Port Aransas & Corpus Christi · United States · Artificial reef
Port Aransas South Jetty
Drive-up boulder jetty with a 12 m channel side and a 5 m beach side
The South Jetty at Port Aransas is the jetty divers can drive to, a line of very large boulders between the channel and the beach. The channel side drops to about 12 m (40 ft) and the beach side stays near 5 m (15 ft). Small fish live in the rocks and sea turtles turn up at times, but visibility is limited as a rule.
Also known as Port Aransas Jetty South.
Where it is and how deep
27.8346° N, 97.0443° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The dive starts on the rocks: water entry at the South Jetty is off very large boulders, so divers pick a stable spot and step or roll in rather than walking down a beach. From there the jetty offers two depths. The beach side sits at about 5 m (15 ft), a shallow line along the boulders. The channel side runs deeper, to around 12 m (40 ft), alongside the Port Aransas channel.
Along the boulders small fish hide in the gaps between the rocks, and sea turtles are present at times. Dolphins can be seen in the boat channel next to the jetty. Visibility is limited as a rule and reaches 9 m (30 ft) only on a rare day, so the dive is usually a close look at the rocks rather than a view along the wall. Currents in the channel can be too much to handle on some days.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair | Off-season |
Season follows Port Aransas & Corpus Christi: Diving runs from late spring to late autumn and peaks in summer; winter and early spring rarely suit offshore trips, and sea conditions change from day to day.
Know before you go
- Fishermen work along the jetty; divers stay clear of lines and hooks and keep away from casting areas.
- Channel currents can be too strong to dive on some days; the beach side is shallower, at about 5 m (15 ft).
- Entry and exit are over very large boulders, which call for a slow, deliberate climb in full kit.
Dive videos
Scuba diving Port Aransas jetties · Sean Allison on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Port Aransas South Jetty?+
The channel side is around 12 m (40 ft) deep and the beach side about 5 m (15 ft).
Can the South Jetty at Port Aransas be reached without a boat?+
Yes. The South Jetty is easily reached by car; it is the North Jetty, on St. Jose Island, that needs a boat.
Sources
- Local Diving — Copeland's Inc.
- Port Aransas Jetty South — Scubago
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