City of Pensacola Florida

Gulf Islands National Seashore

Santa Rosa Island, home of Pensacola Beach, is a barrier island in The Gulf Islands National Seashore. 52 miles of unsullied, undeveloped beaches and the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico beckon with recreational opportunities from fishing, boating, birding, swimming, hiking, collecting seashells, attending a ranger guided program and exploring the historic forts.

Parts of Fort Pickens Road and the J. Earle Bowden Way on Santa Rosa Island were damaged by tropical storms and hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. Although the roads are closed to vehicular traffic, visitors may access the areas by hiking, biking or boating. By Spring 2007, the Seashore intends to have a two-way public use road from Navarre Beach to Opal Beach Day Use Area, as well as a one-lane road for emergency use only westward from Opal Beach to Pensacola Beach.

Naval Live Oaks

Just off the island, nature buffs and everyone else who enjoys the wholesome outdoors, visit the Naval Live Oaks Center in the Gulf Islands National Seashore. In this 1,378 acres of virtually untouched woodland, you may see a mockingbird, red-bellied woodpecker, flicker, great-crested flycatcher, blue jay, brown-headed nuthatch, brown thrasher or great blue heron. Walk the sanctioned trails in the area and observe native plants and wildlife that provided food, medicine, tools and shelter for early American natives

The Quietwater Beach Boardwalk is great for browsing after a relaxing day on the beach. Visit out Alvin's Island's unique beach gift items for your loved ones who couldn’t join your beach holiday. Swing through Island Style - Island Trader and Wings for the latest in hip beach gear, or embrace the laid back lifestyle with a straw hat and breezy sundress from Go Fish. A tropical Tommy Bahamas shirt will bring out the Southern charm in him. And the kids can fulfill their pirate dreams with colorful hair wraps and fun henna tattoos (maybe you too?).

Swimming Safely

The sugar-white sand and emerald-colored water of our pristine beaches provide a great place to have fun, but be aware. When you go swimming, think about it. Don't just dive in. Make sure the water is deep enough. Don't surf unless you can swim, and never swim alone. If you go to the beach by yourself, go to an area where there are lifeguards.

The Gulf of Mexico has tides, currents, and washouts. Be aware of them. If you are caught in a washout, don't panic. Swim parallel to the beach until you can swim toward the shore without struggling. Look for the surf warning flags. A green flag means calm conditions - swim with usual care. Yellow denotes rough surf or likely currents - swim with special caution. Don't swim if red flags are flying. This means dangerous conditions. If there is no flag flying, there is no lifeguard on duty, and a surf advisory is not available. During electrical storms, get off the beach.

Surfing

On any given day, summer or winter, you can find people enjoying the Pensacola Beach surf. For many locals surfing is a way of life, as much a part of their daily routine as a morning run is to other athletes.

Pensacola is a sand bottom beachbreak. Beachbreaks are always more reliable and easier to figure out. If your visit to Pensacola Beach is short, maximize your water time by planning to surf where you stay, or staying where you plan to surf. The two most popular spots on Pensacola Beach are the pier and the cross. Just ask any local for directions.

Check the Surf Report

Check a current surf report to see if there’s any swell and where it’s coming from. Winds can change directions quickly on Pensacola Beach and have a huge impact on the surf.  Check Innerlight Surf.com or Piercam.net for local conditions and surf cams. 

Best Boards

Board choice is a matter of personal preference: short boards are usually adequate for experienced surfers, while a longboard guarantees fun on even the smallest waves. As a general rule, beginners should start with longboards and then go to shortboards. Kids just wanting to surf for the first time should get a bigger more stable board. 

Bodyboarding is a fun and rewarding alternative that gives you the sensation of riding a wave without the long learning curve of stand-up surfing. Purists can enjoy bodysurfing with no equipment at all. 

Safety Matters

It goes without saying that surfing requires being a competent swimmer, but first time surfers often underestimate the power of the waves and the currents that accompany them. The bigger the waves the greater the risks. Know your limits and, when in doubt, always choose an area with active lifeguard supervision

DIVING

Pensacola has had an active scuba diving population since the ’60s. But with the sinking of the USS Oriskany in 2006, we’ve now gone from being the “best-kept secret in the diving world” to the must-see destination. As home to the world’s largest artificial reef, scuba enthusiasts are also discovering dozens of other dive destinations off Pensacola’s shores perfect for observing and photographing marine life, spear fishing and beginning wreck penetration dives for properly trained divers.

USS Oriskany

Reefed in May 2006, the USS Oriskany is now the world’s largest artificial reef at 911 feet long. She rests just 24 miles southeast of Pensacola Pass. The vessel’s island is located at 67 feet and the flight deck forms an artificial bottom at 137 feet making it accessible yet challenging for divers of every level.

