Snorkeling in the Keys
- Thread starter sgj
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sgj:
You can try one of the dive companies as they take both divers and snorklers together on the same boat (cattle boats). They will take you out to the shallower reefs (City of Washington etc...). The vis out there is real good. I was out there diving last month and the water was dead flat and real easy to swim on the surface.
Good Luck, DaveP
you need a boat to get to the reef. I like snorkeling from shore at Bahia Honda State Park... lots of critters in the seagrass on the ocean side, and juvenile fishes in and around the rock jetties on the gulf side. Both sides feature designated "swim areas", hence no flag is required. I'm admittedly easily amused. For those who aren't... reef trips are available from within the park. Enjoy!
Buoyant1
Contributor
Depending on how far down you are going, but it's the same deal as Brent mentioned on Key West...Go to Fort Zachary Taylor beach and there are a few big piles of coral boulders where the critters hang out just float and you'll see them. I've seen barracuda, sting rays, a bunch of parrot fish etc. I can spend hours just tooling around the rocks...I'm easily amused also...
My favorite place to snorkel there is Dry Tortugas, worth the boat ride out to snorkel along the fort. LOTS of things to see besides fish, Moray's, sting rays, HUGE barracudas etc. (oh and some of those cool upside down jellyfish)
And most of the dive boats (cattle boats) run snorkel trips as well as some companies having designated snorkel trips (Sebago Catmaran's have a rather nice one)
My favorite place to snorkel there is Dry Tortugas, worth the boat ride out to snorkel along the fort. LOTS of things to see besides fish, Moray's, sting rays, HUGE barracudas etc. (oh and some of those cool upside down jellyfish)
And most of the dive boats (cattle boats) run snorkel trips as well as some companies having designated snorkel trips (Sebago Catmaran's have a rather nice one)
Bob3
Contributor
I agree with the Bahia Honda State Park, viz will vary depending on weather & current tide state.
If you make a left (south) turn on Big Pine just past the Fish Camp, you can drive down a ways & eyeball some coral heads not too far off shore.
In the same general (Big Pine, Marathon) area are trips to Sombrero Light Reef, as well as Looe Key Reef. The trip is generally worth it, it'll get the kids all fired up. Save it for last though.
If you make a left (south) turn on Big Pine just past the Fish Camp, you can drive down a ways & eyeball some coral heads not too far off shore.
In the same general (Big Pine, Marathon) area are trips to Sombrero Light Reef, as well as Looe Key Reef. The trip is generally worth it, it'll get the kids all fired up. Save it for last though.
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