This week
snorkel & freedive readBest day this week: tomorrow, 9 AM–8 PM. No wave model covers this water, so this is a wind and weather read.
- Today2–7 PM
- Fri9 AM–8 PM
- Sat7–11 AM
- Sun7–10 AM
- Mon5–8 PM
- Tue6–8 PMearly
- Wed8 AM–1 PMearly
Next 12 hours
High 90° · Low 76°7:47 PM
Clear now, partly cloudy moving in around 5 PM.
Now90°13 mphUV 89%
4 PM90°6 mphUV 79%
5 PM88°8 mphUV 511%
6 PM88°6 mphUV 315%
7 PM76°20 mphUV 19%
8 PM77°6 mphUV 08%
9 PM77°2 mphUV 06%
10 PM77°4 mphUV 04%
11 PM77°2 mphUV 02%
12 AM76°3 mphUV 02%
1 AM76°3 mphUV 02%
2 AM75°3 mphUV 02%
Conditions
On the water right now
Visibility, water, current, and wind. The in-water read.
Visibility
Murky
Recent / incoming rain
Water
—
—
Current
—
—
Surge
—
—
Wind
12 mph
cross SE
Visibility is an estimate — wind, rain, tide & water alerts.
The spot
What this place is
The things that stay true when the weather changes.
- Getting in
- Shore or boat access, walk in off the sand
- Depth
- 8 to 20 ft
- Who it suits
- Suits beginners
- Snorkeling
- Snorkelable from the beach
- Best conditions
- Calm days are the ones worth taking, with visibility reaching 50 to 70 ft. One local shore-diving guide gives up on the site once seas pass about 3 ft.
- Parking
- Town parking is metered throughout. Divers use the meters at 1 Datura Avenue, where the beach portal has a tank rack for setting up gear.
- Protection
- The SS Copenhagen became Florida's fifth Underwater Archaeological Preserve in June 1994 and went on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
- Watch for
- Boat traffic over the reef zone. Florida law requires a dive flag so boaters can see you, The SS Copenhagen lies about three-quarters of a mile offshore. Most divers reach it by charter, and swimming out from the beach is a long way
Can you snorkel at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL from the beach?
Yes. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL is snorkelable directly from shore.
How deep is Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL?
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL runs roughly 8 to 20 feet deep in the area people use.
Is Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL good for beginners?
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL suits beginners in ordinary conditions.
When is the best time to get in at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL?
Calm days are the ones worth taking, with visibility reaching 50 to 70 ft. One local shore-diving guide gives up on the site once seas pass about 3 ft.
Where do you park at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL?
Town parking is metered throughout. Divers use the meters at 1 Datura Avenue, where the beach portal has a tank rack for setting up gear.
Checked 2026-07-18. Sources: Town of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Town of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, SS Copenhagen, Gold Coast Scuba.
Tides & Sky
The pull and the light
When the water moves, and how bright the night.
Tides
Tide predictions aren't available for this spot right now.
Moon & Sun
Full Moon
100%
Moonrise 7:28 PM
Moonset 6:19 AM
Sunrise 6:59 AM
Sunset 7:47 PM
Daylight: 12h 47m · UV 8 Very high
7-Day Outlook
Today90/76°
Fri90/75°
Sat91/79°
Sun91/85°
Mon91/85°
Tue91/83°
Wed91/84°
Life
Who's out there right now
The reef keeps its own calendar.
High Activity16 species observed
Fish
8 speciesCheckered Puffer×3
Sailor's Choice×2
Grey Triggerfish×2
Tarpon migration peak — large schools along the coast and through passes
Mahi-mahi (dolphin fish) summer season — weedlines and floating debris offshore
Turtles
2 speciesGreen Sea Turtle×3
Gopher Tortoise×2
Loggerhead nesting season peak — the most common nester on Broward beaches
Green sea turtle nesting season — nests May through October, peak June-August
Birds
shorelinePresent6 speciesBrown Pelican · Tricolored Heron · White Ibis · White Ibis · Green Heron +1 more
Breeding season — least terns, black skimmers, and wading birds nest on coastal islands
via iNaturalist · Updated just now
Regulations
What's biting, what's protected
Take only what the season allows.
7 of your targets open · 17 open · South Florida
HogfishtargetOpen
Size 14 inches minimumBag 2 per person per day
Mangrove SnappertargetOpen
Size 10 inches minimumBag 10 per person per day
Mutton SnappertargetOpen
Size 16 inches minimumBag 5 per person per day
Yellowtail SnappertargetOpen
Size 12 inches minimumBag 10 per person per day
Red GroupertargetOpen
Size 20 inches minimumBag 3 per person per day
Gag GroupertargetOpen
Size 24 inches minimumBag 2 per person per day
Spiny LobstertargetOpen
Size 3 inch carapace minimumBag 6 per person per day
SnookOpen
Size 28 inches minimumBag 1 per person
Greater AmberjackOpen
Size 34 inches minimumBag 1 per person per day
Redfish (Red Drum)Open
Size 18-27 inches slot limitBag 1 per person per day
Speckled TroutOpen
Size 15 inches minimumBag 5 per person per day
King MackerelOpen
Size 24 inches minimumBag 2 per person per day
Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi)Open
Size 12 inches minimumBag 10 per person per day
PermitOpen
Size 22 inches minimumBag 2 per person per day
BonefishOpen
Size —Bag 0 — no harvest allowed
TarponOpen
Size —Bag 1 per person per day with tag
CobiaOpen
Size 33 inches minimumBag 2 per person per day
Florida FWC · Always confirm current rules before you fish
Live
Look beneath the surface
Windows into the water, right now.
Deerfield Beach Underwater Cam
Anglin's Pier Cam
Pompano Beach Underwater Pier Cam