About Snorkeling in Cape San Blas, Florida

Cape San Blas, Fla., is off the beaten path for tourists, making it ideal for the serious snorkeler. There are no crowds, just people who love nature. Cape San Blas has perfect snorkeling weather most of the year.

  1. Geography

    • Cape San Blas is part of St. Joseph's Peninsula, bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and St. Joseph's Bay. It is located in Gulf County in the northwest part of the state, on the southern coast of the panhandle.

    Features

    • Cape San Blas is a very laid-back community with no high-rise buildings or amusement parks, only peace and quiet and plenty of water for the snorkeling. Even though Cape San Blas is in the northern part of Florida, the warm waters of the Gulf moderates temperatures all year long. The coldest months are December and January when the average temperature is 60 and the water temperature is about 64. The warmest is July and August, with the highest temperatures being about 88 and the water temperature about 84.

    Types

    • St. Joseph Peninsula State Park has nine miles of white sand dunes. It is a favorite place for snorkelers, so you will not be alone and you have your choice of the gulf or the bay sides. Keep an eye out for the sea turtles. This is one of their favorite nesting places. You can go snorkeling for scallops and catch your own dinner.

      Charters such as Seahorse Water Safaris will take you to the best offshore snorkeling spots where you can get up close and personal with animals like dolphins, making this an excellent idea for first-time visitors.

    Benefits

    • You will be away from the usual crowds of tourists when you go snorkeling in Cape San Blas. The people who come to Cape San Blas are sportsmen of one kind or another. They come for the natural beauty of what is called the Forgotten Gulf Coast area. Bed and breakfasts dot Cape San Blas, with many of them having boats for you to use on your snorkeling adventures.

    Considerations

    • Much of Cape San Blas is a wilderness area, especially in the park. Respect the wildlife. For instance, fall is the time of the year when the sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. The young turtles are not souvenirs to be brought home. Leave the area the way you find it and it will be there for you to enjoy for years to come.