The reef is home to more a thousand species of fish, and mammals, including sharks, dolphins, moral eels and sea turtles, as well as the living and growing coral reef. It spans across 120 miles of the island chain of the Florida Keys and is about five miles off shores. The government of the United States made the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to protect the marine territory to preserve it the best we can for future generations to enjoy. This ever-changing environment has become one of the top maritime destinations in the world and for good reason too. This coral reef is not only the home to colorful, and dazzling marine species, it is also home to ship wrecks off the coast that have become coral-encrusted over time.

Not only the avid snorkelers and scuba divers come to experience the reefs. Photographers, both amateur and professionals alike, come from all over the world to capture the underwater wonder that exists here on a Key West snorkel. Photographs of the coral reef have been featured in publications for PBS.org, Living Green Magazine, Fox News and theguardian.com. Some of the most world renowned photographers and writers come to the Keys and never leave because of how much inspiration it instills in them.

It's so easy-going in the Keys, and with the climate is pretty much a constant of 72 to 84 degrees during the winter months, and temperatures ranging from 80 to 90 degrees during the summer, it won't be difficult to get a scuba diving or snorkeling boat on your vacation. Florida weather is a funny one too, if there is rain on your vacation, it will most likely last a few hours to a day, and then it becomes bright and sunny out again.

If you're looking for a snorkeling trip that includes a dolphin excursion, than the we would suggest booking a tour with Wild Dolphin Encounter and Snorkel. With this adventure you not only get to explore the living reef, but also visit the area known as the Dolphin Playground. Want to go on an old-fashioned sailing and snorkeling retreat? We'd highly recommend the Catamaran Reef Snorkel or the Schooner Reef cruise.

Fort Jefferson Dry Tortugas Beach

Fort Jefferson Dry Tortugas Beach is the most secluded beach in the Florida Keys, and is the more popular one for visitors to stretch out on and watch the snorkelers float a top the water. Although this beach is not in Key West, it is a short boat or plane ride away, and well worth the price. With beautiful, tropical waters perfect for a crisp swim and snorkeling excursion, it's not hard to see why this beach made the cut. The area is protected by law so that future generations will be able to enjoy the coral reef and it's inhabitants.

South Beach

This beach is located at the end of Duval Street and within walking distance of various restaurants. This beach is a local favorite, and is the home to various events, including the fireworks display for Fourth of July, and the Key West Beer Fest. Also, keep in mind that this beach does not have public restrooms.

Bahia Honda Beach

The Bahia Honda Beach is located about 30 miles north of Key West, within the Bahia Honda State Park. This protected area has calm, shallow waters to wade and snorkel in, and is a perfect family outing. Walk up the old bridge, and have your breath taken away from the beauty as you look down in the clear waters and spot as many animals as you can.

Smathers Beach

Are you going on your Key West vacation to blow off some steam? Come join the party at Smathers Beach, the largest beach in Key West that has two miles of a sandy beach and palm trees. There is a sufficient amount of parking for the crowds and there are plenty of activities to do at this beach. Smathers Beach offers watersports rentals, parasailing, windsurfing, volleyball, snack vendors, and restroom facilities.

Higg's Beach

Looking for a more kid-friendly time but still have some of the activities of Smathers Beach? Than Higg's beach is perfect for you, and your children. It offers a great place for families to have fun by offering playgrounds for the kids, water sports activities, picnic tables, restrooms and a restaurant. The beach is free admission and is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Dog Beach

Looking to give your furry, four-legged best friend a great vacation as well as yourself? Key West's Dog Beach is the match you've been looking for. Key West has a lot of pet friendly atmospheres and it's no wonder it has become one of the top pet-travel destinations in the United States. You get the best of both worlds at this beach, because you get to lay back and soak up the sun, while your canine best friend frolics in the water with his new doggy friends. This beach is located on the corner of Vernon and Waddell streets and has no restroom facilities (for humans, at least). The locals do ask that you pick up after your pet in order to keep the beach clean for others.

Rest Beach

Some people imagine their tropical vacation by sitting on a beach and watching the sunset with their loved ones. If that's the case for you, than we recommend that you kit up Rest Beach in Key West. Rest Beach is the perfect place to watch the sunset show, and relax next to the locals of Key West and other out-of-towners. The restroom are a short walk away and the park is also wheelchair accessible.

