|
Perdido Key Snorkel Reef
 Pensacola, FL 32507
|
Max Depth: 16-20ft/5-6m
Average Viz: 51-60ft/16-18m
Entry Type: Shore
Bottom Composition: Sand
Aquatic Life: Might See Something
|
Rating: 1.00 by 1 divers
Spring: 61-65°F/16-18°C
Summer: 81-85°F/27-29°C
Fall: 61-65°F/16-18°C
Winter: 61-65°F/16-18°C
|
|
|
|
Perdido Key Snorkel Reef is a shore accessible salt water dive site, located in Pensacola, FL 32507. The maximum depth is 16-20ft/5-6m. The average visibility is 51-60ft/16-18m.
The Perdido Key Reef was built in 2014 and is comprised of 24 modules of Ecosystem by Reefmaker artificial reef modules made in Gulf Shores, AL. The are constructed by attaching concrete disc covered with limestone to fiberglass pilings which are driven into the sand. The rows are 20′-25′ apart and extend about 280′. The depth is roughly 12′-15′ with the reef modules sitting approximately 6′-8′ below the surface. The artificial reef serves as a habitat for many species of tropical fish. Sea turtles are commonly spotted resting in the sand under and around the reef modules. Average visibility at this site is 10-20′ but varies drastically with sea conditions. When conditions are good and seas are calm upwards of 30′ visibility is common.
Locating the Reef
Diving this site shore involves a little bit of a swim but is very manageable on days with calm surf conditions. It is located out from Public Beach Access #1 on Sandy Key Dr. off of Johnson’s Beach Rd. There are two range markers that are placed at the end of the walkway to the beach from the parking area on shore to help divers and snorkelers line up with the reef. The front marker is a yellow triangle and the back marker is a blue square, simply line them up with one another and you are in line with the reef. The modules start about 300′ from shore at a depth starting out around 10′.