Snorkeling in Southeast Florida

Most Floridians love the water.  We love to look at it (hence the popularity and astronomical cost of purchasing oceanfront property), to boat on it, to swim in it, and more.  But how often do we reflect on the fact that, starting just beneath the surface of the waters that are such an integral part of the Florida landscape, the aquatic realm is an entirely different world from the one we know and live in?  If you are an avid snorkeler or SCUBA diver, then your answer to this question may be an out-of-the-ordinary “fairly regularly.”  For those of us  who haven’t given much thought to this fact of life but are now intrigued, here is an overview of some snorkeling hotspots in Southeastern Florida where we can get to know the life aquatic.

Red Reef Park

The Florida Keys have some of the most highly coveted snorkeling spots in Florida (and the entire country), and justifiably so.  But you don’t have to go through the hassle and expense of getting to Key Largo or Key West if you are just looking to enjoy a scenic snorkeling session on a Saturday or Sunday.  Boca Raton, conveniently situated near AMLI Flagler Village in Fort Lauderdale, is home to one such snorkeling destination.  Spanning 67 acres of ocean-front property, Red Reef Park offers a wealth of nature activities in a family-friendly environment.  At the south end of the park, snorkelers can weave their way through fascinating reef and rock outcroppings that are home to hundreds of fascinating marine creatures, including parrotfish, sergeant fish, blue tangs, and barracuda.  Starting just ten feet from the shoreline, the reef at Red Reef Park is highly accessible.  Taking a boat is unnecessary, providing snorkelers with considerable flexibility and saving them money.

Pompano Beach

Travel 20 miles south of Red Reef Park to Pompano Beach, and you will have access to world-class snorkeling and diving.  The waters here are warm all year-round, and boast vivid coral of all different shapes and sizes in addition to spectacular fish.  If you are a SCUBA diver or you are looking to give the sport a shot, Pompano Beach may be even more appealing to you. It is the starting point for more wreck dives than anywhere else in Florida, and the waters’ consistent current makes effortless drift diving a popular form of underwater explanation in this area.  Residents of luxury apartments at AMLI Flagler Village in Fort Lauderdale should be able to commute to Pompano Beach from home in under 30 minutes.

Ft. Lauderdale

Is thirty minutes longer than you would like to spend traveling in the car for your weekend snorkeling trip?  If you live in a Fort Lauderdale luxury apartment, then you are in luck.  Since the Southeast Florida Reef Tract passes along the coast of Fort Lauderdal, you don’t even have to drive beyond the city limits in order to enjoy crystal clear water at bathtub temperatures, replete with bright-colored coral that is teeming with hundreds of species of fish.

Snorkeling is just one of several great ways to enjoy nature when you live in southeast Florida.  And if your upscale apartment home has a pool, you can even practice snorkeling in it.  If you are afraid of water or fish, you can play beach volleyball, cycle through Southeast Florida’s beautifully flat landscape, or throw on some roller blades and skate your way along the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk.  Aware of what a spectacular natural environment this tip of the Floridian Peninsula boasts, AMLI Residential has sought to make its regional luxury apartment communities as amenable to outdoor enjoyment as possible.  Do you live in an AMLI Flagler Village luxury apartment home?  If so, get out and enjoy yourself and that brilliant Florida sunshine.  Live Life + Love Life in the sun, in the water, and at home.  There’s no good reason not to.