This gorgeous island is well known among scuba divers for a number of shipwrecks, oil rigs and artificial reefs on the North East side, but most snorkelers will enjoy a more chilled excursion in the North-West part of Laguna Madre. Many residents of South Padre own their homes, which makes the area feel urban in an urban setting. With 54 km/31 mi of white sand beaches and clear water, it is home to many water sport activities such as fishing, kiteboarding, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Our aim is to make your vacation one to remember, and we supply everything - you just bring your smile. As the only tropical island in Texas, there's no surprise that there are plenty of fun things to do in South Padre Island! At less than 13 meters (45 feet) deep, this spot is open to divers of all levels. Catch a memorable South Padre Island sunset over the water as you wine and dine aboard their comfortable sailing Catamaran. American Diving offers snorkeling trips for $35.00 per person, including free fish food that you can feed to the fish while youre in the water. Surrounded by water, island residents treasure and protect the ecological chain of diversity that attracts and feeds birds, reptiles, and marine mammals. American Diving is The Original Dolphin Watch on South Padre Island. SPI Classic. Sailing Charters on the Southern Wave provide snorkel and sailing packages. Snorkeling trips are the less daring version compared to scuba diving. South Padre Island is regularly rated among the safest and cleanest waters in the Gulf of Mexico. I'd definitely go out again. However, none of the other activities come close to the snorkeling experience in the San Marcos River. Sunken automobiles, boats, jewelry, and, oddly enough, a drive-through restaurant burger sign are among the underwater mysteries to be explored in the Possum Kingdom Reservoir. The reef attracts a large number of tourists. The water was amazing!! National Weather Service Marine Forecast FZUS54 KBRO, Station 42020 - 60NM SSE of Corpus Christi, TX, We train divers in all levels of scuba. The only problem that the island faces is the powerful undertow that surrounds it. You will need to breathe through your mouth only, thanks to the snorkel that catches air from the atmosphere and allows you to stay with your face down in the water for as long as you want. It has hyper salinity, due to its isolation from other water bodies, and thats what makes this place so special. Welcome to Wandering our World! Belize offers an excellent diving experience whether youre a beginner or an experienced diver looking for a new challenge. They also offer morning and afternoon deep sea fishing excursions, getting you out into the open water to land a fresh catch of snook, snapper, trout, and other species that are found in the local waters. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window). Befriend Wildlife at South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary. I concluded after four days of sightseeing that not only is it a fantastic destination for people who enjoy the heat and the outdoors, but its also a fantastic year-round destination for anyone who enjoys spending time with their families. The islands natural reef wont sweep anyone off their feet, although you will see several species of mollusks, crustaceans, sponges, and tube-building worms. For a detailed dive site description and printable snorkel dive map, just select a . While snorkeling in the Laguna Madre, you will get the chance to encounter and observe different species of stingrays, redfish, snappers, eels, crabs, trout, jellyfish, herrings, catfish, and even turtles, dolphins and some occasional shallow water sharks! 100 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597, USA Phone +1 956-426-9066 Web Visit website One of the top waterparks in the country, South Padre Island's Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark is located right on the beach and offers a wide variety of water slides, rides, pools and more. The posted materials belong to the blog authors. South Padre Island represents the beauty and the excitement of the Texas Gulf Coast all in one, diversity that is commonly seen in the Lone Star State. The unique environment is home to a variety of animals such as yellow goats, balloonfish, garden eels, moon jellyfish, spadefish, minnows, hermit crabs, butterfly rays, and much more! Grab the beach ball and head to one of the Island's beach access points to soak up the sun! Click here to add your listing to Go-Texas.com. Address: 6801 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597, United States Website: South Padre Island Birding And Nature Center Opening hours: 8am - 5pm (daily) 2. While the on-land activities at South Padre are all very appealing, if the sea is calling you, this place is most certainly the answer! The Getaway is definitely the best boat for these type of trips. Our captain suggested a place to take the fish, that would prepare it for dinner (Joe's Oyster Bar). South Padre Island allows you the ability to do just that with its rich history of pirates, shipwrecked vessels, and buried treasure. Since there