Snorkeling in the keys?

[NickInMiami]

Hello all,

I was planning on heading down to do some snorkeling soon and I was wondering if any of you had some recommended spots I could get some information on. I will probably be looking to do some snorkeling right off shore on this trip but any info is appreciated.

 

[Kogo]

john pennycamp state park.

lots of fun, cheap, easy access

if you want to spend some more money, they have boats to take you out to the reefs

 

[ninjamini]

Is john pennycamp a reef?

 

[ReefWreak]

Check out Captain Slate's Dive tours! They're awesome, and Cpt. Slate is a definite trip...

 

[ReefWreak]

pennycamp is a park with many reefs protected within its boundries. Some of the nicest diving in FL

 

[loyalrogue]

Looe Key used to be the best dive spot in the continental United States back when I was a kid.
Dive trips leave from Ramrod Key.

Unfortunately, I've read that most of the reefs have been smothered by algae and pollutants over the years.

Speckled Grouper has a house down there and regularly dives.
Ask her where a good spot still is.

 

[chrismhaase]

www.keysdiving.com

 

[NickInMiami]

So I went down to the Keys for the day and did some snorkeling right off shore near Mile Marker 75 or so.

I saw lots of Gobies in lots of sand caves. A few of them were in pairs. I also managed to find one opening that had a Goby and a Pistol Shrimp paired up which was really nice to see in the wild. The best thing I came across was a large Mantis Shrimp with his big head and big eyes poked out of a hole in the sand.

Picked up 4 blue leg hermits and a 1.5 inch shrimp I've never seen before. Gotta try to get a pic of it posted tomorrow for some help identifying it.