Lauderdale-By-The-Sea
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea earned its nickname as the Beach Diving Capital of Florida from three living coral reefs sitting as close as 100 yards offshore, close enough to reach by simply wading and swimming out from the sand. Anglin's Pier has anchored the town for decades, though it's currently closed for a rebuild expected to run through around 2028.
Snorkeling a living reef without a boat is genuinely rare this close to a major metro area, though the pier's long closure and the small town's limited parking are real drawbacks right now.
How we score beachesSnorkel off the reef near Datura Avenue on a calm morning before the wind picks up, visibility is best early and the reef sits closer to shore here than almost anywhere else in Broward County. Get to El Prado Park early for metered street parking, spots go fast given the town's small size.
Metered street parking near El Prado Park is the main option, with specific rates posted at the meters. Spaces are limited given the town's compact size, so early arrival matters.
El Prado Park has a short, flat walk from street parking to the sand. The nearshore reef is reachable by wading and swimming rather than a boat, though strong swimmers will get more out of it.
Dogs aren't allowed on the beach, though they're a common sight on the town's restaurant patios and sidewalks.
Calm winter mornings tend to offer the clearest water for reef snorkeling, while summer brings warmer water and hurricane season, June through November. The reef is swimmable nearly year round given how close it sits to shore.
More Atlantic Coast beaches
Coast Guard Beach
Eastham, MA · Atlantic Coast
A National Seashore beach backed by grassy dunes and a tidal marsh, with clean Atlantic surf and one of the Cape's most scenic approaches on foot from the parking area.
Surfside Beach
Nantucket, MA · Atlantic Coast
Open Atlantic swell and a wide sandy shoreline about three miles from Nantucket town, popular with locals for its bodysurfing waves and quieter, less commercial feel.
Jones Beach State Park
Wantagh, NY · Atlantic Coast
A classic Long Island beach with six and a half miles of shoreline, a landmark water tower, boardwalk, and a large outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts through the summer.