Amanda Knapp
The Florida Keys is a popular destination for snorkelling, with its turquoise waters, coral reefs, and marine life. While there are some shore snorkelling spots, most of the best snorkelling locations are only accessible by boat. If you're looking to rent a boat and go snorkelling in the Florida Keys, there are a few key areas to consider. Key Largo is a popular choice, known for its clear and warm waters, variety of coral, and marine life. It is also home to the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, which offers over 70 nautical miles of coral reefs and seagrass beds. Another option is Marathon, which is a more affordable alternative to Key West and offers easy access to Sombrero Reef and the Dry Tortugas. If you're an experienced boater, you may also consider renting a boat from Summerland Key or Looe Key Reef, which has fewer tourists.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Key Largo, Key West, Middle Keys, Dry Tortugas, Fort Jefferson, Sombrero Reef, Molasses Reef, Biscayne National Park |
| Cost | $300-$600 for boat rental, $40-$80 for a tour, $20 for snorkelling from shore, $25 for snorkelling in a state park |
| Time of Year | April is recommended to avoid summer heat, students, and hurricane season. Avoid August and September due to jellyfish blooms. |
| Accessibility | Most snorkelling spots are only accessible by boat. There is limited beach or shore access in Pennekamp and Bahia Honda parks. |
| Marine Life | Coral reefs, fish, turtles, sharks, barracuda, dolphins, shipwrecks |
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What You'll Learn
- Renting a boat in the Florida Keys costs $300-$600 per hour or day
- The best time to snorkel in the Florida Keys is in April, before the summer heat and jellyfish blooms
- Key Largo is a popular destination for snorkelling in the Florida Keys
- Key West offers beachside snorkelling access and snorkel gear rentals
- Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas are great snorkelling spots, accessible by boat or float plane
Renting a boat in the Florida Keys costs $300-$600 per hour or day
Renting a boat in the Florida Keys is a great option for those who want to go snorkelling and have some boating experience. Boat rentals in Key West range from $300 to $600 per day, depending on the type of boat and length of rental. This is the most expensive option for snorkelling in the Florida Keys, but it offers the most privacy and control over your time. You can rent a boat for a few hours or a full day, and there are many different types of boats to choose from, including pontoons, centre consoles, and deck boats.
If you were born after 1st January 1988, you'll need a Florida Boating Safety ID to rent a boat. If you don't have one, you can complete an online course or rent with a licensed captain. Boatsetter, for example, offers an easy and safe way to rent a boat, and boating experience is not required. They have a large network of USCG-licensed captains available.
There are many great spots for snorkelling in the Florida Keys that are only accessible by boat. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which includes the Florida Reef, has 2,900 miles of protected waterway to explore. Sombrero Reef in Marathon is another popular spot, with vibrant reefs and seas that range in depth from two to thirty feet, making it suitable for all levels of snorkelling experience.
If you're looking for a more unique snorkelling experience, consider Dry Tortugas/Fort Jefferson National Park. It's about 70 miles west of Key West, and the only ways to get there are by boat or float plane. This park offers some of the best snorkelling due to the lack of people, and you can also visit the fort, which is open to the public.
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The best time to snorkel in the Florida Keys is in April, before the summer heat and jellyfish blooms
The Florida Keys is a great place to snorkel, with its many spots to visit and explore. The best time to snorkel in the Florida Keys is in April, before the summer heat and jellyfish blooms. The water is warm, and the students are still in school, so it's less crowded.
If you're looking to rent a boat and go snorkelling, there are a few options available to you. You can rent a boat for a few hours or a day, which will give you the most privacy and control over your time. This option can cost between $300 and $600 by the hour or day and requires some prior boating experience. Alternatively, you can take a snorkel tour, which typically lasts a few hours and provides the necessary gear. This option costs between $40 and $80 per person.
There are several great spots for snorkelling in the Florida Keys. Key Largo is a popular choice, with numerous dive boats offering both scuba and snorkel trips. The reef, interesting wrecks, and a variety of coral and marine life can be found in 25-30 feet of depth in very clear and warm water. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, located in Key Largo, offers over 70 nautical miles of coral reefs and seagrass beds to explore.
Another great option is Sombrero Reef, located in Marathon. This reef is vibrant and draws visitors with all levels of snorkelling experience, thanks to seas that range in depth from two to thirty feet. Marathon is a 10-mile-long, family-friendly neighbourhood in the Keys island chain. It is well-liked by residents and visitors alike and offers some of the best snorkelling in the Florida Keys.
If you're looking for a more unique snorkelling experience, consider Dry Tortugas/Fort Jefferson National Park. This spot can only be accessed by boat or float plane from Key West Airport, and it offers some of the best snorkelling due to the lack of people visiting the area. You can also visit the fort, which is open to the public.
No matter which option you choose, the Florida Keys offer a wealth of opportunities for snorkelling enthusiasts. Whether you rent a boat or join a tour, you're sure to have a memorable experience exploring the diverse marine life and vibrant reefs of this tropical paradise.
