This guide on snorkeling South South Padre Island is one of a kind vacation experience that offers an assortment of activities and events for everyone on the Gulf Coast. Took my family for a snorkeling trip and we had a great time! Sunday: Closed, 33256 State Park Rd 100Suite 104South Padre Island, TX 78597, Copyright 2022 American Diving | Privacy Policy. It is located in the Charles Champion Building, a two-story building built by Charles Champion in 1899. South Padre Island is a popular vacation destination in the United States, and it is one of the most popular beach resorts. So it is recommended to avoid touching, frightening, and feeding marine creatures during your snorkeling trip. Underwater visibility can be anywhere between 3 to 30 meters (10 and 100 feet), depending on the location and water currents. National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS54 KBRO, Station 42020 - 60NM SSE of Corpus Christi, TX, We train divers in all levels of scuba. Cookies help us deliver our services. South Padre Island is an American barrier island located in Cameron County and Willacy County, in the State of Texas. As the name suggests, this is another artificial reef. Snorkeling is also a benefit for the whole family as children of a young age can participate and parents do not have to be overly concerned about safety risks as you might with scuba diving for young children. All rights reserved 2018-2023. That makes the conditions for snorkelling at South Padre Island especially good for beginners. Breakaway is a first class operation. Seven and One-Half Fathom Reef is the best reef dive of South Padre Island. With its warm waters, stunning beaches, and vibrant marine life, it's no surprise that many people flock to South Padre Island for a memorable snorkeling . The water along the Texas coast is quite murky due to mixing of fresh, muddy water and salt water. American Diving and Breakaway Cruises offer guided tours of Laguna Madre. Our first mate helped my daughter get her first fish ever. It has hyper salinity, due to its isolation from other water bodies, and thats what makes this place so special. We will be back!Update: 2 years later, we came back. If you buy something through a link on our site we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to yourself. Prepare yourself to get up close and personal with a variety of marine life, rare reef formations, and other fantastic features. Located two miles away from Central Padre Island, this dive is shallow but teeming with exotic marine animals. Captain Joe Lee and first mate JJ were both absolutely amazing. U.S. 59 to Route TX 288. Had an awesome time. If youre a beginner, we recommend practicing from shore a few days before boarding a snorkeling vessel and embarking on an exciting sea adventure. Snorkeling trips are the less daring version compared to scuba diving. Their excursions travel north through the Thompson Channel and also includes a tour of the beautiful homes that are located along the channel. The resort town features family-friendly beaches and a variety of wildlife, creating a great opportunity for visitors to connect with nature. St. Joseph Peninsula State Park in Florida. The water is clear and there is a lot to see. Welcome to american diving Full-Service scuba diving center (956) 761-2030 Book Now Dive South Padre Island We are a world-renowned scuba diving center born from that high-adventure spirit which leads you from the office door to the hot sandy beaches of the Mexican border. We are pleased to be the premier sandcastle lesson company in the USA and operate from The Pearl South Padre Resort (310 Padre Blvd) on South Padre Island. But what's even cooler about North Padre Island is what lies beneath the water's surface: this island has multiple shipwrecks that are just waiting to be explored, so pack your snorkeling gear. Texas-based American Diving offers the most complete dive charters in the State of Texas. Get specials and discount updates from Franke Rentals in your inbox. Because of our unique location on South Padre Island, Breakaway Cruises gives you and your family the opportunity to snorkel in one of the world's most extraordinary regions. And one of the preferred destinations for all kind of adventurers that enjoy some watersports action is South Padre Island. The Lone Star State promises an exhilarating snorkeling experience, as this vibrant state boasts some of the worlds best snorkeling spots. What will I see? Fitting flexibly into your schedule, Breakaway Cruises offers several dolphin watching charter excursions that will get you up close and personal with these friendly creatures. All that is needed is a mask, snorkel, and fins, and you are set. American Diving is a full-service scuba diving center and booking classes and excursions with them takes the interest level of snorkeling to the next level. Finally, be sure to take care of your body by putting on sunscreen. You can get a firsthand look at a variety of fish in Laguna Madre Bay through scuba diving. What divers come here for are the numerous artificial reefs shipwrecks and decommissioned oil rigs. If you and your family need an exciting activity you can all do together, look no further than snorkeling at South Padre Island with Breakaway Cruises. Furthermore, the island is home to a large coral reef system, making it an ideal location for scuba divers and snorkelers to explore. During the tour program, students learn about the reef and how it contributes to our marine environment. Our snorkeling excursions last three hours and occur twice a day: once at 9 AM and again at 2 PM. Its unique composition is also the reason you can find the presence of uncountable marine species around South Padre. But due to the converging currents, however, visibility can decrease dramatically at times. Belize is also a great place to dive because it has a lot to offer. Today, the island has a relaxed and fun vibe, and is paradise for tourists, especially during Spring Break. Ricky with the jet ski tour was amazing!My little family of four rented out 2 two seaters and had such a blast with our children. The bay fishing has been getting better. There are several low-cost ways to snorkel on South Padre Island, beginning at $30 per person. Laguna Madre is one of the worlds largest hypersaline coastal lagoons, which gives snorkelers the exciting opportunity to see many fish that are generally only found in reefs but have made their homes here on the beach jetties. Made sure every kid on the boat had the best time! 3. The waters here are extremely popular among a number of expert divers and diving instructors. First and foremost, ensure that your snorkeling mask fits your face properly before going straight underwater. If you happen to have an advanced diving qualification, you might also be interested in exploring the deeper parts of the water to see and swim around the canyon wall. Tours Daily! Inshore in South Padre Island | 4 Hours | 6 . Use Of This Web Site Is Covered