Where's the best snorkeling in the Keys?
Jan 13th, 2004, 07:10 AM
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Where's the best snorkeling in the Keys?
My family (myself, husband and two teenage sons) will be vacationing in the Keys for the first time this April. We're now planning to spend 2 nights in Islamorada & 2 nights in Key West.
We plan to go to John Pennekamp. I'm wondering about Looe Key, Bahia Honda and even the Dry Tortugas. Which place has the best snorkeling? (Our budget will allow a boat trip to the Dry Tortugas, so it would be an entire day.)
Kids have never snorkeled before, but both are lifeguards and should really enjoy this experience.
Does anyone have an opinion out there?
We plan to go to John Pennekamp. I'm wondering about Looe Key, Bahia Honda and even the Dry Tortugas. Which place has the best snorkeling? (Our budget will allow a boat trip to the Dry Tortugas, so it would be an entire day.)
Kids have never snorkeled before, but both are lifeguards and should really enjoy this experience.
Does anyone have an opinion out there?
Jan 13th, 2004, 07:48 AM
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I've snorkled at Looe Key, Pennekamp, and the Dry Tortugas. I've also snorkled from private boats in places undetermined in coral reefs off Key West (was too young to know where I was). Looe Key is fabulous, far outdistancing anything you will see at these other spots in its depth of reef, with easy access to a large area of tremendous beauty.
Pennekamp was nice but not particularly spectacular. It is a beautiful park and a very good place to begin your FL snorkel experience. It is mostly a shallow water experience.
The Dry Tortugas was mostly sea grass and I don't think it has rock reefs, such as coral or other calcium. But it has an abundance of marine life, not driven away by the thunder of inshore motorboats or revellers, and very clear waters that aren't polluted by runoff from urban landscapes (i.e. human waste and pollution). It is a beautiful trip over to that tiny island -- the seaplane ride is wonderful, fun to land on the pontoons. Take a picnic lunch, and spend some time perusing the old fort, taking in America's history. Birding there can be wonderful if the frigate birds are there -- I'm sure there's other bird life as well.
I don't know what's on Bahia Honda. But you also might consider some of the catamaran boats that take trips out to some of the coral reefs that surround Key West. Unless you've had enough by that time. You're seeing the best that's available to tourists if you visit Looe Key and the Dry Tortugas.
Have your lifeguard kids practice snorkling in the pool where you stay. And don't leave yourself out of this experience. You'll be sorry you didn't join in as you sit in the boat pondering what could have been. Snorkling takes a minimal amount of experience. If you can swim and breath, you can snorkel.
Have fun.
Pennekamp was nice but not particularly spectacular. It is a beautiful park and a very good place to begin your FL snorkel experience. It is mostly a shallow water experience.
The Dry Tortugas was mostly sea grass and I don't think it has rock reefs, such as coral or other calcium. But it has an abundance of marine life, not driven away by the thunder of inshore motorboats or revellers, and very clear waters that aren't polluted by runoff from urban landscapes (i.e. human waste and pollution). It is a beautiful trip over to that tiny island -- the seaplane ride is wonderful, fun to land on the pontoons. Take a picnic lunch, and spend some time perusing the old fort, taking in America's history. Birding there can be wonderful if the frigate birds are there -- I'm sure there's other bird life as well.
I don't know what's on Bahia Honda. But you also might consider some of the catamaran boats that take trips out to some of the coral reefs that surround Key West. Unless you've had enough by that time. You're seeing the best that's available to tourists if you visit Looe Key and the Dry Tortugas.
Have your lifeguard kids practice snorkling in the pool where you stay. And don't leave yourself out of this experience. You'll be sorry you didn't join in as you sit in the boat pondering what could have been. Snorkling takes a minimal amount of experience. If you can swim and breath, you can snorkel.
Have fun.
Jan 13th, 2004, 08:30 AM
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Tandoori girl:
Thanks so much for your in-depth reply.
My husband and I have snorkeled in the Caribbean & Mexico ~ we wouldn't miss out sharing this with our sons.
As for Looe Key, easier access from Key West or ??
Thanks again ~
Thanks so much for your in-depth reply.
My husband and I have snorkeled in the Caribbean & Mexico ~ we wouldn't miss out sharing this with our sons.
As for Looe Key, easier access from Key West or ??
Thanks again ~
Jan 13th, 2004, 08:35 AM
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There may be many ways but when I went we took a boat that left from Big Pine Key (or is it Big Pine Island). Ours was a big triple decker, but we had it all to ourselves as I think it was mid-summer, not a lot of tourists. It left early in the AM so we spent that night on Big Pine. This was about four years ago and there weren't a lot of nicer hotels on the island. We camped (this was my husbands concession to me because I like to camp but it was a disaster because the bugs ate me up while he and my son went unscathed) on Big Pine Key/Island Fishing Camp (or something similar). It was an OK place, not very glamorous but lots of wildlife and wilderness there.
Jan 13th, 2004, 08:43 AM
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We went to Looe Key last year with Strike Zone Charters out of Big Pine Key. We had a great time snorkeling the reef, and plan on going again with them this year, we'll dive while the kids snorkel. They don't have massive amounts of people on their boats, which is GREAT. It took us about 1/2 oour to drive up from Key West.
