The beaches near Fort Myers, on Florida's southwest coast, offer easy access to prime snorkeling spots, many of which are just a few swim strokes from the sand. The Gulf of Mexico along this stretch has clear, calm waters and vibrant marine life — even novice snorkelers can hope to spot manatees, dolphins and leatherback sea turtles.
About 30 miles south of Fort Myers lies Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, which is dominated by a pristine beach on its western edge. Bring your own snorkel gear to parking area 2 of the park, toward the southern end, and swim out about 200 feet from the shore to reach a hard-bottom reef that runs parallel to the beach. The reef is in about 10 feet of water, so visibility is great to spot grunts, sea robins and other reef fish.
Though Cayo Costa State Park is due west of Fort Myers, you have to drive a winding route and take a ferry or private boat to reach this barrier island. There's no reef to attract large amounts of marine life, but snorkeling in the shallows can reveal sand dollars and seashells hidden beneath the seabed. Dolphins, manatees and sea turtles are also known to visit these waters, so keep your eyes peeled for a close encounter. After swimming back to shore, you can continue your shelling adventure among the myriad shells that get washed up daily.
Just a few miles north of Cayo Costa is Stump Pass Beach, another barrier island in the Gulf. The white-sand beach is a gorgeous sight, but head to the southern end, where the vegetation encroaches onto the shore, for the best snorkeling in the park. Fish congregate around the branches and roots of fallen trees that sit in the shallows. Generally calm water makes for great visibility, so look for sharks' teeth hidden in the sand, as well.
A little more than an hour's drive north from Fort Myers will take you to Casey Key Beach. Snorkelers at this beach tend to gravitate toward the south jetty, as small fish often cluster around the rocks. The main attraction for lovers of marine life, however, are the leatherback turtles that frequent the area. These behemoths are most often seen during spring months, when females come to lay eggs. Leatherback turtles are a protected species, so don't interfere with their actions, and do not touch any nests you might see on the shore.
