key west snorkeling
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Key West, Florida is Florida’s southernmost point, and is known for its pastel colored houses, its magnificent sunsets, Ernest Hemingway, and its coral reefs. Interestingly, Key West doesn’t have great beaches.
If you’re traveling to Key West, you’re probably adventurous, like the outdoors, and are fun loving. All qualities that suggest you’d love Key West snorkeling.
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Snorkeling in Key West
Where’s the best snorkeling in Key West? Like most subjective questions in life, it depends. Do you want to snorkel on your own or as part of a tour? Directly from the shore or further out in the ocean? The following locations are considered the best of Key West, Florida snorkeling:
Sand Key
Cottrell Key
Rock Key
Eastern Dry Rocks
Western Dry Rocks
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
Key West Marine Park
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On Your Own
If you have access to a boat, you can snorkel on your own at any of the places listed above. On the other hand, if you don’t want to rent a boat — or have one of your own — there are a few options for shore snorkeling. They are…
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park at the southwestern tip of Key West.
Key West Marine Park is a 40-acre area on the south side of Key West, stretching from Higgs Beach to South Beach. Public access is available at South Beach, Dog Beach, Higgs Beach, and at the end of Seminole Street. According to Snorkel Adventures Key West, “The best spot for snorkeling at the park is generally considered the old sunken pier at Higgs Beach just offshore of the intersection of Atlantic Boulevard and Reynolds Avenue.”
Bahia Honda State Park, which is 35 miles north of Key West. Bahia Honda also has a nice sandy beach area.
Key West Snorkeling Tours
If you prefer to take a snorkeling tour of Key West’s best snorkeling areas, these are TripAdvisor’s top choices:
To many joyful beach experiences!
— Lisa Dworkin
