sylvia3

Several questions:
Any good snorkeling opportunities on the Gulf coast (near Tampa)? Is the water warm enough to swim in May?
If not the gulf, is there a doable drive to a place where snorkeling is good?
Only been to Orlando before; don't care for big cities like Miami, but any recommendations for (few days) an area of Florida to visit in May (driving from the Tampa area, where we'll be for 2-3 days)?
Thanks for any help or suggestions.

J62

The water is warm enough to swim in 12 months of the year for me! For some people know, it's only warm enough in July & Aug when the water temp nears 90. YMMV

Ackislander

Water is warmer in the winter than on Cape Cod in the summer, so by May it will be a bathtub (not a negative in my view).

But I don't know of anywhere on the Gulf coast south of, maybe, Dunedin or Tarpon Springs, where snorkeling is a big thing. John Pennekamp State Park on Key Largo is of course famous for snorkeling, but except perhaps for offshore wreck diving, I just don't know.

Tomsd

Find some rocks/reef and you should find some fish.

AustinTraveler

Snorkeling in Florida is a major dud except for the Keys.

sylvia3

So, too far to travel to the Keys by car? Not worth it? Anywhere (driving distance) recommended for a visit?

starrs

Pennekamp is your best bet unless you want to take a day trip to the Dry Tortugas out of Key West. I've snorkeled out of Islamorada via a trip with Captain Anne Baxter but it wasn't great snorkeling.

There's snorkeling out of Bahia Honda to Looe Key but I've not done that.
http://bahiahondapark.com/looe-key-s...ing-tours.html