Patrick & Dave’s Pride Guide: Scuba, Drag & Coral Reefs in Miami Beach

If you’re looking for a sun-soaked holiday to take this Pride Month, where you can snorkel or scuba dive and then have a refreshing beverage at a local queer bar and dance the night away—or turn in early and have a sunrise paddleboard with your partner—look no further than Miami Beach.

Miami hasn’t historically come to mind when planning a scuba vacation, but my husband and I have been exploring the nearshore reef off of South Beach since 2021 and we think our beach town has everything to offer for an LGBTQ+ eco adventure vacation. I have been diving for 20 years and found species here that I haven’t seen anywhere else like the lesser electric ray and the guitar fish!

Only a few hundred feet from “Gay Beach” (12th Street), lies a coral reef that has remained resilient throughout the recent global bleaching phenomenon. A significant portion of the divers and snorkelers exploring this underwater ecosystem are part of the LGBTQ+ community that is growing each summer month when the waters are calm and the winds are low—the ideal time to visit the reef. The existence of this shore-accessible reef has inspired many queer people to get certified and discover the vibrant “rainbow of life” just a short swim from our city because it’s so easy to get to.

This community, led by many queer and women-led organizations, has been working to protect the reef and turn the entire area into a marine park. The biodiversity is stunning, numerous endangered hard corals and all sorts of rarely spotted marine life swim in this easily accessed site.

Miami Beach is a perfect eco-adventure destination for the LGBTQ+ community. Nowhere else can you find such a vibrant queer-oriented city just hundreds of feet from a spectacular coral reef. Picture a typical Saturday afternoon, swimming out to the reef with your friends while listening to the drag queens perform at the world-famous Palace bar across Ocean Drive. You can dive with locals in the morning, dry off for a fan clacking drag brunch, and dance the night away at the gay clubs.

Some recommendations for an Ocean eco adventure vacation during Pride Month in Miami Beach:

Stay:

Check into the locally owned Gaythering Hotel at the bay-end of Lincoln Road. More than just a hotel, this local gem has become a staple in the queer community, hosting local sports leagues and raucous Sunday BBQs with entertaining bar games like hot potato (which may or may not use an actual potato), drag race competitions, and “pop the balloon.” They also host nightly events such as Karaoke Mondays, Trivia Wednesdays, and Bingo Thursdays. If you’re visiting on the last weekend of the month, I host a Queer Easels pop-up art show highlighting local South Florida artists.

Paddleboard in the Bay:

Take a short stroll from the Gaythering to Purdy Avenue, where 2–3 rental options offer paddleboards to explore the tranquil bay. This peaceful setting is ideal for spotting South Florida’s diverse birdlife, including pelicans, ospreys, cormorants, and if you’re lucky, the rare, pink-feathered spoonbill (I’ve only seen one in the wild while paddleboarding off Purdy Avenue!). You’ll almost certainly see ospreys soaring overhead and cormorants drying their wings on channel markers. For experienced paddleboarders, exploring the mangroves on the north side of the bay is a treat—just remember sunscreen and water, and keep your eyes peeled for manatee snouts and dolphin fins!

Hit the Beach:

Grab the free rental bikes from the Gaythering and make your way to the local gay beach at 12th Street! You’ll know you’re in the right spot when you spot the rainbow-colored lifeguard tower and the Progress flags just to its south. On your way, pick up a sandwich from La Sandwhicherie, but guard it closely from the seagulls—you won’t want to share anything covered in the “magic sauce” from one of Miami Beach’s oldest continually running businesses.

Explore the Reef:

When you’re ready to meet the fishes, the easiest place to start is the South Pointe Jetty. Located at the southern end of the island, the best time to go is early in the morning before fishermen cast their lines. While fishing is technically not legal from the jetty, enforcement can be lax, so remain vigilant for fishing lines. We highly recommend bringing a diver buoy with you when snorkeling or diving to improve your visibility and help avoid accidents. Avoid the area of the jetty that begins to be submerged due to strong currents.

Scuba diving is excellent between 5th and 10th Streets. We are actively working with a group of local environmentalists to preserve this nearshore reef and create a safe zone for visitors while also protecting the reef from ongoing anchor damage. Currently, the vessel exclusion zone ends right at the near-edge of the reef, posing a potential for boat strikes. That’s why the first priority for the reef protection project is to move the buoys to the west side of the reef. This way, boaters can still enjoy the area, and we won’t have to worry about people encountering propellers while trying to meet new, gilled friends. Always check conditions before entering the water and carry appropriate safety equipment. In Florida, you are required to carry a dive marker with you while shore diving.

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After your fill of ocean and bay adventures, head over to Palace for one of their famous drag brunches. Don’t forget to stop by their rooftop pool deck to catch the sunset and, on a clear day, get a bird’s-eye view of the reef. Then, dance the night away at Twist!

More Nature Excursions:

If you’re itching for another nature excursion, explore the Everglades on an airboat ride where you can spot some of our more ancient residents, the American alligator. If you’re heading that way, be sure to stop by Robert Is Here for one of their famous milkshakes and say hello to the animals in their petting zoo out back. Paddleboarding is also fantastic at Oleta State Park and along the scenic route to the Florida Keys!

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About the Authors:

Patrick Breshike and Dave Grieser are a married couple living in Miami Beach, FL, with a deep passion for the ocean. Patrick is an artist and underwater photographer who draws inspiration for his work from the magic of the underwater world. Both Patrick and Dave are certified Divemasters and dedicated advocates for ocean conservation and their local LGBTQ+ community. They have been instrumental in a grassroots project to create a marine park in the nearshore waters off Miami Beach, aiming to protect the endangered ecosystem and ensure it’s safe for the community to visit. You can connect with them through their website, MiamiBeachMarinePark.com, or Patrick’s art website, gayfishes.com. Dave and Patrick are working with the local non-profit Urban Paradise Guild to advocate for the Marine Park. Check out urbanparadiseguild.org/lbr for more information.