are no reefs, there are no specific places where to go: just trust the guide and enjoy the day! Possum Kingdom offers a large variety of adventure opportunities, both on land and in the water. Best Jet Ski Rental South Padre Island Bayside Retreat Our Photos Are from sixtyten-elevator.blogspot.com. You can take sandcastle building lessons, and countless visitors have over the past 30 years. Age Limit / Weight Limit Restrictions $ Prices Participating in water activities at Isla Blanca Park is one of the fun things to do on South Padre Island, TX. Featured Fishing Trips Near South Padre Island. The cost for these trips includes all necessary equipment, as well as informational background on South Padre Island and its one-of-a-kind snorkeling environment from their professional crew. We will return! Replication can only be made with prior agreement by quoting the source with a link to the site, whether it's text, picture or video. The suns rays penetrate the oceans surface, giving you a better view of the ocean. We also saw plenty of dolphins on our cruise. Snorkelers will also have the opportunity to see some marine life like sunfish, crabs, blue catfish, and several types of bass. Plus, snorkeling in South Padre Island is fairly cheap as costs begin at $30 a person. Dolphin Watch & Eco-Tour. Additionally, here are a few reminders of what we include in the ticket price and what we recommend you bring along: While you may be eager to pack your bags and plan a South Padre Island snorkeling trip, you may have a few safety concerns, especially if you or a child cant swim. SPI, as South Padre Island is often abbreviated, can be a very different place depending on the time of the year you decide to visit. So it is recommended to avoid touching, frightening, and feeding marine creatures during your snorkeling trip. You can't mention North Padre without talking about its way more rowdy sibling, South Padre. South Padre Island is a beautiful place to go snorkeling. Founded by a former globetrotting freelance journalist (BBC, USA Today & others), now our small team is here to help you plan your next adventure! You will not be refunded your payment if you cancel less than 24 hours before the start of the experience. To get more information on other island attractions, check out South Padre Island Attractions. The over 360 miles of Texan coastline are a dream for many snorkelers and scuba divers. South Padre Island is a resort town that is part of the Brownsville-Harlingen Metropolitan Statistical Area in Texas. Scuba Diving in South Padre Island lets you explore shipwrecked vessels and view the oceans deep. Make sure first to try on your mask and check that it forms a tight seal over your face in order to prevent any air from coming through. The reef contains quite a variety of marine life. It is a popular sport among children because it is simple to learn and does not require any significant equipment. Each and every Friday night South Padre Island celebrates like, well, the Fourth of July. Had to reschedule twice due to big gusts and storms. The types of fish that can be found include stingrays, herring, redfish, crab, black drum, snapper, eels, shark, jellyfish, snook, perch, catfish, trout, gar and many others. The Dolphin Cruise & Eco Tour was wonderful! These are inexpensive and are a great help at teaching the basics of snorkeling and what to do when things go wrong. Boca Chica Beach is about 23 miles east of Brownsville on Highway 4 . The early weeks of aquatic animals are a very intense and delicate part of their life and the outmost respect is deemed necessary while interacting with these forms of life. One important thing to keep in mind while exploring the seafloor of Laguna Madre is that this environment is ideal for juvenile fish. The top five clearest reservoirs in Texas are: International Amistad Reservoir, Canyon Lake, Lake Travis, International Rim, and Sea Rim. My question is: How deep is the water that you usually go snorkeling in? Highly recommend this! The best Texas snorkeling based on popularity are considered to be South Padre Island, Stetson Bank, East Flower Garden Banks, and West Flower Garden Banks. The sanctuary protects an area of the Gulf of Mexico where wildlife live and an environment. Disclaimer: The image is for representation purposes only. There is also an exciting variety of sea life that you will be able to spot, including the likes of sea turtles, sharks, and manatees. They took such good care of me. South Padre Island is one of a kind vacation experience that offers an assortment of activities and events for everyone on the Gulf Coast. South Padre Island is one of the best places in to snorkel. The last thing that anyone desires is to be caught in an unpleasant snorkeling situation. U.S. 59 to Route TX 288. Nuevo Progreso, a tourist border town in the United States, survives solely on tourism. Padre Island National Seashore is popular with locals as well as visitors for its clean beaches and natural beauty. Snorkeling with American Diving offers you the most professional and only licensed guides on the island. Facts about south padre island: The barrier island off the