The snorkeling on Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas was fabulous. You have to snorkel out OVER the seagrass near the buoys to get to the coral heads - saw lots of marine life, pretty coral, sea fans, morays and even a turtle. Kids will like snorkeling along the moat wall and in among the coal dock pilings. Our day at the Dry Tortugas was the highlight of our trip last year, and we plan on a full day seaplane excursion this year as well.
The snorkeling on Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas was fabulous. You have to snorkel out OVER the seagrass near the buoys to get to the coral heads - saw lots of marine life, pretty coral, sea fans, morays and even a turtle. Kids will like snorkeling along the moat wall and in among the coal dock pilings. Our day at the Dry Tortugas was the highlight of our trip last year, and we plan on a full day seaplane excursion this year as well.
Jan 13th, 2004, 08:56 AM
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Gee, Melly. I guess I had my head in the water, glued to the marine life, and didn't notice that I needed to go past the seagrass. I was there when there weren't boats making the trip (1980), the only way to go was seaplane. The only problem I recall was that we had to go back after a few hours because they did two trips a day and you either had to stay and camp overnight, or go back then. So it limited the time we spent there. But it doesn't sound like Tricia will have much time anyway. Tricia, you will need to make more time for this trip. And why are you staying so long in Islamorada? I mean it's nice but it's not the Southernmost Key, by any means. What does one do on Islamorada for two nights, other than learn how to pronounce it ;~)
Jan 14th, 2004, 05:33 PM
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Tandoori Girl:
Did you make this trip 4 years ago, or did you do this in 1980? Both areas are marine sanctuaries with coral reefs. Tricia, I would go to Looe Key if I only had the limited time. It is a beautiful area. We have seen everything from sailfish to tarpon that came right up to us as we swam close to our boat. It's as if they know that the area is restricted. We owned a home on Cudjoe Key for over 22 years, which is very close to the area. Hope you have a great time.
Did you make this trip 4 years ago, or did you do this in 1980? Both areas are marine sanctuaries with coral reefs. Tricia, I would go to Looe Key if I only had the limited time. It is a beautiful area. We have seen everything from sailfish to tarpon that came right up to us as we swam close to our boat. It's as if they know that the area is restricted. We owned a home on Cudjoe Key for over 22 years, which is very close to the area. Hope you have a great time.
Jan 15th, 2004, 03:26 AM
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Thanks highbay for the positive remarks.
Our original plan & budget included a fishing excursion while in Islamorada. Now, after checking out the Dry Tortugas website and the seaplane info, we are considering the seaplane trip to the Dry Tortugas.
This trip includes more than just the Keys, it's a 10 day trip w/a drive to Orlando included. Therefore, we've limited our time in the Keys to 4 nights. Yes, we're well aware of how far a drive it is from Key West to Orlando, but there's plenty to see along the way.
Perhaps we'll hit Looe Key our our way down to Key West from Islamorada. (Eye-la-more-ah-duh, right Tandoori)? And, I'm not even there yet!
Our original plan & budget included a fishing excursion while in Islamorada. Now, after checking out the Dry Tortugas website and the seaplane info, we are considering the seaplane trip to the Dry Tortugas.
This trip includes more than just the Keys, it's a 10 day trip w/a drive to Orlando included. Therefore, we've limited our time in the Keys to 4 nights. Yes, we're well aware of how far a drive it is from Key West to Orlando, but there's plenty to see along the way.
Perhaps we'll hit Looe Key our our way down to Key West from Islamorada. (Eye-la-more-ah-duh, right Tandoori)? And, I'm not even there yet!
Jan 15th, 2004, 05:24 AM
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I'm beginning to understand now what someone told me about people stalking on fodors. Highbay, nice to hear from your pleasant self.
You're speaking like an honorary Floridian, Tricia. I wish I were going -- it's a lovely drive especially for first-timers, the time flies. I thought Looe Key was spectacular. My favorite all-time snorkel experience was the rock reefs in Negril. Been there, highbay?
Have fun.
You're speaking like an honorary Floridian, Tricia. I wish I were going -- it's a lovely drive especially for first-timers, the time flies. I thought Looe Key was spectacular. My favorite all-time snorkel experience was the rock reefs in Negril. Been there, highbay?
Have fun.
Jan 15th, 2004, 06:01 AM
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The best snorkeling we had in the Keys was at the Dry Tortugas...if you don't want to go out over the seagraa, there is also good coral near the coaling docks on the main island...also we heard from some people who were on the baot with us there was good snorkeling on some of the excursions from the Tortugas...in all the Tortugas were one of the highlights of our Key West trip
We also took a charter out to the Western Sambo...not nrearly as pretty as far as coral but lots of marine life.
I've never snorkeled at Pennekamp, but we did the glass-bottomed boat once and it looked good to me.
We also took a charter out to the Western Sambo...not nrearly as pretty as far as coral but lots of marine life.
I've never snorkeled at Pennekamp, but we did the glass-bottomed boat once and it looked good to me.
Jan 15th, 2004, 03:52 PM
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No TG. We just owned a home
on Cudjoe Key for a total of 22 years. We now rent a home for a month each year. And, DON'T flatter yourself, I am NOT stalking you, or anyone else. I do have valuable information about that area and the Tampa Bay area, because I have lived here all of my life.
Tricia, I do hope that you enjoy your
Florida vacation!
