Snorkeling Key West

Snorkeling in Key West, Florida

Daily Reef Snorkeling Tours

305-501-0501

Key West Weather Forecast, FL (33040)

snorkelinginkeywest.com

Call 305-501-0501

snorkelinginkeywest.com

Snorkel North America's only living

reef from a spacious sailng catamaran

Snorkeling is Key West’s most popular attraction: the reef and crystal blue waters surrounding our island paradise.

Your sailing and Key West snorkeling adventure begins as you board one of the state-of-the-art catamarans, part of the largest and most luxurious catamaran fleet in Key West Florida. Feel the excitement as you sail to south America's only living coral reef, where the wonders of Mother Nature await you. During your trip, unlimited sodas and water will be served.

SNORKELING KEY WEST, FLORIDA

While onboard, the state of the art catamaran offers the ultimate in sailing and snorkeling comfort, featuring:

• A Stairway to the Sea

• Large Sundeck

• Shaded Lounge Area

• Fresh Water Showers

• Spacious Bathrooms

• Top of the Line Sanitized Snorkeling Gear Provided

• Professional Instruction by the Crew

Don’t miss out on this amazing Key West Snorkeling experience.

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Learn about Key West's Living Coral Reef

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Snorkeling Gear and Professional Instruction

(Snorkel, Mask, Fins and Life Vest)

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Bring sunscreen and towel, lunch or snacks

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Approximate Length of trip: 3 hours

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Boarding begins 30 minutes prior to departure

Before entering the water, our friendly and professional crew will be on hand to assist and instruct you. Once you descend “the stairway to the sea”, you will discover the wonders of the undersea with pristine coral reefs and an abundance of marine life including tropical species found no place else on earth. Upon completion of your Key West snorkeling adventure, complimentary ice cold beer and white wine will be served.

Florida Reef Information

Florida is the only state in the continental United States to have extensive shallow coral reef formations near its coasts. These reefs extend from near Stuart, on the Atlantic coast, to the Dry Tortugas, west of Key West, in the Gulf of Mexico. The most prolific reef development occurs seaward of the Florida Keys. The reefs here are spectacular and rival those of many Caribbean areas. Approximately 6,000 coral reefs are found between Key Biscayne and Dry Tortugas.

Florida's coral reefs came into existence 5,000 to 7,000 years ago when sea levels rose following the Wisconsin Ice Age. Reef growth is slow; estimates range from one to sixteen feet every 1,000 years.

Stony corals are the major reef architects. Polyps, the living portion of the coral, extract calcium from seawater and combine it with carbon dioxide to construct the elaborate limestone skeletons that form the reef backbone. Coral polyps are united into colonies. An individual colony grows one-half to seven inches a year, depending on the species. Corals start life as free-living larvae that later settle on the sea floor and develop into massive, sedentary limestone formations.

Though reef corals are classified as animals, there is, in fact, a complex of microscopic plants that lives within the animal tissues (a symbiotic relationship). The animals benefit from the energy that the plants provide through photosynthesis. The plants are protected within the coral tissues and gain nutrients from animal wastes. These tiny plants are called zooxanthellae and are responsible for much of the color seen in reef corals.

Coral reefs are specialized habitats that provide shelter, food and breeding sites for numerous plants and animals. They form a breakwater for the adjacent coast, providing natural storm protection. They are very important to southeast Florida's economy. Recreational and commercial fishing annually bring many millions of dollars to the state. The attractions of the coral reef communities contribute greatly to the total value of Florida's fisheries.

Coral reef development occurs only in areas with specific environmental characteristics: a solid structure for the base; warm and predictable water temperatures; oceanic salinities; clear, transparent waters low in phosphate and nitrogen nutrients, and moderate wave action to disperse wastes and bring oxygen and plankton to the reef.

700 Front St.

305-501-0501