Sailing is one of the most exciting and exhilarating things that you can do on the open water. Swaying to and fro on a sailboat as you soar by the crystal clear waters can be incredibly thrilling, even more so when you're sailing in Key West. Sailing can also provide easy access to some of the top spots for snorkeling in the area. Sailing allows you to view Key West and the surrounding areas such as you've never seen before. A wondrous island in the Straits of Florida, Key West has built its reputation as the prime destination for sailing. There are a large number of amazing snorkeling locations that you can sail to on one of many catamarans throughout the area. Home to North America's only living reef, you can snorkel among a large variety of fish, as well as tons of colorful coral. It's also possible to view wrecked ships that have sunk to the bottoms of the ocean. No matter whether you're a beginner or someone with years of experience, snorkel Key West has the best locations for everyone.

Key West Sail and Snorkel Tours

As Key West is known the world over for its snorkeling opportunities, there are many tours available for visitors of all types to choose from. Many of these tours will allow you to sail on a first-class luxury Catamaran, as well as providing access to all of the best snorkel locations in Key West. A variety of Key West Snorkel Tours available to you include a myriad of benefits that will entice you to come back for more. Booking one of these tours will also allow you access to an unlimited amount of drinks during the adventure, from beer to soft drinks to wine and sangria. These tours will offer complete snorkeling gear so that you don't have to worry about bringing your own. While the snorkel tours offer most of what you will need, it's also recommended that you bring basic beach necessities along with you, such as a swim suit, beach towel, sunscreen and sunglasses, as well as a camera if you want to take pictures of some of the unforgettable moments that you will undoubtedly experience on your tour through the best snorkel spots in Key West. It matters not if you are a family or a young couple on their first vacation together, a Key West snorkel and sail offers everything you are looking for and more.

Key West snorkeling tours can provide you with three pieces of equipment on your tour. The first is the mask. You can prepare your mask by making sure that it fits you correctly. See that it is tight enough to create a seal between your nose and the water, but don't have it be too tight that it cuts off your circulation.

The second piece of equipment that you need is a snorkel. Make sure that the snorkel attaches well to your mask and that it doesn't have any leaks or holes. You can check to be sure that the snorkel will be comfortable by putting the mask and snorkel on before you get in the water. Try breathing comfortably with the snorkel to prove that it works.

Some people choose to also use fins in order to propel themselves faster through the water. The tour guides can give these to you. Be sure that the fins fit well; they should be tight but not cut off your circulation. If you choose not to wear fins, you will need to bring along some study shoes that you can wear in the water. It is not a good idea to go snorkeling barefoot, since the corals on the bottom of the water can be very sharp and you will also harm them by stepping on them.

You can choose to go on a Catamaran snorkel trip, which takes you out into the ocean and lets you see some of the most diverse fish and corals in Key West.

The Wild Dolphin Encounter and Snorkel combines the exciting activity of snorkeling with the opportunity to visit some of the areas where dolphins swim in this part of the ocean. Be sure to take plenty of pictures of the dolphins on this once in a lifetime opportunity.

The Schooner Reef Cruiseis another popular tour that we offer. With a small group of other cruisers, you'll get to visit some of the most colorful reefs in this area. You'll feel as though you took a step back in time among this old style boat, like the ones they used to sail in world explorations.

For something a little bit different, join the Rum and Reggae cruise. On this tour, you'll get to do a snorkeling key west session and a sunset cruise through the area.

All in all, you're sure to have a great time snorkeling in Key West if you follow the advice above to prepare for your trip. Our guides will take care of you and make sure that you have the best experience, no matter which tour you decide to take.

1.) Take a Step Back into History

Key West has an abundance of interesting history attached to it, making it a top attraction for History buffs. For the romantics or just someone interested in the relaxing cruise aboard a replica of the Schooner that would have been used centuries ago, then we recommend the Schooner Reef Cruise. This tour is a sure way to explore the waters of Key West while indulging the finer things in life. You'll feel as though you stepped into the past as you help set the sails in accordance to the wind patterns of the day.

2.) Enjoy a Dolphin Encounter

This family friendly, Wild Dolphin Encounter and Snorkel is the perfect snorkeling tour in Key West to bring everyone on. This tour has something for everyone and is accommodating to anyone of any age. This is the tour to do if you're looking to encounter dolphins in their natural habitat and watch them frolic and play, followed by a session of snorkeling in the Marine Preserves.

