Snorkeling Trips
Perhaps the most intriguing element of the Florida Keys is that it
boasts one of the only living coral reefs in North America. Diving
into the clear warm waters of the Florida Keys is a thrill of a lifetime.
You will be amazed at what awaits you in the underwater world of the
living coral reef.
As you snorkel you will see fish that seem to jump straight out
of a coloring book. Against the backdrop of purple sea fans you
will spot the neon electric blue spots on the jewelfish. Swimming
in and about the milky green of a sea vase you can’t miss the
orange and purple scales on the parrotfish. The queen angel will
wow you with her glowing turquoise "crown" and the little
yellow butterfly fish will trick you with his double eye.
The coral reef parallels the Florida Keys about 4-7 miles offshore
oceanside. It was formed in recent geological history
about 15,000-100,000 years ago as sea level rose to cover the land and then later receeded. The
unique location of our island chain allowed for the development
of our reef system. It is our proximity to the Gulf Stream that
spurred coral growth. This immense flow keeps our waters at the
required coral-developing temperatures and it also bathes and "feeds"
the reef corals allowing for growth. The Stream is also a major
player in "flushing" the system of pollutants washed in
from the bay side.
The reef system extends from close to shore out to 6-7 miles out. For snorkeling it can
be divided into various regions. Inshore patch reefs live in shallow
waters of 5-15 feet and consist of small coral outcroppings usually
surrounded by a sandy skirt. Mid-channel reefs lie in 15-20 feet
of water and boast larger coral growth. These reefs often contain
spur and groove formations which are essentially coral growth reaching
in fingerlike fashion divided by beds of sand. In deeper water we
find offshore reefs. These reefs host a great variety of corals
such as seafans, soft corals, and possibly pillar corals.
This range of reef allows us many options when choosing
a snorkel destination. Taking factors such as visibility, current,
and experience of the customer, we have great sites
to choose from.
You might be lucky enough to spot a moray eel, a nurse shark, a grouper or
even a stingray! And to think, all this activity is only a few feet
under the surface of our ocean.
We have had great success teaching children and "reminding"
adults how to snorkel. Our captains are happy to introduce the sport
by giving instruction in waist deep water of the Florida Bay and
then moving to the ocean to the reef. The warm calm and crystal
clear waters of the Florida Keys make for a great playground in
which to be exposed to the incredible wonders of the coral reef.
Please contact us via e-mail or phone to schedule your Keys snorkeling adventure. We can schedule private, customized trips for you and your party or get you out on one of our daily, regularly scheduled trips.
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Florida Keys Snorkeling Tours
