About Snorkeling in Brevard County, Florida

Brevard County, Florida is home to many beaches from Cocoa to Melbourne as well as several state parks. This county is also the location of the Kennedy Space Center. For sea and space, Brevard county is the place to be! Vacationers can find a few opportunities for snorkeling in this county as an added bonus to their Florida vacation.

  1. Geography

    • Brevard County, Florida is located along the east coast of the state, on the Atlantic Ocean. This county's central location places it just east of Orlando. Brevard County's largest cities include Melbourne, Palm Bay, Merrit Island, and Titusville. Some popular beaches in this area are Cocoa Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Melbourne Beach, and the Sebastian Inlet State Park Beach.

    Features

    • The waters along the east coast of Florida are usually much darker than those on the Gulf coast. Snorkelers may spot mackerel, bluefish, and other tropical fish, but should be advised that visibility will be an issue. Snorkelers may enjoy short self-guided trips looking for seashells, as these can be abundant in this area. The biggest draw for marine life along this coast are the manatees. These gentle giants are on average about 10 feet long and can weigh up to 1,000 pounds. Though snorkelers can take to the waters from any of Brevard county's beaches, the best location for snorkeling in this county is Sebastian Inlet State Park.

    Considerations

    • The beaches in Brevard county are not the place to go for serious snorkelers looking for an intriguing swim. The Gulf coast provides much clearer waters, and the Florida Keys are the best place to go for reefs and shipwrecks. However, if you are already vacationing in the area and are looking for a fun beach activity to add to your agenda, this may work for you. This coast is well known for excellent surfing, so keep this in mind if you or your family enjoy surfing as well.

    Benefits

    • There are many good reasons to plan your vacation in this area. Brevard County is home to the Kennedy Space Center. Just west of Brevard County is Orlando, Florida--home to Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World. Cocoa Beach is the closest beach to Orlando. So if you want to add a day at the beach to an Orlando vacation, this is the place to do it. If you are visiting Disney World, you can also look into snorkeling programs available at their parks.

    Warning

    • It is important to keep in mind that most beaches only have seasonal lifeguards. Lifeguards are generally on duty June through August, and on weekends only from August through October and April through June. You can get detailed lifeguard information for Cape Canaveral to Cocoa Beach at (321) 868-1145, for Canova Beach to Melbourne Beach at (321) 779-4008 and for Ocean Avenue to Spessard Holland at (321) 952-6370.