Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on August 27, 2024
Bottom Harbor Beach is an uncommon snorkeling spot, where you’ll see almost nothing but turtles, but like you’ve perhaps never seen them before. The very low depth (around 3 feet, depending on the tide) even allows seeing them without a mask. It’s important to remember, however, that this location is particularly controversial, as the turtles are fed by tour guides. To avoid encouraging this unethical activity, visit this spot on your own from the shore.
We strongly advise against taking part in boat trips to Bottom Harbor Beach, due to the harmful and irresponsible behavior of the guides, who are feeding and sometimes even handling the turtles.
Instead, go on your own. Bottom Harbor Beach can be reached via the standard access (entrance 1 on the map) or one of the surrounding accommodations, for example, if you’re staying at Palm Tree Cottage (entrance 2). It may also be possible to access it via the small lagoon at the river mouth.
The water entrance is from a sandy beach.
The turtle spotting area is between the river mouth and the pontoon next to it, and for good reason: this is where day-trippers come to feed the turtles. It’s easy to see the turtles swimming around, some coming very close to the boats.
Instead of joigning the many snorkelers and swimmers brought here by the tour boats, we advise you to wait for a quiet moment to explore this spot. Boats don’t usually stay more than 10 to 15 minutes on site.
Even when the boats aren’t there, the turtles (sometimes more than a dozen) remain in the area. Accustomed to being fed by unscrupulous guides, some will approach you to see if you’re going to feed them. Remember not to leave your hands open for too long, to avoid any risk of biting.
Of course, don’t take part in feeding the turtles, and don’t touch them. Try to keep your distance from the turtles, even if they tend to approach you.
Visibility in these sandy areas is very poor, but you may still spot one or two Southern stingrays, which like to hang around. Finally, for a little extra, you can have a look under the pontoons where small fish, including snapper, grunt and groupers, hide.
There is no restaurant on the beach. The Palm Tree Cottage vacation rental provides direct access to the spot.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
