Take the Kids Snorkeling on the Gulf Islands National Seashore

Explore the the underwater world at Gulf Islands National Seashore! Let the kids have fun with other children at Naval Live Oaks picnic area or at Battery Worth picnic area in Fort Pickens. Instructors will be there to teach you about interesting plants and animals in the area. Bring your own masks and snorkels or use the ones provided.

Naval Live Oaks:

Take the kids snorkeling on the Santa Rosa Sound at Naval Live Oaks located east of Gulf Breeze off of highway 98. You can even come early and take a few minutes to explore the new exhibits at the Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center. The exhibits include many hands-on activities such as telephone handsets for audio description, a tactile model of an oak tree, a railing system that connects all the exhibits together and models of natural history objects. Ask a park ranger at the information desk about watching a 12 minute movie about the Gulf Islands National Seashores and all of its beauty. You can also sign up for the Junior Ranger Program, if you haven’t done it yet.

If you don’t have young children, you may want to walk the over 7.5 miles of trails or the .8 mile Breckenridge Nature Trail behind the Visitor Center. It’s a beautiful, sandy walk beside live oaks, saw palmettos and wild flowers. Pack a cooler and stay for dinner after snorkeling at one of the covered picnic tables or grab a table and grill near the water and cook some burgers and hotdogs.

Naval Live Oaks Snorkeling Dates:

Fridays, June 15, 22, 29, July 6, 20, 27, Aug. 3, 10, 3:00 pm

Contact Information:

Contact Name: Steamer Lawhead
Contact Phone Number:850-934-2629
Fee Information: none

Battery Worth in Fort Pickens:

On Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings a 10:00 am, you can take the kids snorkeling at the underwater world on the sound side of Fort Pickens. It’s only $25 for an annual pass and it is good at Johnson Beach in Perdido Key and Opal Beach near Navarre as well.

Pack a lunch to eat under the picnic tables or on the beach. Walk up the fort for an amazing view of the Gulf of Mexico. On your way back, look up into the trees and you’ll notice osprey nests. On the beach you’ll see crabs galore: blue crabs, ghost crabs and marine hermit crabs.

If you’re spending the weekend camping at Fort Pickens, this is a great activity for Saturday morning. To reserve your campsite call Reserve America at 1-877-444-6777. All sites are $20.00 a night with water, electricity, grills, fire rings and picnic tables. Ask about the 50% senior discount.