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Map of John D MacArthur Beach State Park
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Shore entry

John D MacArthur Beach State Park

Florida, United StatesDirections
None suggested1–3 m (2–10 ft) depthShore entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

John D MacArthur Beach State Park at a glance

John D MacArthur Beach State Park is a shore dive site in Florida, United States with depths of 0.6–3 m (2–10 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Green moray eel, Sergeant major, and Great barracuda. Recent reports put the water around 28°C (82°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

No window in this week’s forecast

Forecast for this hour · 10:00 · run 9 h ago
4.0 m (13.0 ft)waves — about four meters expected (waves — about 13 feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 28°C · seasonal avg 28°C ( · Forecast 82°F · seasonal avg 83°F)

Site hazards: Very shallow rock reef at low tide (surge can push snorkelers onto the rocks), boats running close to and anchoring near the reef, longshore current, occasional rough surf. Dive flag required by law (rentable at the park gift shop).

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

No dive windows in this week’s forecast — no stretch of daylight hours scored favorable or moderate for this site.

First light 7:02 · Sunrise 7:26 · Sunset 18:41

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 17 km from site · updated 26 Oct, 05:20 UTC

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near John D MacArthur Beach State Park

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Sergeant major, Gray snapper, Yellow chub
Best time: Calm summer days at or near high tide, with light winds and no recent swell; check visibility before making the long gear haul.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. January, 72% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (74°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.5 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  2. February, 73% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 24°C (74°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.6 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  3. March, 54% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 24°C (75°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.7 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots
  4. April, 82% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (77°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.2 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots
  5. May, 96% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (2.9 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots
  6. June, 93% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.5 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots
  7. July, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (85°F), waves have typically been 0.6 m (1.8 ft), wind has typically been 8 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 92% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.0 ft), wind has typically been 9 knots
  9. September, 83% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.2 ft), wind has typically been 8 knots
  10. October, 46% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 1.8 m (5.8 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  11. November, 63% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.8 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots
  12. December, 55% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (76°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.4 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots

July has typically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

Fills & rentals nearby

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Data updated July 2026

Site details

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park on Singer Island protects a rare stretch of natural barrier-island habitat with a 125,000-year-old Anastasia limestone rock reef lying just off the sand. The shallow, hole-pitted reef — built up by colonies of sabellariid reef-building tube worms — is easily reached from shore and visible from the surface, making it one of Palm Beach County's best beach snorkels. Depths are only a few feet, so timing around high tide and calm surf matters, and a dive flag is mandatory because boats work close to the reef.

reefshore

Very shallow rock reef at low tide (surge can push snorkelers onto the rocks), boats running close to and anchoring near the reef, longshore current, occasional rough surf. Dive flag required by law (rentable at the park gift shop).

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