The Complete Guide to Destin’s Marine Wildlife

Welcome to Destin’s Marine Wildlife

Visiting the Emerald Coast this summer for the best chance of encountering Destin’s abundant marine wildlife. During the summer months, marine wildlife stays active giving visitors a great time to adore the wonderful habitat that Destin is. Whether it is from the shore or in the water, visitors can spot a wide variety of fascinating sea creatures such as dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, mullet, snapper, stingrays, blue crabs, sand dollars and sea urchins.

On rare occasions, divers are reported to have spotted bonnethead sharks and nurse sharks, both species are harmless and non-aggressive. Other interesting creatures to keep an eye out for are octopus, starfish, and jellyfish; especially during the summer months, jellyfish are common, some sting and some don’t. Destin’s water hosts a mix of habitats, making it the perfect home for various marine wildlife. In the seagrass beds, sea horses, and juvenile fish playfully swim. Artificial reefs and natural limestone ledges teem with snapper, grouper, amberjack and octopus. Young fish and crabs being nurtured in estuaries and bayous.

Dolphin Watching Tips

The Emerald Coast is the home to bottlenose dolphins, enjoy the greeting from them on your tiki cruise in Destin as they love to swim alongside boats and leaping in the waves. While you can spot out dolphins year-round in Destin, the best months to frequently encounter them are from late spring to late summer. Morning and mid-afternoon are the best viewing times in a day as dolphins tend to be most active when the waters are calmer. Sunset is another time frame to watch dolphins leaping into the horizon, a sight to remember for life.

When it comes to dolphin watching, Crab Island becomes more than a party scene, the water surrounding this sandbar is a hotspot for dolphin sightings and an opportunity to encounter them up close. Other places along the Emerald Coast for dolphin sightings are Henderson Beach State Park, Okaloosa Island Pier, and Norriego Point. For the best dolphin watching experience, bring polarized sunglasses, keep a safe and respectful distance, and go in the early morning.

Sea Turtle Conversation

Sea turtles have always been a wonder of the ocean to humans, they are intelligent, a rare sight, and, most fascinating of all, their lifespan is up to 100 years. Get a closer of these amazing creatures with a Destin tiki boat rental, early mornings are the best time to see them. To encounter sea turtles on land, Henderson Beach State Park and Okaloosa Island are great places to come across on an early morning stroll. With Okaloosa Island being the sea turtles’ favorite spot during nesting season due to the island’s less crowded and quieter environment. Please keep an eye out for tracks or hatchlings during peak months, so you won’t accidentally damage their nests.

Destin’s water is the house to Loggerhead sea turtles, green sea turtles, and Kemp’s Ridley turtles; each sea turtle species of the three can be spotted during their nesting season at different times of the year in the water and on the shore of Emerald Coast. The Loggerhead sea turtles usually nest on local beaches from May to October. Occasionally, the green sea turtles can be seen while snorkeling or diving. As for the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, it is rare to see them, but possible during their nesting season which is April to July. Unlike other sea turtles that nest at night, the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles nest during daylight hours, and return to the same beach to nest every 1 to 3 years.

Destin Jetties near East Pass and Norriego Point are the destinations to witness sea turtles while snorkeling. Especially the Norriego Point being the prime spot, its shallow and clear waters make it easier to see sea turtles grazing on seagrass or swimming close to shore. First impressions of sea turtles to be expected is that they are graceful in the water, and larger than what you think. It is important to remind yourself to observe and not to disturb them.

Bird Watching Opportunities

Even though Destin is a beach city, it isn’t short of on-land wildlife. In fact, Destin is home to a variety of bird species. Common residents like Brown Pelicans, Gulls, Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, and Ospreys are often spotted on beaches. You can also find Least Terns, Egrets, and other shorebirds such as Snowy Plover, Sanderlings, and Willet on the shore of Destin.

Bird watching opportunities in Destin are truly exceptional as you can observe many species while on land or sailing on the water. Catch a sight of pelicans, sea gulls, and other shore birds while savoring cocktails from your Crab Island tiki boat. Destin Harbor and East Pass are recommended for people who want to spot dolphins besides seabirds. Head to Norriego Point and Grayton Beach State Park to take a glimpse of the natural habitat of ospreys, snowy egrets, great blue heron, and even bald eagles.

Encounter of Other Fascinating Sea Creatures in Destin

Stingrays have been spotted by many divers, they often glide along the sandy bottom near shore. While Cownose rays can be spotted in large groups, swimming across the crystal-clear waters. Sand dollars and sea urchins are often found in shallow waters and in the water surrounding Crab Island. Blue crabs and hermit crabs can easily be found at Crab Island or tide pools.

They are the perfect starter finds for kids and first-time visitors on the Emerald Coast. Octopus, the master of disguise, are also present in the water of Destin. They are elusive, but on rare occasions can be spotted while snorkeling.

Photography Tips for Encounters

• Respect their Space by keeping a non-intrusive distance from dolphins, sea turtles, birds, and rays. Use your zoom to capture the moment instead of approaching and scaring them away.
• Shoot in early morning or late afternoon for the golden hour light that reduces harsh reflections on water surface and creates a poetic feeling to your pictures. Wildlife is also more active during these times due to less boat traffic and human presence.
• Capture actions by using a fast shutter speed or increase ISO to keep shutter speed fast, 1/1000s or higher for more dynamic shots of dolphins jumping, turtles surfacing for air, or birds diving into the water for their prey.
• Utilize burst mode when taking pictures from a boat to capture movements even with minor rocking.
• Go Silent as sudden clicks can startle some animals, especially nesting birds or sea turtles onshore.
• Protect your gears with waterproof covers, saltwater and electronics don’t mix no matter how advanced they get.
• Learn the wildlife preferable spots, some of the best places in Destin for marine wildlife photography include:
  • Norriego Point (for birds and dolphins)
  • Crab Island (manta rays, dolphins)
  • Choctawhatchee Bay (birds, sea turtles, dolphins)
  • Jetty East Beach (great for sunrise dolphin shots)

Simple Things to Keep Destin’s Waters Wild and Beautiful

• Pick up after yourself; any trash, little or not, will always be a threat to wildlife.
• If your main goal is to encounter marine wildlife, maintain a peaceful and calm manner.
• Watch where you are going to avoid stepping on sea turtle nests.
• Don’t hesitate to pick litter even if it is not yours.