By OurUsage Covered By Terms Of ServiceTERMS. It is also used as a nursery for a variety of fish and coral. Ive been doing these activities for 30 + years and decided to share what I know with tourist that vacation to SPI,TX . One of the most popular snorkeling spots near South Padre Island is the exquisite Laguna Madre Estuary, a stunning location where the Rio Grande connects to the Gulf of Mexico. Thank you guysyour the best!!! Snorkel Trips:One of the great seasonal activities you can do on vacation in South Padre is to take a professionally guided snorkel trip. Learn the fundamental knowledge and skills to safely dive in open water in their Open Water Scuba Certification class, where you will begin in the comfort of a controlled water environment before moving to open water training dives. The over 360 miles of Texan coastline are a dream for many snorkelers and scuba divers. Source: www.southpadrejetskirentals.com The water was amazing!! Walking is the most convenient way to get to South Padre Islands city beaches. The artifacts have long been lifted from the wreck, and they include one gold bar, a small solid-gold crucifix, several silver discs, crossbows, cannons, and three astrolabes. SPI, as South Padre Island is often abbreviated, can be a very different place depending on the time of the year you decide to visit. Swimming, sailing on boats, hiking, fishing, camping, and picnics, are all part of what makes Possum Kingdom a must-visit spot. Provided by Touchpoints Contact Info Mailing Address: P.O. And the safe and calm conditions of this inner stretch of water, protected on all sides from winds, swells, waves and currents, really is the perfect place for snorkeling in a typical Mexican environment. Greg and Ceasar were our guides and they kept the trip interesting and had everyone laughing! He was a phenomenal captain. More about how we earn money as an affiliate. One final tip would be to take some basic lessons to help you get the hang of it. Instead, we strongly insist on taking an underwater camera or video camera to document the amazing beauty of this experience. While in the months between June and September temperatures reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit and there are some chances of hurricanes, too. The best places to snorkel are in the calm and shallow waters of the Laguna Madre. You will find affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Boca Chica Beach is about 23 miles east of Brownsville on Highway 4 . Due to the fascinating features that the Laguna Madre boasts, top snorkelers and scuba divers have taken note! Padre Island National Seashore is popular with locals as well as visitors for its clean beaches and natural beauty. As an Amazon Associate and Booking.com partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. We offer real-time availability and instant confirmation when you book with us, and guarantee that all of our vessels are U.S. Coast Guard certified. Read Next: The Best & Worst Times to Visit South Padre Island in 2023. Snorkeling in South Padre Island: An Underwater Adventure South Padre Island, located on the Gulf Coast of Texas, is a popular destination for beachgoers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. This reef system is a sixty-square-mile system with a total area of about 60 square miles. Try and target redfish on windier warmer days. We saw a lot of dolphin, the sunset was incredible and being on the water is definitely the best place to view the fireworks. Scuba lessons begin as low as $600. The entire crew was great. The 251 guestrooms feature private balconies with Gulf of Mexico views, and the hotel spa offers an . Delightfully mild temperatures and warm, calm water make any time of the year a great time to visit South Padre Island. It is home to over 1,000 different species of coral and consists of approximately 150 individual reefs. Whether youre a beginner or an experienced snorkeler, there are plenty of spots where you can enjoy this activity. The Dolphin tour was great! Report inappropriate content Birdbet South Padre Island. Balmorhea State Park, the largest spring-fed swimming pool in the world is called as 'cool oasis in the high desert' and features crystal-clear water. South Padre Island is a popular tourist destination. With 54 km (31 miles) of white sand beaches and clear water, it is ideal for a wide variety of water sport activities such as fishing, kiteboarding, snorkeling, and scuba diving. So glad we listened because it was amazing. This large shallow body of water separates Padre Island from the southern Texas mainland is actually one of the largest hypersaline coastal lagoons in the world, ranked fourth largest out of six. Tucked into the southern tip of South Padre Island, the oceanfront Pearl South Padre not only offers guests a prime location on the beach, it also features a monstrous 6,000-square-foot swimming pool.Kids can splash around the pool's waterfall while adults swim to the pool bar for a cold drink. 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Luckily South Padre Island, being a desirable vacation destination, is full of activities as well as food and accommodation options. 100 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597, USA Phone +1 956-426-9066 Web Visit website One of the top waterparks in the country, South Padre Island's Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark is located right on the beach and offers a wide variety of water slides, rides, pools and more. Marine life you can see when snorkeling South Padre Island, Useful tips for snorkeling at South Padre Island, Best time to go snorkeling on South Padre Island. Last updated on June 24, 2022 by Wandering our World. To get the hang of snorkels, youll need some basic lessons. Spending four days in this beautiful setting convinced me that this is not only a fantastic destination for those who enjoy the heat and the outdoors, but it is also a great year-round destination for families looking for something safe to do with their kids. This training can give you confidence which will make your snorkeling trip even more enjoyable. The sanctuary protects an area of the Gulf of Mexico where wildlife live and an environment. For a detailed dive site description and printable snorkel dive map, just select a . The stunning waters here are home to a few species of endangered fish, and snorkelers from all around the globe flock to catch a glimpse of them. Had to reschedule twice due to big gusts and storms. Box 181300 Corpus Christi , TX 78480 Phone: (361) 949-8068 This is the primary phone number for the Malaquite Visitor Center at Padre Island National Seashore. From start to finish, this day is one we will remember forever. The sea bottom is also quite deep for snorkelers to be able to see anything, or enjoy some good sightings. El Paso If you rent snorkel equipment, then ask for shop attendant help to find the mask that fits you best. 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