Snorkeling in Florida Keys

Hi, I'm planning to Florida Orlando, Miami, Everglades and Key West in
September for two weeks. Knowing abundant coral reefs along the Florida
Keys, I would like to do some snorkeling in Key Largo or anywhere down the
Keys. I hope someone could answer me the following questions...

1. If I'm not a good swimmer (quite bad actually), can I still join those
snorkeling trips out to the coral reef areas and snorkel...provided I have a
life jacket?

2. Can I just rent the snorkeling equipments and life jacket and walk out to
the beach and snorkel? In other word, will I be able to see anything (either
fish or coral reefs) by snorkeling if I'm not joining the boat trip while
just swim near the coast?

3. Any snorkeling locations or nice beaches that I should visit along the
Florida Keys? I know there are lots of great places from the Upper Keys to
the Middle Keys and down to the Key West.

4. Out of the Florida Keys area, can anyone recommend some "white sandy"
beaches with "translucent" water along the southeast or southwest Florida? I
did some research and found too many beaches that I "should" visit. I would
be very appreciated if someone could suggest me with some "must-see"
beaches.

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Janette from Toronto, Canada

On 05/08/2004 12:28 AM Janette Lo plucked Senior Frog's Magic Twanger
and said:

Hi, I'm planning to Florida Orlando, Miami, Everglades and Key West in
September for two weeks. Knowing abundant coral reefs along the Florida
Keys, I would like to do some snorkeling in Key Largo or anywhere down the
Keys. I hope someone could answer me the following questions...

1. If I'm not a good swimmer (quite bad actually), can I still join those
snorkeling trips out to the coral reef areas and snorkel...provided I have a
life jacket?

2. Can I just rent the snorkeling equipments and life jacket and walk out to
the beach and snorkel? In other word, will I be able to see anything (either
fish or coral reefs) by snorkeling if I'm not joining the boat trip while
just swim near the coast?

3. Any snorkeling locations or nice beaches that I should visit along the
Florida Keys? I know there are lots of great places from the Upper Keys to
the Middle Keys and down to the Key West.

4. Out of the Florida Keys area, can anyone recommend some "white sandy"
beaches with "translucent" water along the southeast or southwest Florida? I
did some research and found too many beaches that I "should" visit. I would
be very appreciated if someone could suggest me with some "must-see"
beaches.

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Janette from Toronto, Canada




Janette,

Your best bet is John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, in Key Largo.
You can take a glass bottom boat ride there and have a guided tour of
the coral reefs without even getting wet. This web site has information
about tours, and snorkeling.
http://www.pennekamppark.com/

As for white sandy beaches with translucent water, you really aren't
going to find those in the keys. Due to the coral reefs surrounding the
keys there is no wave action to create soft sandy white beaches.
Beaches in the keys were formed by storm and hurricane tidal surge
action. Their chief component is limestone. The sand is coarse, and
packs down easily. If there are any white sandy beaches on the ocean
side, they are the result of private resort hotels having the sand
pumped up. My suggestion, rent a beach lounge chair if available or sit
down on a beach towel slowly and you will avoid having your spine jarred.

There are only two beaches to speak of in the Florida Keys. Bahia Honda
located in the lower keys on a key of that name. The other one is
Smather's Beach, located in Key West. There are other beaches, like
Harry Harris in Key Largo and Higgs Beach in Key West. They are small
and unremarkable.

If you snorkel off the beaches, you probably will only see eel grass
and maybe a few fish....young tarpon maybe. The coral reefs are not
adjacent to the shoreline but further out, reachable by boat. The best
beach is reachable only by boat at Ft. Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas.
It's about the only soft sandy beach with crystal clear waters in the
entire chain. You need to reserve passage on high-speed catamaran in
advance. Plan on either a half day or whole day in the Dry Tortugas.
Snorkel gear is provided, continental breakfast and light return meal
for the ticket fee. Plan on bringing your own box lunch. Most people
get one from the many bodegas about town. Swimming at the Dry Tortugas
is at your own risk.

Aside from John Pennekamp Coral Reef Park, your best bet is locating
snorkel boats that provide life vest for swimmers and have in water
guides. I did a glass bottom boat ride and that was enough for me. I
have great beaches in my home state of NJ. When I do Key West I mostly
float in one of those pool lounge chairs and have someone bring me
tropical drinks.

I like my fresh fish on a platter at: Half Shell Raw Bar, Capt.
Runnaground, Turtle Kraals, Hogs Breath, Alfonso's Raw Bar, or A&B
Lobster House. Key West is very much about the food; that's just a few
of the excellent places to dine.

These two links will give you just about everything you'd need to know
about the Florida Keys:

http://floridakeys.net/

http://fla-keys.com/index.htm



--
________
To email me, Edit "xt" from my email address.
Brian M. Kochera
"Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

2. Can I just rent the snorkeling equipments and life jacket and walk out
to
the beach and snorkel? In other word, will I be able to see anything
(either
fish or coral reefs) by snorkeling if I'm not joining the boat trip while
just swim near the coast?


I was down in the Caribbean one time and I spent a lot of time face down on
the beach in 4 inches of water just looking at all the teeny little beach
fish and sand. I guess it depends on what you consider worth looking at.

Em

"Auntie Em" Auntie wrote in message
news:uChnc.5575$gc.4662@fe21...
2. Can I just rent the snorkeling equipments and life jacket and walk
out
to
the beach and snorkel? In other word, will I be able to see anything
(either
fish or coral reefs) by snorkeling if I'm not joining the boat trip
while
just swim near the coast?


I was down in the Caribbean one time and I spent a lot of time face down
on
the beach in 4 inches of water just looking at all the teeny little beach
fish and sand. I guess it depends on what you consider worth looking at.

Em




The Keys reefs are not the same - the closest are a mile or more from shore
and must be reached by a boat. Sorry.

Chris

Janette Lo wrote:

Hi, I'm planning to Florida Orlando, Miami, Everglades and Key West in
September for two weeks. Knowing abundant coral reefs along the Florida
Keys, I would like to do some snorkeling in Key Largo or anywhere down the
Keys. I hope someone could answer me the following questions...

1. If I'm not a good swimmer (quite bad actually), can I still join those
snorkeling trips out to the coral reef areas and snorkel...provided I have a
life jacket?


Since you're not going until September, I
suggest you get a mask and snorkel and
try snorkeling close to Toronto.

There's some quite good beach snorkeling in the
Lake Simcoe/Barrie area.

Beyond that there's Tobermory but the water
can be cold.

Ontario snorkeling is not as good as Florida
but good practice.


2. Can I just rent the snorkeling equipments and life jacket and walk out to
the beach and snorkel? In other word, will I be able to see anything (either
fish or coral reefs) by snorkeling if I'm not joining the boat trip while
just swim near the coast?


Yes and no. You can take a snorkel boat with all
equipment provided but you need your own for
beach snorkeling.