What is the best snorkeling trip to take while in Key West?

If nothing else you will not appreciate how beautiful and clear the water is around Key West unless you get out onto and into it.

     Every snorkeling trip that goes out to the reef does an exceptional job. The captain and crew of every boat do their best to provide a pleasant trip to the reef, a safe snorkeling experience, and a casual trip back to Key West serving whatever refreshments are included with the trip. Every trip includes all of the equipment you will need. Before allowing people to enter the water one of the crew members explains how to use the equipment, where to swim to see the best variety of fish and coral formations, and what to do in case there is any kind of problem. They explain what to do while in the water in order not to become too tired while snorkeling, and what not to do in order that visitors do not damage the reef. They always strike a nice balance between being entertaining and informative. So how do you choose?

     The choice is partly one of convenience. Most of the boats go out three times each day; once in the morning, usually from 9:30 to 12:30.  Once early in the afternoon, usually from 1:00 to 4:00. And once later in the afternoon for a combination snorkel and sunset sail. These go out at approximately 4:30 or 5:00 and get back at 7:30 or 8:00, depending on the season. The best deal can often be one of the combination trips since it usually costs only slightly more than the others but provides more time on the water.

     Consider sailing on a catamaran. These boats are more stable than single-hulled boats, they provide a lot of shade underneath the roof over the passenger area, and you can either stand at the rail or stretch out on the foredeck and enjoy the trip out. More importantly for beginners they provide a “stairway to the sea,” a ramp that is let down in the front of the boat and which makes it easier to get into and out of the water. The single-hulled boats do not have this and so you must climb down a ladder to get into the water. Doing this with fins on your feet on is nearly impossible, but putting the fins on while in the water is very difficult. Either the Fury or the Caribbean Spirit will cost approximately $35.00 - $40.00 per person, plus tax, with a discount for children, and you generally save a few dollars by either booking on-line in advance, by using a coupon, or by visiting a so-called “Bob-in-a-box,” people who sell tickets for various activities from small kiosks on the streets in Key West.       

     If single-hulled boats are your style, try the Floridays or Danger Charters. The Floridays and Danger boats are 60' - 72' sailboats that only takes eighteen or so people They are a little more expensive than the bigger boats,  $45.00 -$90.00 per person plus tax, and they are worth the few extra dollars, if only for the enhanced sensation of actually sailing, and the benefit of more personal service. Floridays moors at the Hyatt dock , Danger Charters moors behind the Westin, and they fill up quickly.

     And lastly, there are two “All-Day” snorkeling trips. All-day trips are the most fun and the best value that you can find, and come highly recommended. They are the Sebago Island T’ing, and Danger Charters' All-Day. They both go out mid-morning and come back at approximately 4 PM. The trips are significantly different from one another. Sebago is a catamaran and goes to the reef (and provides a "continental breakfast" during the sail, and then give you approximately one hour to snorkel. Danger, on the other hand, is a "Skipjack" sailing schooner, and goes into the Florida Keys National Marine Wildlife Sanctuary to snorkel with staff ecologists amongst the young, developing reef systems. At noon (or so) both companies put out a lunch and drinks. (Sebago's lunch provided by their own in-house catering company, Danger's catered by local gourmet favorite, the Waterfront Market.) Sebago then moves to a mangrove island. while Danger heads deeper into the Sanctuary. The passengers are lead on a kayak trips around the island, where they are told about the formation of the island and its flora and fauna. And both trips will try to find dolphins on the sail back to Key West. Danger Charters lists the all-day trip for $90.00 per person, the Sebago Island T’ing is $85.00 per person but you can find coupons for this. All plus tax. And two fill up quickly and limit the number of people that they take, so it is highly recommended to book at least a day in advance. The cost is higher for these because of the exclusitivity (18 or so guests, and highly-personalized service, as opposed to upwards of 100 people on the various other trips), and if you were to just go out on a single snorkel trip and have breakfast and lunch in Key West, you will have spent about the same amount.

A few other considerations. One is that if the weather is clear and calm it won’t matter when you go out; conditions at the reef will be good. If there is much wind or there has been rain, go out on an afternoon trip if you can. The captains on the morning trips will have found if conditions at the reef are bad and try to go somewhere else in the afternoon. If you want to try to take underwater photos, also go out in the afternoon. The sun will be at its highest then and the light will be better than in the morning or late afternoon. And no snorkeling trip can guarantee where they are going. They may even start out for one part of the reef and change to another part on the way out. But try to see if the trip you are considering is going to Sand Key. This area has fingers of coral through which you can swim and where the fish seem to congregate.  And you should consider taking a snorkeling trip as early as possible during your vacation. Waiting may cause you to miss a trip because of bad weather or conditions, and if you enjoy one trip early in your vacation you may want to try another during your stay in Key West.

And there is always the question as to whether or not to pre-book a snorkeling trip. The large catamarans, the Fury, the Sebago, and the Caribbean Spirit, which go out for a two hour morning and afternoon trip hold just over 100 people. These trips almost never fill up and so you could just walk up a half-hour before departure and take the trip. But for a trip on a smaller boat or on one of the all-day trips it is highly advisable to book at least one-day in advance. If you are visiting Key West during the high season or during one of the special weeks, spring break or Hemingway Days, you might even want ot pre-book on-line before you leave for your vacation to guarentee places on the boat. This is especially true for the Danger Charters, the Sebago Island T'ing, and the Floridays. If the weather is bad or they do not go out, all of the trips will allow you to re-schedule your trip or give you a refund if you cannot go another day. And pre-booking any trip may allow you to take advantage of a discount.    

And remember. All of the boats take both a maximum number of passengers and a minimum number. If you do not pre-book, your boat may not be filled up and cancel on the day you want to go. And it is a courtesy to the captain and crew to let them know you are coming.