In addition to the Oriskany, there are dozens of great local dive sites that are superb for observing marine life, photography, spear fishing and beginning wreck dives.

Diving here is good year-round with water temperatures ranging from the 80s in summer to mid and upper 60s in winter. The variety and quantity of marine life found in Pensacola’s waters is comparable to the best dive destinations in the world. While most of the dive sites are artificial reefs, there are a few true wrecks, along with live bottom or natural limestone reefs in the area such as Paradise hole, Green’s hole and the Timber holes.

What type of marine life can you see in Pensacola waters?

A wide variety of popular game fish such as amberjack, grouper, red snapper, triggerfish, tuna, wahoo, cobia and mahi mahi. Tropical fish including butterfly fish, queen angelfish, French and blue angelfish, a variety of damsels, chromis and blennies. Goliath grouper, barracuda, octopus, slipper and spiny lobster, sea turtles, manta rays, eagle rays, starfish, arrow crabs and a variety other crustaceans, dolphins, moray eels, sharks and the occasional whale shark and ocean sunfish (mola-mola).

Discover a Water Wonderland

The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Pensacola Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway make vacationing in Pensacola Beach a water wonderland. Sailors and boaters have long discovered the beauty of this area, known for its clean, gulf-fed waters. It is the ideal playground for cruising, sailboat racing and of course sunset tours and dolphin watching.

Sailing

Sailing in Pensacola has a long history. In 1559 Don Tristan de Luna sailed 11 ships into what is now known as Pensacola Bay, establishing the first European settlement in the United States. Pensacola was chosen by de Luna because of its natural deep-water harbor.

If you sail the waters of Pensacola Bay today, you still can see many historical landmarks and interesting sights during your trip including the Pensacola Lighthouse, the ruins of Fort Pickens, a massive pre-civil war era fort, and Fort McRee. Fort Pickens is open to boaters, hikers and bikers. Fort McRee, only accessible to boaters, is an ideal place to anchor overnight and enjoy the day’s catch for dinner as the southern breeze kicks in.

By Boat Only

Enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico, or go the calmer Pensacola Bay with its remote locations along Fort Pickens and Fort McRee. Wherever you decide to set anchor, expect bountiful seashells and sand dollars while strolling along Pensacola’s white sandy beaches.

Pensacola is also the closest departure point to the “Nipple” in the Gulf of Mexico, the point where the continental shelf gets very deep and billfish prefer to live. Fishing in the bay also proves plentiful as it is fed by freshwater streams teeming with fish.

If you prefer your fish cooked, anchor your boat at one of Pensacola Beach’s restaurants that welcomes guests at their docks like Flounder’s and Peg Leg Pete’s.

Fishing

Both once-a-year anglers and serious fishermen will get their fill of fun with Pensacola Beach’s fleet of charter outfits. From bottom fishing for underwater delicacies such as amberjack and grouper to off-shore trolling trips to hook tuna, wahoo or sailfish, there is sure to be a memory waiting to be made.

For those wanting to stay a little closer to shore, try fly fishing or do some bottom fishing with an inshore charter for redfish, cobia, pompano and other tasty treats. Prices range from $75 walk-on deep-sea charters to $300 for an inshore charter boat.

Sunburn

Sunburn is painful and increases your risk of skin cancer and premature aging of the skin. If you get too much exposure to the sun, it may take up to 24 hours before the full damage is visible. Sunburn can be avoided by taking a few simple steps.

• Apply sun-screen with the highest SPF factor.
• Sweat and saltwater tend to wash most sunscreen off. Get a formula that won't wash or rub off.
• Reapply sunscreen every few hours, or more frequently if you are swimming, sweating or toweling off.
• Wear sunglasses with UV protection.
• Wear a hat and a long sleeved shirt (remember that if you can see through the clothing the sun will also get through).
• Take extra precautions between 10am and 3pm when the sun's rays are most damaging.
• On cloudy or hazy days, the sun is still powerful, so don't skip the sun protection.

Dehydration

Dehydration can be a serious problem, so drink plenty of liquids. Alcholic beverages can impair your swimming skills and contribute to dehydration.

Rip currents

Rip currents are narrow channels of water flowing out past the surf zone that can pull even strong swimmers into deep water beyond the offshore sand bar.

If caught in a rip current, do not panic! Try to escape a rip current by moving sideways across it; parallel to the shore. If the current is too strong, let it carry you further away from shore and it will weaken. Then swim back to shore at an angle away from the rip current.