A gentler side of Florida awaits in The Palm Beaches. With its cleaner sands, warmer waters and fewer crowds, the region boasts almost 30 idyllic tropical beach parks spanning some 47 miles along the Atlantic Ocean.
From Jupiter Beach to Boca Raton, there’s a beach to fit your client’s every mood.
The water activities on offer include great fishing, diving, snorkelling, sailing, kayaking, jet-skiing and yachting. And with an average annual temperature of 78 degrees, the subtropical climate provides an ideal environment for year-round outdoor aquatic fun.
The ocean is wonderfully warm too. The regions is the closest place in North America to the Gulf Stream – an oceanic conveyor belt of warm water that’s an artery for migrating marine life – so your clients can expect to see sea turtles, tropical fish, sailfish, goliath grouper and dolphins.
In Search of Seclusion
Your clients won’t have to go far to find serene seclusion in The Palm Beaches. Suggest they check out Ocean Cay Park in Jupiter or Atlantic Dunes Park in Delray Beach if they’re yearning for empty stretches for sand.
If they want some variety, a stroll along the promenade at Singer Island Municipal Beach or on the famous pier at Lake Worth Municipal Beach will lead to outdoor entertainment.
Or, for a unique day at the beach with a side of history, tell them to check out Peanut Island, where they’ll find the former Cold War bunker for John F. Kennedy.
Underwater Adventures
But to take in what’s really happening in Palm Beach, clients have to go under the water. The reefs are home to an abundance of marine life, and the warm, clear water makes them a tropical paradise for snorkellers and scuba divers. You’re almost always guaranteed to see a whole array of tropical fish and the occasional sea turtle or manta ray. Local dive shops such as Jupiter Dive Center and Pura Vida Divers can help you out if your client wants a niche experience, like a night dive.
One of the World’s Best Dive Sites
If your clients are looking for shallower waters that are fit for the whole family, tell them to make a beeline for Blue Heron Bridge at Phil Foster Park. Known as one of the world’s best diving sites, there’s no need to search far and wide for breath-taking underwater encounters. You can expect to spot seahorses, octopi, starfish and frogfish at this easily accessible shore dive site. Depths along the trail are roughly six to 10 feet – with the deepest little more than 20 feet – making it ideal for both divers and snorkellers.
The Third Largest Barrier Reef in the World
Natural coral formations off the coast of The Palm Beaches make up what is the Florida Reef Tract, the continental United States’ only living barrier coral reef – and the third largest in the world. To protect the reefs from overuse, artificial reefs have been constructed using more than 55 vessels, 100,000 tons of concrete and 133,000 tons of limestone boulders.
The 258-foot-long M/V Castor is an artificial reef off Boynton Beach that has become one of South Florida’s most popular wreck dive sites. The main attraction is the school of goliath grouper that lives on the wreck all year-round. It’s not uncommon to see 20 or 30 grouper on the wreck.
Play with Lemon Sharks
More adventurous clients may want to try cage-free shark-diving just off the coast of Jupiter. These waters are a hot spot for playful lemon sharks, which are described as the “puppies” of the species – making them a great entry-level experience for new shark divers. On rarer occasions, you may catch a glimpse of the skittish hammerhead or bull and tiger sharks.
Whether they’re playing with lemon sharks or strolling the peaceful sands at Ocean Cay Park, your clients will be spoilt for choice when they escape far from the madding crowd to experience the cleaner sands and warmer waters of The Palm Beaches.
