orange condo towers (Portofino Beach Resort)
-Look to your right, each parking lot is named with a letter, look for parking lot H.
-At the east end of the parking lot, near the driveway, is a pat to the beach. Unload gear.
Fort Pickens (Gulf Island National Seashore)
Construction began in 1816 by the United states for protection of important waterways and the Navy Yard. It was completed in 1834 and was one of four military forts designed in Pensacola.
1400 Fort Pickens Road Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
Directions to Site:
-Take Left out of MBT
-Go 2.4 miles on Barrancas and cross over bridge .
-Make a right at the 2nd light (Main St.) & follow Main/Bayfront along the bay for 2.9 miles. Keep right onto the 3 mile bridge Watch your speed!!!)
-Go 1.3 miles on HWY 98, stay in the right lanes. Exit right to Pensacola Beach (Marlin Sign)
- Go over the toll bridge ($1 pay by plate) to the first right (Fort Pickens Road)
-Make a right. Drive 2.5 miles to the Gate at Fort Pickens. There is an admission fee.*
-Drive ~ 7 miles to the loop at the end of the road. Park along seawall as close to the stairs as possible.
*Go to https://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/entrancefees.htm for the most up to date entrance fees.
Perdido Key Snorkel Reef
The reef modules are arranged in three rows of eight that extend apx. 500ft from shore. Each module is spaced 20 - 25ft apart and range from 12 - 15ft deep.
13555 Sandy Key Dr., Pensacola, FL 32507
Directions to site:
- Turn right out of MBT
- Head west on FL-292 W/ Barrancas Ave for 12.2 miles
-Turn left onto Johnson's Beach Rd. then turn right onto beach access one
- Parking will be on the right hand side*
*Parking is very limited.
Image: visitpensacola.com
Navarre Snorkeling Reef
Santa Rosa County deployed the first set of reef modules in 2012 and the last set in 2017, totaling 78 reef modules spread 20ft apart.
8740 Gulf Blvd, Navarre, FL 32566
Directions to site:
-Turn left out of MBT
-At the second light turn right onto West Main St. continue onto US-98 E
-Take a slight right towards Pensacola Beach, after the toll bridge drive about 17.6 miles.
-At the stop sign go straight onto Gulf Boulevard and follow the signs to the snorkeling reef.
Image: navarrebeachmarinesanctuary.org
Park West Bay Side & Captain Bob Quarles Reef
Fantastic training site, not always great visibility.
1390 Fort Pickens Rd., Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
Directions to Site:
-Take Left out of MBT
-Go 2.4 miles on Barrancas and cross over bridge .
-Make a right at the 2nd light (Main St.) & follow Main/Bayfront along the bay for 2.9 miles. Keep right onto the 3 mile bridge Watch your speed!!!)
-Go 1.3 miles on HWY 98, stay in the right lanes. Exit right to Pensacola Beach (Marlin Sign)
- Go over the toll bridge ($1 pay by plate) to the first right (Fort Pickens Road)
-Make a right. Drive 2.5 miles to the Gate at Fort Pickens.
-Before entering the Gulf Islands National Seashore, turn into the parking lot on the right (Bay side).
-Park and look for four pilings about 50 yards off the beach, the reef is here.
Casino Beach Snorkel Reef
Escambia county deployed 17 reef modules in June of 2020. Depth ranges 12 - 17ft and are spaced 25ft apart.
Directions to Site:
-Take Left out of MBT
-Go 2.4 miles on Barrancas and cross over bridge .
-Make a right at the 2nd light (Main St.) & follow Main/Bayfront along the bay for 2.9 miles. Keep right onto the 3 mile bridge Watch your speed!!!)
-Go 1.3 miles on HWY 98, stay in the right lanes. Exit right to Pensacola Beach (Marlin Sign)
- Go over the toll bridge ($1 pay by plate) and straight through the first light (Fort Pickens Road), take first right into parking lot.
-May want to unload gear at beach site, if no close parking. Located in front of Crabs at Casino Beach.
(Caution - potentially high surf, so make sure your buddies are ready and prepared prior to entering the water!)
Vortex Springs
Water temperature is 68 degrees, year round, with crystal clear visibility. There is a $25 admission fee ($20 for military)
1517 Vortex Springs Ln, Ponce de Leon, FL 32455
Directions to Site:
- Take a left out of MBT
-Take Barrancas for 3miles, veer right onto Garden St.
-Drive 0.9miles and take a left on Palafox; take the immediate right onto Chase.
-Stay left onto I-110N, drive 6.0 miles.
-Keep right to I-10E Tallahassee (Do not exit to Davis)
-Continue on 10 for 83.3 miles to exit 96
-Turn left (N) off the exit
-Go straight for ~5 miles on FL-81
Vortex Springs is a dirt driveway on the right. Check in at the dive shop.
Morrison Springs
Water temperature is 68 degrees, year round, with crystal clear visibility. The spring does flow to the nearby river - creating poor visibility after bad weather.
874 Morrison Springs Rd, Ponce de Leon, FL 32455
Directions to Site:
- Take a left out of MBT
-Take Barrancas for 3miles, veer right onto Garden St.
-Drive 0.9miles and take a left on Palafox; take the immediate right onto Chase.
-Stay left onto I-110N, drive 6.0 miles.
-Keep right to I-10E Tallahassee (Do not exit to Davis)
-Continue on 10 for 83.3 miles to exit 96
-Turn right (S) off the exit
-Drive 4.0 miles, and then turn Left on R-181
-Drive 1.8 miles on CR-181, then turn right on Morrison Springs Road
The road forks, stay to the left at the fork.