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Key Largo is a popular destination for snorkelling in the Florida Keys
One of the main draws of Key Largo is the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, which boasts over 70 nautical miles of coral reefs and seagrass beds. This park is accessible by car, but to reach the offshore locations, a boat tour or charter is necessary. Key Largo is also known for its dive boats, which offer both scuba and snorkel trips to explore the reefs, wrecks, and marine life in depths ranging from 25 to 30 feet.
For those seeking a more independent experience, boat rentals are available, providing privacy and control over your itinerary. This option, however, requires prior boating experience and can be more expensive. An alternative is to join a snorkel tour, which typically lasts a few hours and provides the necessary gear. Tours can range from $40 to $80 per person, with some offering additional amenities like refreshments and music.
Key Largo is also home to the Christ of the Abyss statue, an underwater sculpture located just north of the Grecian Rocks, a popular dive site. The Horseshoe Reef, with depths ranging from 5 to 25 feet, is another sought-after spot, known for its diverse marine life, including parrotfish, sergeant majors, and lobsters.
With its combination of natural beauty, accessibility, and tour options, Key Largo is a top choice for snorkelling in the Florida Keys, attracting enthusiasts from around the world.
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Key West offers beachside snorkelling access and snorkel gear rentals
Key West is a great option for snorkelling in the Florida Keys. Fort Zachary Taylor Beach in Key West offers beachside snorkelling access, and snorkel gear is available for rent at the beach hut. This is known as the best beach in Key West.
There are also Key West snorkel tours, which include the rental of snorkel equipment. This is a good option if you want a stress-free snorkelling experience, as a professional captain and crew will take you out on a boat to a popular spot, provide the gear, and teach you techniques to make the most of your experience. Some boat tours even include breakfast or drinks for sunset cruises.
If you want to go snorkelling independently, you can rent a boat in Key West. This option is more expensive and requires prior boating experience, but it gives you privacy and control over your time.
If you want to go snorkelling in the Keys without a boat, Higgs Beach is another good option. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo is also accessible by car, but to get to the island's offshore locations, you'll need to take a charter tour by boat.
There are many spots to snorkel in the Florida Keys, and the best snorkelling is on the coral reefs that are only accessible by boat. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary includes the Florida Reef, with 2,900 miles of protected waterway. This is the only barrier coral reef in North America and the third-largest in the world.
If you are looking to purchase snorkelling gear, Sea, Key West, is a shop located in downtown Key West that carries quality watersports gear, including snorkelling equipment. They also offer free same-day delivery to your water excursion.
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Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas are great snorkelling spots, accessible by boat or float plane
Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas are excellent snorkelling spots in the Florida Keys. They are located 70 miles west of Key West and can be reached by boat or float plane.
If you're looking for a unique way to travel to the Dry Tortugas, a seaplane offers a different perspective. You can see marine wildlife, such as sea turtles, dolphins, and sharks, from above. The flight takes less than 45 minutes, and you can choose between a half-day or full-day tour. The Dry Tortugas are also accessible by charter boat or ferry, which are more budget-friendly options. The Yankee Freedom Ferry, an authorized concessionaire of the park, is the cheapest way to get there. It offers daily round trips from Key West, with tickets including meals, bathroom facilities, showers, snorkelling equipment, and a guided tour of Fort Jefferson. The ferry ride takes about two hours each way, leaving approximately four to five hours to explore the island.
Fort Jefferson, the largest masonry structure in the Americas, is a fascinating place to visit. It was used as a prison camp during the Civil War, and you can take a guided tour to learn about its history. Snorkelling spots around the fort include the South Swimming Beach and, for more experienced snorkelers, the South Coaling Dock ruins. There are four distinct snorkelling areas in the Dry Tortugas, including a series of 4-6 small patch reefs with a variety of fish, from large to small.
The Florida Keys offer many snorkelling spots, and you can choose to join a tour or rent a boat and explore on your own. Key Largo is a popular choice, with numerous dive boats offering scuba and snorkelling trips to reefs, wrecks, and coral sites. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, accessible by car or boat, features over 70 nautical miles of coral reefs and seagrass beds. Sombrero Reef in Marathon is another well-liked spot, known for its vibrant reef and seas that range in depth from two to thirty feet, accommodating snorkelers of all experience levels.
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Frequently asked questions
You can rent a boat in the Florida Keys from companies such as Vacation Boat Rentals, Captain Pips, and Sunset Watersports.
It is not necessary to have a guide or tour to snorkel in the Florida Keys, but it is recommended. There are dozens of guides and tour operations that will take you out on their boat to snorkel.
Some good spots for snorkelling in the Florida Keys include Sombrero Reef, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Molasses Reef, Fort Zachary Taylor Beach, Fort Jefferson, and the Dry Tortugas.
The best time to go snorkelling in the Florida Keys is in April, before the summer heat arrives and the water is still warm. It is best to avoid late summer due to jellyfish blooms and the winter months when boat tour companies may be closed.
The cost of snorkelling in the Florida Keys varies depending on the chosen activity. Snorkelling from shore is the cheapest option, costing less than $20. Taking a tour typically costs $40-80 per person, while renting a boat is the most expensive option, ranging from $300 to $600 per hour or day.
