Keys Snorkeling

Piazzon12

Piazzon12

New member
We are going to be heading to FLA for Easter, and driving down to the keys for a few days. I was wondering what the best places to snorkel are? Is there decent snorkeling right out from the beach? Guided boat trips?

We'll be staying in Key West, but can stop anywhere on they way in/out.

Adam
 
You could have a blast right off the beaches, however if you don't mind paying for a guide, then you'll enjoy that alot more.

I'll be on a trip to NY while you come to my state. lol..
 
coming from someone who has thousands of scuba dives in the keys, and hundreds of hours snorkeling...

there are better reefs than Pennekamp...

Looe Key sanctuary off Big Pine (look up Underseas Dive Center or Strike Zone) is the nicest reef that is regularly visited.

much of what they take you to on the cattle boats in key largo is pretty busted up from traffic.


depending on when you come down, look me up...boats in the water and i have plenty of experience. located right in the middle of the keys in marathon.
if the weather is nice enough i'll take my speargun and shoot you guys some fresh fish for dinner. :D

places to call up in key west for trips would be Subtropic Dive Center or a web search for Keys Scuba Shack (mike is the owner and is a great guy)

good places off the shore to snorkel are hard to find. not alot of structure close to shore other than small little stuff.

Sombrero Beach in marathon has some rocks and culvers in the water that are pretty cool. the beach is beautiful and the "structure" is within a swim zone so you don't even need a dive flag.

Just south of the southern Bahia Honda bridge is a rock quarry on the gulf side, has a small access road to the highway. its pretty cool. has some shallow stuff and goes as deep as about 30ft within 10ft of shore. even has a boat hull in the bottom (hard to find) and an upside down truck (circa 1950s) burried up to the doors.

keep in touch...
 
oh...and buy the mask separate from the fins...those kits usually SUCK

biggest thing is to try the mask on...hold it to your face gently (don't push) and suck in through your nose. if it seals on your face...it fits. you should be able to hold suction with your lungs and it will stay on your face. shouldn't take alot of effort. try them out till one fits.
and when/if you buy a mask....scrub the inside of the lense with toothpaste or soft-scrub to remove the film from the manufacturer. otherwise you'll never keep it from fogging


dive shops here i think even rent gear...not sure.

good place in marathon to check out for a snorkel boat is Tilden's Dive Center...forgot to mention that
 
x2 on Bahia Honda. You can't miss the old railroad bridge. It is on your left as you head south. If you park at the bottom of the hill (Key West side of the bridge), you can snorkel out. It is rock bottom with lots of soft corals, but not much profile.

Also, as you get closer to Key West, you can go to Boca Chica Rd. This road goes around the island and south of KWNAS (Naval Air Station). The road dead ends (washed out). At low tide, there are exposed rocks in only a few feet of water to the southwest. Beyond these rocks, it is flat, rock bottom for a long way. I've been out nearly a half mile off of this "beach" and still been in 8 feet of water.

BUY A DIVE FLAG!!!!!!
 
Also, if you go on a head boat out of Marathon, get one that takes you to Sombrero.

The moat at Dry Tortugas is fun to. Swim around the brick wall on the outside of the fort.
 
captain rick

captain rick

We had 1 day to snorkel in the keys last spring. We got a tip from a friend to call "Captain Rick" and it was the best thing we ever did:
http://www.morningstarcharters.com/

He goes to places the cattle boats dont and it is amazing. He knows what he's doing. He only takes 6 people at a time.

Have fun! -Melissa
 
keezdiver said:
scrub the inside of the lense with toothpaste or soft-scrub to remove the film from the manufacturer. otherwise you'll never keep it from fogging
Click to expand...

I just bought a new mask and was wondering what that film was around the edge of the glass and how to get it off without damaging the lens.
Will the toothpaste or softscrub scratch the glass?
 
All the Locales will tell you that Looe key reef is the best by far. If you don't want to pay for a guide then Bahia Honda has the best beach and snorkeling. You can snorkel the whole Island there and it is great fun. Sombrero Beach on Marathon is probably my 2nd choice very nice and clean.
 
depending on budget and ability....renting a boat may be a good option.

for $200-250 you probably can get a boat for the day

then you're at your own pace and can move around more.
if you want to try that contact me...i can get you some GPS numbers for cool places to snorkel.

as i said before...depending on time/weather my boat is in the water. beer/gas and i'll take you out.
 
Thanks for all the great advice everyone.
keez - thanks for the offer. I'll contact you once our trip gets closer and we've worked out the details
 
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