Key West, FL trip - help me plan my trip!

[Memeber007]

Could someone please recommend me a good place to do a snorkling trip in Keys? It will be my first time snorkeling... Hopefully the weather is not too bad. Also is it possible to dive there if I am not certified yet? Please let me know. Thank You in advance! Very excited!

 

[NiTr0x911]

I lived in South Fla for 20 years,we use to go to the keys from time to time.I'll let someone else chime in about snorkeling spots,I strictly went to dive.You MUST be certified to dive BUT,you should try SNUBA.Heres a link.I just googled it and pulled up one of the 1st sites I came across.If you decide to SNUBA there are many companies to choose from. Hope your trip is a great one http://www.snubakeywest.com/

 

[Black 95 TSI]

Fury is the big place to go in Key Wset. They do everything from jetskis to snorkling. I went on the rum and reggey snorking trip out to the reef. It was a fun time.

 

[Memeber007]

Thanks guys! I didn't know there is something like SNUBA(thanks Nitro!). I will probably go for it! I will aslo look into Fury (thanks Black!).

 

[Hannawa]

I know when I was down there Marina del mar did a pool session and dive trip to see if yo uliked it before you got certified. Some dive shops may do the same thing. The shop that did it out of marina del mar was southpoint divers. Maybe give them a call.

 

[Reefflections]

If you are going to Key West.And awesome place to go is Fort Jefferson.This Fort in the middle of no where.They have different trips to get there.You can tour the Fort with it's history.We went over by boat,2 meals,snacks,fins and mask.You can swim around the Fort,or go a little out,where the coral heads are at.It's a all day trip.But it was really cool.A little dive and some history.At least look into it,if you are down that far in the Keyes

 

[RcToners]

What part of the keys? Your title says key west but your post just says the keys? I live in key largo but I am in the water at least three times a week all through out the keys, just let me know what part of the keys and I can point you in the right direction.

 

[ctenophors rule]

I snorkeled sand key, rock key, and higgs beach.

sand was the best.

rock was second best

and higgs, while maybe not as exciting, was right off the beach, meaning no tour guides, no time constraints, and no group of obnoxious and noisy tourist to get in your way and scare the fishies.

oh and at higgs beach u gotta do the seawall. the seagrass beds are pretty bland besides the gorgs, sponges, star fish, and sand dollars. (at least when i went)

have fun!

 

[gregmoeck]

key west has a couple nice man made white sand beaches. Key west is not known for beaches or water activity. It's more shopping, and drinking. There are several catamarans and boats that will take snorkelers out to a place to snorkel. You will see fish and turtles but the reef itself is pretty much dead at the spots they take the snorkelers. You wont be able to see much snorkeling from the beaches. The water is not clear enough right off the beach. Key west is a good place to go and relax, if you want to snorkel or dive consider locating other operations in the keys or go to Grand Cayman.

 

[TamiW]

If you have a car, head up to Bahia Honda. Snorkeling there is beautiful, even though it is very tourist-y and busy. You can see lots of interesting fish in just 6ft of water, and more in 15'.

 

[gilpi]

Bahia Honda is my favorite for hanging out for a nice beach day. Looe Key is a very nice place to go either snorkeling or scuba, it is around 30 minutes boat ride from Bahia Honda and being that its away from the shore, visibility is awesome, it has the nicest reef I have seen in all of the keys and lots of fish, big ones too!

 

[mtbiker41]

keys

keys

My wife and I just got back from a week in the keys getting certified.we stayed in marathon but went to key largo to captain slates dive center for certification.theres a statue of christ underwater that we went to I think it's called christ of the abyss that was pretty cool. the diving there was great after we were certified we did the creature feature that slates does .he takes you down about 25' and you set on the bottom while he feeds the fish.there were 3 nurse sharks 5', 7' and about 8' a 4' goliath grouper,and several other large fish that swam all around us within arms reach and you can reach out and touch them as they swim by it was so cool.when we came up there was a 6' barracuda just sitting under the boat and not moving.saw scores parrotfish well over 1' a school of blue tangs with well over 5 or 600 fish in it.we also went on a dive in marathon at tildens with several snuba divers on the boat .the first dive was a bust but the second dive really good.from what divers I talked to they said key largo was best for shipwreck dives and marathon was better for corals and such.hope this helps Butch

 

[viggen]

Talk to locals... they know where to go!!! RcToners lives there.... listen to his suggestions!!!

Last trip (Aug-2010) we stayed at BluekeyRVresort & if taking a RV that's a excellent choice. Boyd's on Stock island is OK & a KOA I think on surgarloaf is suppose to be great, we plan on going there when we bring the kids down.

Do the dry tortuga's, awesome trip... in the middle of nowhere........

We took canoe's down with us & paddled around from our camping spot, saw all kinds of cool stuff just a short paddle from our campsite.

 

[keywestcoralboy]

If you are still coming to Key West let me know I was born and raised here and do fishing charters and snorkel trips at compedative rates... I could also direct you to some watersports/parasail trips or something like that.. If you were intested let me know