Shore UW Photography from the Keys?

[bluevet]

Making my first trip to the Florida Keys soon.

I'll certainly get a boat offshore to Pennekamp, but I am curious about shore snorkeling/freediving (max 60 feet) for UW photography. Is the reef just too far out or is there a preferred place to walk out and have a go?

I've heard that West Palm Beach (just north of the Keys) has close-in areas that are worthwhile.

Recommendations?

 

[Dave C]

I can't give you any first-hand recommendations myself, but take a look at this fellow's snorkeling photos: Dive Pix - a set on Flickr
He shows that there does appear to be some snorkeling off the shore of the Keys that may be worthwhile, although (as you'd expect) it is not world class. He also has pics of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, which is supposed to be better.

 

[bluevet]

Thanks for the link, Dave. More than I hoped for.

 

[KiplingBrock]

Shore snorkeling in the Keys is terrible. I go every year and will not even attempt shore diving anymore.
Pennekamp is a great place to go through. Check out Alligator Reef if you have time, its really nice. Tons of Nurse Sharks.

 

[bluevet]

Thanks, KB.

 

[robint]

the reason shore snorkeling/diving in Keys isn't very good is that the reefs are so far from the islands. You need to be over reef to see lots of fish!

The great snorkeling/shore diving in Fla in West Palm Beach is under a pier, called Phil Foster Park or Blue Heron Bridge... They find seahorses, batfish, frogfish, all kinds of weird critters there! Check out the Florida Forum here on SB for more details and tons of photos!
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/florida-conch-divers/279974-continuing-sagas-blue-heron-bridge.html

robin

 

[bluevet]

Thanks for the lead, Robin.

I had heard there was a hotel in West Palm Beach that had excellent offshore snorkeling/freediving. Anyone familiar with it?