Outdoors and on the water along the whole coast from Jupiter to Key West, nearest first.
48 things to do · Updated September 2026
48 places in South Florida, Jupiter to Key West
Swimming hole · Singer Island
South Florida has no natural springs — they all sit north of Orlando. Local stand-ins: the spring-fed Venetian Pool in Coral Gables (1924 lagoon pool, $23, closed Mondays), the atoll pool at Matheson Hammock, the Snyder Park dog lake, and Peanut Island's snorkel lagoon.
Swimming hole · Fort Lauderdale
The one 'spring' on the southwest coast: 85°F mineral pool, spa vibe. Closest true spring to Fort Lauderdale.
Beach · Free · Singer Island
Often called the best shore dive in the US: 5–20 ft, marked snorkel trail, seahorses, octopus, eagle rays. Go within an hour of high tide only. Force-E and Pura Vida rent gear nearby.
Beach · Singer Island
Snorkel lagoon and east-side reef; weekdays in October are quiet, weekends are a sandbar party.
Beach · Singer Island
Rock reef 30–100 ft off the beach; high tide, calm days.
Beach · Free · Boca Raton
Artificial reef 20–50 yd out in 2–12 ft — the easiest beginner snorkel. Park free at Gumbo Limbo.
Beach · Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
The only Broward town with a reef within easy swim (~100 yd); the SS Copenhagen wreck is a longer swim or kayak. Flat, low-wind days.
Beach · Dania Beach
Rock ledges and jetty; lobstering at night in season (permit + gauge).
Beach · Jupiter
Longest rights in the area on N-NE swell; Juno Pier is the most reliable fall wave and the best check-in spot.
Beach · Palm Beach
South Florida's big-wave spot — only breaks on major N/NE swell (hurricanes, Nov fronts). Experts only; residential walk-in parking.
Beach · Lake Worth Beach
Mellow sandbars north of the pier; Boynton's south jetty is a classic.
Beach · Free · Boca Raton
Deerfield is the Broward standard and where the free lessons happen.
Beach · Pompano Beach
The local checks; small, uncrowded, learner-friendly on windswell.
Beach · Miami Beach
Fires only on strong N-NE swell after fronts, but it's a scene when it does.
Beach · Jupiter
Island Water Sports runs FREE group lessons every Saturday 7–9 am at Deerfield Pier (register online, gear included). Also Ocean Magic and Blueline (Jupiter), EZride and Living Water (Broward), South Beach Surf Lessons (Miami).
Beach · Palm Beach
Fall is the season: Sept–Oct tropical systems send groundswell; November's first cold fronts bring 2–4 days of NE windswell each. Surfline cams at Juno Pier, Reef Road, Deerfield and South Beach; NOAA buoy 41114 (Fort Pierce) for incoming swell; the National Hurricane Center for swell-producing storms.
On the water · Jupiter
The headline fall dive. Hundreds of 300–500 lb goliaths stack on the Wreck Trek (Zion Train, Miss Jenny, Esso Bonaire), MG-111 and Tunnels Aug–Oct, peaking at the Sept and early-Oct new moons. Drift diving in 60–90 ft with current — Advanced or comfortable OW recommended. Jupiter Dive Center (new-moon night charters), Jupiter Scuba Diving, Black Flag Charters.
On the water · Jupiter
3-tank shark expeditions; lemon shark aggregation is Dec–Mar, but fall trips see bulls, silkies and goliaths.
On the water · Singer Island
Turtle-heavy drift dives on Breakers Reef and the Mizpah wreck corridor. Pura Vida Divers (also Open Water certification ~$500–600 and Blue Heron Bridge guided shore dives), Walker's, Narcosis.
On the water · Kids · Boynton Beach
Splashdown Divers / Loggerhead — 40–60 ft drift with the county's most turtles; snorkelers ride the same boat.
On the water · Pompano Beach
'Wreck capital of Florida': Lady Luck (324-ft tanker with underwater art), Captain Dan, Guy Harvey, Rodeo 25, Tenneco Towers, SS Copenhagen. South Florida Diving Headquarters (night dives, lobster trips, a Halloween dive), Pompano Dive Center, Scuba Monkey.
On the water · Fort Lauderdale
The easy one: 2-hr glass-bottom boat + snorkel trip and two-tank dives off Fort Lauderdale beach; Discover Scuba for first-timers. Walkable from Coral Ridge.
On the water · Key Biscayne
Underwater 'Atlantis' cemetery-reef in 40 ft via Tarpoon Lagoon or Divers Paradise (Crandon Marina; also shallow snorkel trips).
