🐠 Artificial Reefs on 30A

Why there are animals under the water

Since 2015 the South Walton Artificial Reef Association has been sinking life into the shallow Gulf just off 30A. These aren't old boats and tires. They're structured reefs built from concrete, steel and limestone, and a few of them are shaped like the animals you'll meet while snorkeling. They sit close to shore, only about 200 to 300 yards out in roughly 12 to 20 feet of water, which means you can paddle out, kayak out or just swim out on a calm day.

Each reef is its own little neighborhood. Because the structures give fish somewhere to hide and feed, they draw in sergeant majors, gray snapper, spadefish, angelfish and the occasional sea turtle or nurse shark. In the fall you can even find octopus hiding around the edges. You'll also see crabs skittering across the structures, which is where that fun crab mention comes from, even if there's no crab shaped reef of its own.

🐬 The four snorkel reefs

• Dolphin Reef — off Miramar Beach, about 12 to 20 feet deep.
• Sea Turtle Reef — off Grayton Beach State Park, about 12 to 19 feet deep.
• Seahorse Reef — off Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, about 13 to 18 feet deep.
• Grouper Reef — off Inlet Beach, about 12 to 21 feet deep.

Look for the posted reef signs on the beach. Most point you straight out to two yellow posts that line up with the reef sitting on the outer edge of the second sandbar. All four are on the beach map.

🤿 How to visit one

• Bring a mask, snorkel and fins, reef safe sunscreen and a float vest or paddleboard.
• Fly a dive flag while you're in the water so boats can see you.
• Go early on a calm day, ideally before 10 in the morning for the clearest water.
• Respect the reef. Take only pictures and leave only bubbles. It's a protected habitat.

🧭 All the shore reefs

These are the reefs you can reach from the sand on a calm day. Each one has its own page.

• 🐬 Henderson Beach State Park Reef — Destin
• 🐠 John Beasley Park Reef — Fort Walton Beach
• 🐠 Okaloosa Island Reef — near Beach Access 4
• 🦀 Crab Trap Reef — Destin
• 🐠 Destin Jetties & East Pass — by the harbor

For the reefs that need a boat or a scuba dive, see the full offshore & dive reef list.

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