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Scuba divers exploring the vibrant coral reefs of Isla Mujeres, Mexico, teeming with diverse marine life.
📷 Harvey Clements · Pexels

Saint Andrew's Bay

3.9 — based on 18 community signals
4.2 12 species 29 contributors

Saint Andrew's Bay offers year-round diving with 12 documented species and thriving coral conditions off Florida's Gulf Coast.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Water temp
15–28°C
Family-friendlyShore entryYearRoundHealthyReef

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Water temp
15–28 °C
Best months
Year-round

Top operators here

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Map

This spot Operators Airport Nearby spots
Saint Andrew's Bay location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
4.2 kn
Wave
0.22 m
Water
30.4°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: NE (17%)
Now: SSE (158°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.45m

Next: High at 01:00 (+0.18m)

+0.2 m0 m-0.3 m
▲ 01:00 · +0.18m ▼ 14:00 · -0.27m ▲ 02:00 · +0.16m ▼ 15:00 · -0.26m Now +0.1m
Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24
UV7.5 · high Air PM2.59 · good 06:29 18:44
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-18 6.6 0.24 8 0mm
09-19 7.6 0.16 7 0mm
09-20 9 0.12 7 24mm
09-21 8.7 0.1 7 1mm
09-22 9.1 0.08 7 0mm
09-23 9.1 0.08 7 1mm
09-24 6.1 0.1 7 3mm
🌡 Water temp: Normal for Sep (15–28°C)

About this spot

Saint Andrew's Bay delivers consistent diving opportunities along Florida's Gulf Coast with no seasonal closures. The site supports healthy coral ecosystems showing no bleaching stress, making it a reliable choice for divers planning trips any time of year. With 12 documented species observations, the bay hosts diverse marine life typical of Gulf waters. The area sits outside marine protected areas, allowing flexible dive planning and access. Local dive operations and community videos provide real-world insight into conditions. The 3 available community-contributed videos show what to expect underwater and help divers prepare for entry and navigation. These resources reflect active local diving interest and regular visitation. Saint Andrew's Bay works as part of a broader Gulf Coast dive itinerary. Divers can combine visits with nearby Florida destinations for extended trips. Year-round accessibility means no scrambling for seasonal windows—plan dives around your schedule, not the calendar. Water conditions remain suitable throughout the year, though specific depth and visibility vary with local tides and weather.

📖 Guide: Diving in the United States: 87 Sites From Springs to Open Ocean

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Dive types

ReefShoreBoat

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 🤿 Pack: 3/2 mm full
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type A/B · 120V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • 🤿 Wetsuit 3/2 mm full
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 7121km · ~1638kg · €29

FAQ

When is the best time to dive Saint Andrew's Bay?

Saint Andrew's Bay is diveable year-round. There are no seasonal closures or migration patterns that restrict access. Plan your trip based on your schedule and regional weather preferences.

What depth and difficulty should I expect?

Specific depth and difficulty ratings are not documented for Saint Andrew's Bay. Check with local dive operators before booking to confirm the right experience level for your skills.

What marine life will I see?

Saint Andrew's Bay has 12 documented species observations on record. Coral shows no bleaching stress, indicating healthy reef conditions. Watch community videos to see the specific creatures divers encounter regularly.

Do I need permits or MPA approval?

Saint Andrew's Bay is not inside a marine protected area, so standard dive access rules apply. No special permits are required beyond typical Florida diving regulations.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Diver's Den

4.5 km
4.7 (160 reviews) open now
Dive centre
Verified Booked 52+ times this month
Hours: Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Big Willy's Surf & Swim

6.9 km
Dive centre

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

76 records · 48 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Chione elevata

Bivalvia · Veneridae
GBIF
Last seen:
24 Jan 2026
×6records

Plicatula gibbosa

Bivalvia · Plicatulidae
GBIF
Last seen:
24 Jan 2026
×4records

Dinocardium robustum

Bivalvia · Cardiidae
GBIF
Last seen:
24 Jan 2026
×2records

Crepidula fornicata

Gastropoda · Calyptraeidae
GBIF
Last seen:
24 Jan 2026
×2records

Macrocallista nimbosa

Bivalvia · Veneridae
GBIF
Last seen:
24 Jan 2026
×1records

Anadara brasiliana

Bivalvia · Arcidae
GBIF
Last seen:
24 Jan 2026
×1records

Cinctura hunteria

Gastropoda · Fasciolariidae
GBIF
Last seen:
24 Jan 2026
×1records

Arca zebra

Bivalvia · Arcidae
GBIF
Last seen:
24 Jan 2026
×1records

Laevicardium mortoni

Bivalvia · Cardiidae
GBIF
Last seen:
24 Jan 2026
×1records

Strombus pugilis

Gastropoda · Strombidae
GBIF
Last seen:
21 Jan 2026
×5records

Cardites floridanus

Bivalvia · Carditidae
GBIF
Last seen:
21 Jan 2026
×5records

Anadara transversa

Bivalvia · Arcidae
GBIF
Last seen:
21 Jan 2026
×3records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Scuba Diving at St Andrews Park Jetties in Panama City Beach - Nurse Shark, Gar, Snook, Sea Robin

Jaime Hampton
💬 3 top comments
  • I will be going to the jetties this weekend, awesome video and thanks for the info in the comments.

    @sethwild887 · 👍 0
  • Lovely video. One correction.........the Gar was a "Longnose gar" The alligator gar has a shorter, more broad bill and they can get massively larger than the long nose gar. The longnose is easily identified by the very narrow bill.

    @doogyjay1 · 👍 1
  • Nice video

    @billingsscubaandtravel · 👍 0

St. Andrews Bay Dive

JonathanF

St. Andrews Bay Jetty Dive - inside area - after the rock wall was extended

Ed's Everyday Adventures
💬 1 top comments
  • Few more of those blue crabs and we could have some crabby patties .. lol

    @sprkz69 · 👍 1
wind peaks Apr-Mar-Feb, calmest Oct-Sep-Jul, dry Jan-Dec, water 15-28°C.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)

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