On the water · Coconut Grove
Reef snorkel $115; sail-paddle-snorkel $209; Boca Chita lighthouse cruise $83; Stiltsville tour $70; evening bay cruise $65 from Nov. The best-value way to see the park.
On the water · Boynton Beach
Regular season open through Mar 31; 6/person/day, 3-inch carapace, saltwater license + lobster permit. Night lobster dives out of Pompano and Boynton are a fall staple.
On the water · Jupiter
Florida's first Wild & Scenic River, cypress-canopied and shaded — the best paddle in the region. 8 mi round trip or a one-way shuttle to the state park via Jupiter Outdoor Center (guided tours too).
On the water · Jupiter
Turquoise inlet, sandbar and lagoon at slack tide.
On the water · Fort Lauderdale
Minutes from Coral Ridge. SUP/kayak plus mini powerboats; sunset paddles past the yachts in Oct–Nov are the sweet spot. Many outfitters allow dogs on boards on request.
On the water · Fort Lauderdale
The Grove rentals, 9 am–8 pm. Calm freshwater lagoon inside the park.
On the water · North Miami Beach
Mangrove trails to the Sandspur Island sandbar; Friday sunset paddles, monthly full-moon tours, Sunday SUP yoga.
On the water · Singer Island
Marsh loop with gators; mangrove islands with manatees and rays.
On the water · Key Biscayne
Miami Kiteboarding (IKO; $200/hr private, 3-hr $650) and Miami Kiting. Season starts with November's fronts (steady 15–25 kt); Sept–Oct are for light-wind lessons and foiling. Adventure Sports USA teaches on Pompano/Hillsboro beaches — closest to home.
On the water · West Palm Beach
Ski Rixen (Quiet Waters Park, Deerfield — the original US cable park, Wibit aqua park), Miami Watersports Complex (Amelia Earhart Park), Shark Wake Park (Okeeheelee, WPB).
On the water · Kids · Pompano Beach
Fort Lauderdale Watersports / Splash Watersports (Pompano & FTL), Boucher Brothers (Hollywood & South Beach).
On the water · Palm Beach
Fort Lauderdale Community Sailing / LYC (basic keelboat, Wednesday-night racing), Blue Water Sailing School (Bahia Mar; ASA liveaboard courses incl. Bahamas passages — Nov is prime), Coconut Grove Sailing Club, Palm Beach Sailing Club.
On the water · Palm Beach
Sept–Oct mullet run: snook, tarpon and sharks blitzing bait off every pier and inlet (Anglin's, Juno, Deerfield, Pompano, Dania piers, $5–7; Juno Pier allows leashed dogs). November: sailfish season opens with the first fronts — Jupiter/Palm Beach is 'Sailfish Alley.' Drift boats (Sailfish Marina, Lady Pamela II, Kelley/Reward Fleet); private half-day ~$700–1,000.
On the water · Pompano Beach
The easy way to bar-hop the Intracoastal. Dog policy conflicts between sources (site says service animals only) — call.
On the water · Fort Lauderdale
90-min narrated New River / Millionaire's Row cruise; 4-hr BBQ dinner & show cruise ~$70–80. Touristy, fun once.
On the water · Fort Lauderdale
2-hr catamaran sunset sails and snorkel-sail combos; November sunsets with cool air are the best of the year.
On the water · Delray Beach
2-hr Intracoastal sightseeing and sunset cruises.
On the water · Singer Island
10-min ride; 10–3 out, last return 5.
On the water · Homestead
Sawgrass Recreation Park ($31; private sunrise or 'Red Eye' night boat from $325) and Everglades Holiday Park (from $30, Gator Boys show). Further out: Billie Swamp Safari on the Seminole reservation (airboats + swamp buggies; more wild) and the Tamiami Trail operators (Coopertown, Gator Park, Everglades Safari Park, Miccosukee). Mornings or nights in Sept; anytime in Nov.
On the water · Miami
90-min Star Island / Millionaire's Row bay cruise.
On the water · Miami Beach
Private boats to Nixon Sandbar / Stiltsville; Getmyboat lists pet-friendly rentals.
On the water · Homestead
Fast ferry ~2 hr each way, roughly Wed/Fri/Sun; passport required. Snorkel the Sapona wreck and Radio Beach. Book November for the smoothest crossings.
On the water · Free · Singer Island
Free FPL center at the warm-water outflow; manatee season opens Nov 15 (daily 9–4). Before that it's exhibits only.