The Ft. Pickens Jetties is one of the most popular shore diving sites in the Florida Panhandle. This site is easily accessible from the north seawall steps west of the fishing pier. This site is one of the main SCUBA training dive sites in the area. - Florida Keys

The Ft. Pickens Jetties, over in the Florida Panhandle, is one of those places we keep coming back to. It’s a solid shore dive, easy to get into from the seawall steps just west of the fishing pier. We’ve done more than a few training dives here ourselves, and it’s perfect for knocking off those initial certifications or just getting back into the swing of things after a break. But don’t let the ‘training site’ label fool you. We’ve spent hours poking around these jetties, and they’re surprisingly full of life. You’ll find schools of porgies and snapperchokers darting through the rocks. Keep an eye out for lined seahorses clinging to the algal growth, they blend in well. We’ve spotted red scorpionfish tucked into crevices and even a few leatherback sea turtles cruising by in the deeper sections. The visibility can be a bit variable, especially after heavy rains, but on a calm day, it’s an absolute pleasure. It’s not a deep dive, making it ideal for longer bottom times and really searching out the smaller stuff – like the tiny dubious ceriths on the sand flats or the angular brittle stars under rocks. We love it for its accessibility and the consistent chance of finding something interesting without needing a boat.

Location
Florida Keys, United States, North America
Coordinates
30.338163, -87.290700
Type
wall

Marine Protected Area: Fort Pickens State Park Aquati State Park

Best Time to Dive in Florida Keys

The warmest water temperatures in Florida Keys occur in July, averaging 31.5°C (up to 34.8°C). The coolest conditions are in January at 19.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 19.3°C (air: 18.5°C)
  • February: 20.5°C (air: 21.6°C)
  • March: 23.1°C (air: 22.4°C)
  • April: 25.5°C (air: 24.3°C)
  • May: 27.8°C (air: 25.9°C)
  • June: 30.2°C (air: 27.5°C)
  • July: 31.5°C (air: 28.3°C)
  • August: 31.5°C (air: 28.3°C)
  • September: 30.2°C (air: 27.3°C)
  • October: 27.3°C (air: 26.0°C)
  • November: 24.1°C (air: 22.3°C)
  • December: 20.9°C (air: 19.8°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Florida Keys

Nearest Dive Centres to The Ft. Pickens Jetties is one of the most popular shore diving sites in the Florida Panhandle. This site is easily accessible from the north seawall steps west of the fishing pier. This site is one of the main SCUBA training dive sites in the area.

Marine Life in Florida Keys

Home to 91 recorded species including 69 reef fish, 6 sharks & rays, 3 other, 3 hard corals, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 sea urchins.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for The Ft. Pickens Jetties is one of the most popular shore diving sites in the Florida Panhandle. This site is easily accessible from the north seawall steps west of the fishing pier. This site is one of the main SCUBA training dive sites in the area.

Based on average water temperature of 26.0°C, currents 1 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 26°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories