Scuba Diving and Snorkeling in the Florida Keys
A Weekend Dive Trip to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Sep 28, 2009
This small island chain off the Southernmost tip of the Florida peninsula is surrounded by clear, warm waters that are home to the coral reefs of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary which teems with vibrant underwater species. Diving—underwater swimming with an oxygen tank—and snorkeling—surface swimming with a breathing tube—are the main tourist activities here and the many dive shops that hang their shingle out by the solitary two lane highway running the length of the islands are positively competitive with one another towards ensuring vacationers an experience of a lifetime. There are hotel accommodations in the Keys fitting all scales of budgets or a room can even be booked in one of the small towns between Miami and the Keys to drive down for the day.
Scuba Lessons in the Florida Keys
To dive, first contact and make an appointment with a certified instructor who can provide equipment and about 1 hour of training. This site offers a good list of dive shops.
Meetings are in the early morning. A short video is shown that covers the basics of diving, sizing is done for gear, then directions are given to a swimming pool at a nearby hotel or community center. In the pool training teaches how to:
- clear a mask of water should it leak
- inflate and deflate a vest so that a diver can rise or sink at will
- breath through a regulator
- equalize ear pressure when approaching depths over 10 feet
By the end confident diving abilities and ravenous hunger will result. There is something about the tropical sunshine and being underwater that rouses a formidable appetite. The instructor will recommend one of the many great restaurants lining the highway and set a meeting time back at the marina.
Snorkeling in the Florida Keys
To snorkel requires no training. Simply contact a dive shop, rent a mask, snorkel tube, and flippers and sign up for the next boat bound for the reef.
Florida Keys Reef Species
Both approaches to seeing the reef, diving and snorkeling, will yield the same sights because of the clarity and shallowness of the water. The reef rarely descends deeper than 20 feet so everything seen at the bottom is viewable from the top. The advantages to diving are uninterrupted time underwater and face to face views with tropical fish. The disadvantages are the sometimes uncomfortable pressures in the ears and the equipment can be cumbersome when going in and out of the water from the boat. The advantages to snorkeling are the relaxed, bird’s eye view of the reef stretching below without water pressure on the ears. The disadvantage of snorkeling is being slightly removed from the full close-up experience.
Expect to see:
- Tropical fish
- Coral formations
- Sponges
- Moray eels
- Nurse sharks
- Jellyfish
- Sea turtles
- Cuttlefish
- Manta Rays and Eagle Rays (if you are lucky)
Considerations Before Planning a Florida Keys Vacation
- The Keys are hot and humid from June to October but somewhat cooler and dryer from November to May.
- A recent cold makes it difficult to equalize ear pressure when diving. Snorkeling is the better option.
- There is one highway that goes into and out of the Keys so if the trip falls on a major holiday expect traffic.
- Ask about visiting shipwrecks in the reef to add a historical dimension to a dive.
 |
 |
 |