southern coast of Texas is located in the Gulf of Mexico and is separated from the mainland by Laguna Madre Bay. Unofficially, South Padre is known as the "Sandcastle Capital of the World" because of the sand quality. South Padre Island is a great place for shore diving. Whether you are young or old, there is something for everyone at South Padre. South Padre Island Snorkeling While South Padre Island may not have many natural reefs, the waters surrounding the island are brimming with fascinating shipwrecks, channels, causeways, and estuaries to explore. He took us to the perfect spot for fishing. One of the most intriguing options for snorkeling in South Padre is the opportunity to see a wide variety of fish in the Laguna Madre Bay. We stock a full line of scuba diving equipment and accessories from brands such as: SCUBAPRO, Atomic Aquatics, ONeil, Bare, Halcyon, Suunto Dive Computers, XS Scuba, JBL Spearguns, and more. We went in June and the water was a little murky but other than that we had a blast. Captain and crew were amazing and it was a good time. The sanctuary was established in 1992 as a means of protecting the environment and wildlife that live there. In addition, the warm waters and beautiful scenery make South Padre Island an ideal place to snorkel. For the BEST IT and Security Services in the RGV visit: Our expert technicians are fully trained and certified to service and repair all of your scuba equipment needs. All Rights Reserved. No need for a wetsuit, all that is needed is a swimsuit, the snorkeling headgear, and possibly some swimming fins. Birding Center On South Padre Island: A Rare Discovery, Bobz World: Indescribable South Texas Roadside Attraction. South Padre Island is one of the most beautiful barrier islands in the world due to its 34 miles of white sand and clear emerald waters. Located two miles away from Central Padre Island, this dive is shallow but teeming with exotic marine animals. South Padre Island is a barrier island that allows you to experience the closest thing to a tropical destination in Texas. Best Snorkeling in South Padre Island, TX 78597 - Southern Wave Sailing Charters, Ka Motion Sailing Adventure, Tritoon Charters, American Diving, Poseidon Charters, Isla Charters Staff is very helpful and friendly. Scuba Diving & Snorkeling in South Padre Island, Long Bay Beach, Providenciales Turks and Caicos, Big Ambergris Cay Private Island Resort in Turks and Caicos, Turks and Caicos Snorkeling & Scuba Diving, Visit Guadalajara Mexico Complete Travel Guide, Best Beaches of Hawaii a Guide by Island, Worlds Best Amusement Parks & Theme Parks. The rest of the year, it is a much more relaxed place typically chosen by sea lovers and peaceful people. Scuba lessons begin as low as $600. Wildcat Beach in California. If you happen to have an advanced diving qualification, you might also be interested in exploring the deeper parts of the water to see and swim around the canyon wall. Pods of dolphin, bird island and Space X. We perform annual inspections on SCUBAPRO, Atomic Aquatics, Mares, and Zeagle 1st and 2nd stage regulators. South Padre Island is Texas ultimate beach destination with plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy the sea, both above and below the water! Southwest of Houston on the Gulf of Mexico, the snorkeling around South Padre Island has some of the best shore-based snorkel spots in Texas. Snorkeling in South Padre with American Diving offers you the most professional and only licensed guides on the island.Seasonally, we have snorkeling trips up to 2 times a day aboard the MV Diver I. Seven and One-Half Fathom Reef is the best reef dive of South Padre Island. 11:00am - 12:30pm. For those who might be interested in guided snorkeling tours of San Marcos aquatic life, Snorkel TX, a local outdoor adventure company, are a fantastic option. Use Of This Web Site Is Covered By OurUsage Covered By Terms Of ServiceTERMS. They are an asset to your business!!! He was excellent a explaining in a simple way to not overwhelm us. January 20, 2020. The best places to snorkel are in the calm and shallow waters of the Laguna Madre. While South Padre Island is much smaller than Corpus Christi, the beaches are dreamy. South Padre Island Snorkeling is a great way to get the entire family in the water and experience a rare sport that offers a look at South Padre underwater. Some snob elitists from other snorkeling locales would have you believe the water is not clear enough in South Padre Island for good snorkeling. Access is also available from South Padre Island. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. We are a world-renowned scuba diving center born from that high-adventure spirit which leads you from the office door to the hot sandy beaches of the Mexican border. Its a barrier island in South Padre Island thats ideal for tourists looking for something different to do in Texas. The captain and first mate were totally awesome, laid-back. See dolphin in their natural habitat and enjoy a fun-filled boat ride with a friendly and informative crew. To book your South Padre Island Bay Fishing Charter with Captain Mike Knox, call 1-956-243-0039.