Snorkeling Fort Lauderdale: Jean Cousteau's Shipwreck Trail

The trail was built over four years and dedicated by Jean-Michele Cousteau himself in 2002.

Snorkel Fort Lauderdale's Jean Cousteau Shipwreck Trail, a guided reef activity in shallow water 8 to 16 feet deep where you navigate past concrete cannons, a large anchor and a ballast pile replicating a historic wreck. The trail is one of three reef systems in the area and hosts sea turtles, rays, sharks, parrotfish, eels and lobster. Equipment (mask, snorkel, fins and life jacket) is included. The guide leads in English and the activity runs 90 minutes. Children from age 13 are welcome, and you must be able to swim.

The experience

Fort Lauderdale's Jean Cousteau Shipwreck Trail sits in water shallow enough to stand in, 8 to 16 feet, but deep enough to hold a working reef system. The trail itself is a deliberate construction: concrete cannons, a large anchor and a ballast pile were placed here to replicate the wrecks that once dotted these waters, and the whole thing took four years to build starting in 1998. A guide leads you through it, pointing out the tropical fish and larger animals that have made the reef their home.

What you see depends on the day, but the reef regularly hosts sea turtles, nurse sharks, manta rays, eagle rays, barracuda, eels, octopus and Caribbean spiny lobster. Smaller fish (parrotfish, blue tang, French angels, tarpon, wrasse and others) move through the shallows in schools. The guide brings all the equipment: mask, snorkel, fins and a life jacket. The whole snorkel lasts 90 minutes.

The reef is part of a larger effort to rebuild coral in the area. The original tour was created over a decade ago to support the first Biorock Project in the United States, which helped coral grow. Though that project was later abandoned, the guides have continued showing the reef's history and ecology, and a new coral restoration project is now underway. Public transportation options are available nearby if you don't drive.

What’s included

• Use of snorkeling equipment including mask, snorkel, fins and life jacket.
• a live English-speaking guide who navigates the trail and points out reef life.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to20h before

AgesAdult (18 to 72 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Sunrise Paddleboards/ Live Blue Inc.

Is this one for you?Book this if you can swim and want to explore a deliberately built reef system in shallow, manageable water: the 8 to 16 foot depth means you're never far from the surface, and the guide handles the route so you focus on the fish and the wreck structures below.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years). Children under 13 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's actually on the Jean Cousteau Shipwreck Trail that I'll swim past?

The trail has concrete cannons, a large anchor and a ballast pile built to look like a historic shipwreck. Sea turtles, nurse sharks, manta rays, eels, parrotfish, tarpon and lobster are common sights. What you see varies by day and season.

How deep is the water on this snorkel trail?

The Jean Cousteau trail ranges from 8 to 16 feet deep, so it's shallow enough to stand in if you need to, but deep enough to hold a full reef ecosystem.

What equipment do I need to bring, or is it provided?

The guide brings mask, snorkel, fins and a life jacket for you. Nothing to buy or rent separately. You just need to know how to swim.

How long does the snorkel activity take?

The snorkel runs 90 minutes total, with a guide leading you through the trail and pointing out the reef life.

Is this reef system actually the second most visited in the world?

Yes, the Jean Cousteau trail is the second most visited reef in the world after the Great Barrier Reef. The trail was dedicated by Jean-Michele Cousteau in May 2002 and is part of an ongoing coral restoration effort.