This is Anna Maria Island, Florida at its best. You may find it like this for 3 to 5 weeks out of the year. The rest of the year the water will not be as clear or as calm.
Question:
I need some advice!
Even though I visited many beaches in Florida. I’m still looking for that one perfect beach. We want to go in July .
1.Clean , crystal water most important.
2.Snorkeling something to see in the crystal water.
3. Would love some palm trees on the beach for scenery and shade.
4. White or light grayish sand so it does not burn your feet.
Does it even exist ?
We like the Destin jetties.. but no palm trees and the water is not that clear.
We loved the “look” of Sombrero beach beautiful palms.. but the water can be murky and smelly.. so no snorkeling.
Bahia Honda could be the only choice but the water can also be murky and smelly..
Are there any beaches that do not get the Seaweed as a general rule?
Answer:
I can’t think of any place in Florida that would meet your expectations on a predictable basis.
I found that snorkeling in the Dry Tortugas was very good and the water quality was excellent. No stinky water there. However, unless you are camping, it is a day trip only, and not an inexpensive one. I found that the best snorkeling was right along the seawall by the fort. Lots of nice coral and beautiful fish. Perhaps you should consider the Bahamas? Florida Keys beaches are small, and the water is very shallow. The larger public beaches are generally created and enhanced by sand brought in from other places. The beach at Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas appears to be natural, but it is not very large. It has coconut palms, but not many. They are mostly in the camping area, not out on the beach. No matter where you go, under certain conditions you’ll find seaweed on the beach.
Smather’s Beach at Key West has lots of coconut palms for shade on the beach. On this day, strong easterly winds were bringing in sea weed and had the water stirred up, so it was not clear.
There is a place in Palm Beach County (Riviera Beach) near the Lake Worth Inlet called Peanut Island. I’ve not been there yet, but I understand that Peanut Island snorkeling is very good on the incoming tide when the clear ocean water floods the inlet. It is a man-made island park. Might be worth checking out. Just search Google for “Peanut Island, FL” or “snorkeling peanut island, florida” and there’s lots of info and pictures. I believe there is a passenger ferry to get to the island, which is in the bay near an inlet. Also you can search Youtube for snorkeling videos shot at Peanut Island.
The beach is a natural area, not a controlled area like a swimming pool. Conditions of the water, weather, plants and animals change daily. No matter where you go, you’ll be making compromises. Even in the world’s best snorkeling locations there are many days that are not good for snorkeling. Even on the beaches with the clearest water, there are days where the water is not very clear and the beach is littered with seaweed or the water is too rough or the current is too strong.
Go with the flow.
