Fort Walton Beach · Florida
A close in reef with free parking
John Beasley Park sits in Fort Walton Beach, along the protected stretch of shore that leads toward Destin's East Pass. The artificial reef here sits close to the shoreline, just east of the park pavilion. It's one of the easier Gulf reefs to visit because you can reach it from the beach without a boat, and the park has plenty of parking with no entry fee.
The reef draws in the usual Gulf crowd of small fish, snapper, angelfish and the occasional sea turtle. On a flat, calm day it's a friendly spot for snorkelers and paddleboarders of all levels.
🤿 Before you go
- Bring a mask, snorkel and fins, plus a float vest if you need one.
- Fly a dive flag while you're in the water.
- Head out on a calm day and check today's flags.
- Take only pictures and leave only bubbles.