Good Snorkeling spots?

[Ding2daDong]

I just bought the basic equipment and went snorkeling in the Keys yesterday. Went to a few spots right off the main road in and out and was very impressed with all the fish and coral that grew in a few feet of water. I am already planning my next trip locally and was wondering if anyone knew of any good spots? I would really appreciate any help. Thanks

-Matthew

 

[illal]

my favorite spot is datura..if u dont kno where it is just take commercial to A1A go south to the first light wich is datura and look for parking ..... once yur on the beach theres a reef about 3/4 of the way to the end of the pier and it stretches for a few hundred yards

 

[REDDAWG43]

Hey Ding...where in the Keys did you stop at?
I am going to Bahia Honda soon, but wanted to know if there
were a few other spots of interest that someone else has seen already.

 

[pedromatic]

In the keys, you need to take a boat out to the reefs, they're about 5 miles out. Great snorkeling there, with lots of shallow reefs that come right up to the surface just about. The best reefs are in the Looe Key area, near Key West. There are plenty of dive outfits that take snorkelers if you don't have a boat or know somebody who does.

Near shore you'll see lots of sea grass and stuff. The occasional nurse shark, turtle or ray.

In Broward, Lauderdale by the Sea has probably the closest reefs to the shore. Nice caves and overhangs in about 20 feet of water. I've seen schools of large snook there, amongst other things.

 

[Ding2daDong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9843518#post9843518 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by REDDAWG43
Hey Ding...where in the Keys did you stop at?
I am going to Bahia Honda soon, but wanted to know if there
were a few other spots of interest that someone else has seen already.

I don't know the exact spots we went to. I went with a buddy of mine that works at Reef's Edge and he knew of a good spot right off the side of the road about 15 miles before the 7 mile bridge. There was alot of montiporas, sea fans, blue leg hermits, gobys, wrasses, different types of algae, sponges, and even zoanthids a mere 20 feet out. I was very surprized with the amount of coral and tropical fish in this shallow water. Oh also a bunch of different tangs, angels, parrot fish, and some neat mantis shrimps. I am getting a map of the keys and am going to mark each spot I go to for next time. Talk about sea urchins on the Atlantic side! every few inches there was a sea urchin in a sponge.

Thanks everyone for your help. I am going again this Saturday to the spot illal said. I hope that one is good.

I also heard of a few good spots that were in state parks in Miami?

Thanks again

-Matthew

 

[REDDAWG43]

Sounds nice....if your ever find out the location of that spot let me know....I want to see some of these critters in thier natural state, since I have a lot of them in my tank. Did you get any pics?
How was the clarity in the water?

 

[Ding2daDong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9847860#post9847860 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by REDDAWG43
Sounds nice....if your ever find out the location of that spot let me know....I want to see some of these critters in thier natural state, since I have a lot of them in my tank. Did you get any pics?
How was the clarity in the water?

The first spot I went to had everything I listed in the last post and it was on the Gulf side. Clarity was about 6-7feet on both sides though. The Atlantic side had alot but no zoanthids or sps in the shallow water I went in. The current was extremely strong on the Ocean side. If I didn't have flippers I don't think I would have made it back. It seemed like the Ocean wanted to just take me in for good.

-Matthew

 

[Von_Rahvin]

just south of PE near the pier is some pretty interesting stuff in about 20' of water.
a little farther out is the Ajax and that always has some nice fish. just make sure you fly a flag, we run down there to chum up bait.

 

[Ryanqk]

datura was awesome, i did that a couple times, its not a bad little swim out there, you just have to get used to not seeing bottom for a bit on the way out, and for those who dont snorkle often swimming out to open water can be scary. Its sooo worth it though. Indian key off islemorada is great if you cant go all the way out to alligator reef, but you need a boat to get there. I saw lots of sps, lps and soft corals there, GSP, zoanthids, brittle stars, mantis shrimp, all kinds of tropical fish, inverts and corals!