When month does the Keys water warm up?

[DougK]

I realize this is a weather dependant question but based on a normal year about what month does the water get up to the high 70 low 80s in the upper Florida keys?

I have a person in our dive party that only likes warm water and we would like to plan a trip to accomidate that person.

If you know of anyway to see a chart of water temps based on the months or have a rough guess I would welcome that info.

 

[H2O Addict]

NOAA (government agency) has bouys to moniter climate conditions offshore around the US. This is a chart from Molasses Reef off Key Largo. Temps are given in Celsius.

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/images/climplot/MLRF1_st.jpg

You can also check this page for current conditions:
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/

Molasses Reef is currently around 75 deg F

 

[double80s]

What do you call cold? It was in the 70's in December. If you want to dive without a suit you might find that cold, but in a 3mil suit I found it very comfortable and I wouldn't call it cold.

Call the shop you plan to dive with for an accurate update.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Going to largo may 1st thru 7th. Op told me to expect high 70's to low 80's. That means the polar tech and will probably take the 5 mil for the duane and the grove.

 

[StSomewhere]

Another handy link from NOAA (my well-spent tax dollars at work, and yours too):

http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/index.html

Molasses Reef is labeled "Key West" on the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Coast chart. Interestingly, the real Key West is also labled "Key West" but on the Southern Atlantic Coast chart. Differences should be minor.

The other thing you want to watch for -- especially this time of year -- is the wind. Here's a link to the upcoming forecast. Scroll down a bit, you want the one that includes the Fla Keys National Marine Sanctuary (and not Florida Bay):

http://seaboard.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZUS52.KEYW.html

 

[Walter]

It's usually warm enough to dive with just a swim suit in mid May.