Paddleboarding, kayaking and water sports in Pompano Beach

Two kinds of water

Pompano Beach gives you a choice. On the east side is the Atlantic, with its waves, reefs and open horizon. To the west is the Intracoastal Waterway, a protected channel lined with homes, docks and parks. Which one you pick depends on the wind.

On a calm morning, paddling the ocean along the beach is beautiful, and the water is often clear enough to see the bottom. When the wind is up, the ocean gets choppy fast, and the Intracoastal is the better choice. Paddlers on Florida’s long-distance saltwater paddling trail are advised to do the same: choose the Intracoastal or the ocean side depending on wind and weather.

Paddling the ocean

Launching from the beach is simple on a flat day: carry your board past the small shore break, kneel until you are past it, then stand. A few rules keep it safe:

• Check the lifeguard flags and the marine forecast before you go out.
• Stay out of the guarded swimming areas, and away from the pier and its fishing lines.
• Wear a leash on a paddleboard, and carry a whistle.
• Head into the wind first, so the trip back is easier.
• Go early. The wind usually builds through the day.

Florida’s beach warning flags are worth learning: green for calm conditions, yellow for moderate surf or currents, red for high hazard, double red when the water is closed, and purple for dangerous marine life such as jellyfish. If the flag is red, leave the board on the sand.

Paddling the Intracoastal

The Intracoastal is calmer, and it is where many paddlers spend most of their time. You will pass waterfront homes, mangroves in places and plenty of boats. Alsdorf Park, the city’s boat ramp park on the Intracoastal at 14th Street, has a ramp, a dock, restrooms and paid parking. Local paddleboard renters also deliver boards to Intracoastal parks such as Hillsboro El Rio Park and Sullivan Park.

Boat wakes are the main hazard. Stay close to the edge of the channel, turn your nose into large wakes, and watch for fast boats around docks and bends. Weekends are busier than weekday mornings.

Launch rules, parking fees and rental options change. Check with the City of Pompano Beach parks department or your rental company before you go.

Stay away from the inlet

Hillsboro Inlet, at the north end of town, is the one place not to paddle. It is narrow, busy with charter and private boats, and the current through it can be strong, especially on a changing tide. Enjoy it from Hillsboro Inlet Park on the south side, which is also where the lighthouse museum is.

Snorkeling and the divers-down flag

Many paddlers combine a board with a mask and snorkel. If you get in the water to snorkel, Florida law requires a divers-down flag. FWC’s guidance is to stay within 300 feet of your flag in open water and within 100 feet in inlets and channels, and boaters must slow to idle within those distances. Our snorkeling and diving guide explains the reefs and the flag rules in more detail.

Rentals and lessons

Several local companies rent paddleboards and kayaks, some by the hour and some delivered to a launch spot, and some offer lessons or guided tours. We do not list companies here because they change, but a good rental includes a life jacket or personal flotation device, a leash for paddleboards, and a clear briefing on where to go. Ask about cancellations for wind and weather when you book.

Outside swimming and surfing areas, FWC treats kayaks and paddleboards as vessels. That means a Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket for each person on board and a sound-producing device such as a whistle. FWC’s guidance is that children under 6 must wear their life jacket, and everyone else is strongly advised to.

Other ways onto the water

If paddling is not your thing, there are easier ways to see the water. The Pompano Beach Water Taxi runs daily along the Intracoastal with several stops in the city. Fishing charters and drift boats leave from Hillsboro Inlet; see Hillsboro Inlet charters. And the simplest of all: a swim at the lifeguarded beach, a 2-minute walk from your door.

A final word on the sun. On the water, the glare off the surface doubles your exposure. Wear a hat with a strap, polarized sunglasses and a long-sleeve rash guard, and reapply sunscreen more often than you would on the sand.

After the water

Rinse off at the beach shower, then hang your gear to dry in the courtyard. Our suites have room for a family’s worth of gear, and our studios suit a couple. For the rest of your days, see things to do or wake up early for sunrise on the water.