Key Largo Snorkeling
What You Need to Know

Key Largo snorkeling offers you the opportunity to see unique coral formations and witness rare marine wildlife in beautiful, natural surroundings of the fabulous Florida Keys.

Snorkeling is a good option for those who don't have the inclination or experience to dive but still want to see what our crystal clear ocean waters have to offer. With a snorkel, mask, and fins, you'll propel yourself on the surface and have a clear view if what lies below. There are many companies in Key Largo that offer snorkel tours.

Best Snorkel Areas

The offshore waters of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park lie just off the island of Key Largo and have some of the best snorkel spots in the Keys. Here you will get to see fish of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Apart from the fish, you will also get to see with your own eyes the unusual and beautiful coral formations in this underwater sanctuary. You could see wildlife such as sea turtles, large fish like grouper and smaller fish such as angelfish and parrotfish. You can snorkel these areas on your own or with a snorkel tour company.

Another famous underwater site is called the Statue of Christ of the Abyss, and it lies in shallow enough water for snorkelers to get a good view. It is located among the coral formations the form the Dry Rocks reef. As the name would suggest, it is a large statue of Jesus with his arms outstretched reaching for the heavens. Molasses, Carysfort, Elbow, and Pickles reefs are other popular spots that teem with marine life.

Snorkel Tours

Taking a snorkel tour is the safest and most fulfilling way of seeing the underwater world around Key Largo. Competent snorkel guides will not only take you to the best spots directly by boat, but also ensure you don’t stray too far away from the group or get into any difficulties at sea. This is the ideal option for those who want to take part in the snorkel experience in a guided group setting.

You don't need any of your own equipment to participate. All local snorkel companies offer use of rental gear including a mask, fins, and snorkel via an additional fee or as part of a package deal. On some snorkel tours you may be required to don an inflatable vest as an added safety precaution.

Snorkeling on Your Own

There are a few points you need to remember if you go snorkeling on your own. First off, you'll need a boat, nearly everything you will want to see is a too far from shore to wade or swim.

Once your at a Key Largo snorkeling site you will need to keep a few things in mind. For one thing, you must not touch the coral. It may not look like it, but coral is in fact a living organism and can be damaged easily by human touch. You'll need to be wary of where your feet and fins are as well. Some areas are very shallow and require you keep your body right at the surface to avoid contact with the coral.

You must always fly a 36-inch red and white flag dive flag prominently from your vessel to indicate to other boaters that you have snorkelers or divers in the water. If you see a vessel displaying this flag you should give them a wide berth when passing and reduce speed to idle if you must approach within 300 feet.