Florida Keys
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
The 120-mile Florida Keys island chain is home to North America’s only living-coral barrier reef.
This teeming backbone of marine life runs the length of the Keys about five miles off offshore. Their coral formations are famous for their abundance of fish, from impressive schools of blue-striped grunts to toothy green moray eels.
The U.S. government established the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to protect our marine habitat. There are coral-encrusted ship wrecks and intricate natural coral formations, with shallow reefs that are ideal for snorkelers, and a range of deeper reefs for experienced divers.
Most dive sites are equipped with convenient mooring buoys to save the reef from anchors and make it easy for boaters to tie off. Most sites are a short boat ride from our islands, where dozens of highly professional dive operators are ready to cater to you.
Tortugas National Park - Whether you are a beginner or expert, you’ll agree that some of the best snorkeling in North America is found on this coral island some 70 miles west of Key West. Under the massive ramparts of Fort Jefferson and lying on a carpet of brilliant white sand is a myriad of colorful tropical fish and living coral.
The shallow waters make this area perfect for first time snorkelers. You’ll see lots of colorful corals, several varieties of tropical fish, starfish, queen conchs and much more in this protected marine sanctuary.
A great addition to your snorkel experience is a side trip to the Windjammer wreck. This 200-foot Schooner wreck, located just off Loggerhead Key, is home to thousands of tropical fish and spiny lobster.
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