3.) Calling All Music Lovers

If you're looking to do a little more partying and are a lover of reggae music, then we have the perfect snorkeling adventure in Key West for you. This tour is catered toward a specific type of chilled out person that is looking to relax, but yet still have an adventure. The Rum and Reggae snorkeling experience is designed to start later in the day, first taking you out to some spectacular snorkeling in Key West's territory in the late afternoon, and then enjoy sipping on the signature Rum punch while listening to Reggae tunes while absorbing the famous Key West sunset as you return to the island.

You can't go wrong with choosing a Key West snorkel as something to do in Key West for your vacation, but it doesn't hurt to choose one that fits your style and personality. We hope we were of some help, and if you have any questions or concerns or if you are ready to book one of these snorkeling tours, please call us at 877.243.2378.

The next thing that you want to bring is good clothing. For snorkeling, some people choose to use a swimsuit. However, it's a good idea to wear a shirt as well. Make sure that it is a tight fitting shirt so that it doesn't drag in the water.

Generally, you do not need to bring food on your snorkeling trip. Food and water are covered as part of your fees. If you need any special dietary foods, you may want to bring them.

Cameras are a good idea if you want to take pictures of your journey. Only cameras with waterproof coverings should be brought on the trip, since other cameras may get wet. You could bring your digital camera for pictures on the boat, but be prepared to hold on to it during the boat ride out to sea. It can be a little rough depending on the Key West weather, and the waves will create a light sea spray that will get the camera lightly moist. As long as you keep a tight grip of your camera from getting in the water, your camera should be fine to bring aboard to capture the memories.

Finally, sunglasses and towels are a good idea. Likely you will not want to snorkel for the entire time, and your time on the boat can be improved with some sunglasses and a towel to sunbathe on. We recommend a sunscreen with at least a SPF 45, because the Florida sun gets a lot stronger in the middle of the ocean, and we don't want any of our guests to be uncomfortable for the rest of their stay in Key West, Florida.

Other than that, your snorkeling tour guides will take care of you the rest of the way, giving you a memorable vacation, snorkeling in Key West.

There are a few exercises that you can do to get ready for your trip. First, you can put the snorkel on before you get into the water and try to breathe calmly. Showing yourself that you can breathe through the snorkel helps calm your mind's worries. The next thing is to get in the water and simply float. Showing yourself that it's actually hard to go underwater with the lifejacket on will help calm your fears about not being able to swim hard enough.

If you don't have a lot of experience in the water, get to know your guide well. This person will be keeping you safe during your trip, so you can ask him or her any questions you have about the trip. Stay close to the guide throughout the snorkeling experience if you are nervous about being in the water.

Coral reefs have been around for approximately 200 million years, and some scientist even believe up to 400 million years ago they existed. The coral reefs take time to grow and it is believed they reached their level of biological diversity about 50 million years ago.

Coral reef is made up of thin layers of calcium carbonate that has been secreted over thousands of years by tiny soft-bodied animals by the billions called coral polyps. These polyps differ in sizes and can be as small as a pinhead to a foot in length, and each one lives in a symbiotic relationship with an algae. This algae, called Zooxanthellae, gives the coral its beautiful hue by taking in Carbon Dioxide, then giving off Oxygen. These millions of polyps start to form on the limestone that exist, and then create what we now know as a coral reef.

This ecosystem is extremely precious to the waters of Key West, and deserves our care and respect. Key West snorkeling is the best way to experience the reef, just please remember to look and not touch. One wrong touch could destroy hundreds of years worth of building. The coral reef of Key West has been under threat due to recent oil spills, and we believe it's our duty to keep our mother Earth healthy and clean. If your back yard we getting damaged in some unhealthy way, you would get upset and make sure something was done about it, right? Well, since we snorkel Key West often, we consider it our backyard, and would like to preserve for future generations. For more info on booking a snorkeling tour in Key West to see theamazing coral reef formations and wildlife, please call us at 877.243.2378.

Be Conscious of Your Surroundings

The coral reef gardens surrounding the Keys, and the Atlantic coast of Florida have taken thousands of years to build, and one wrong turn and bump into this majestic formation could ruin hundreds of years worth of construction. We are protective about our reef because it is what makes our home so much more unique and beautiful. We ask that you try your best to be careful when snorkeling, and not to touch anything.

We want to keep attracting the hundreds of fish species that live amongst the Key West coral reef to snorkel and observe for years to come, so we want to educate our future visitors of how to help us achieve this goal. We ask that you have fun looking but not touching so the coral can continue to grow in harmony with us. If you take coral from the reef, this provides larger issues for our ecosystem of the Florida Keys than you can imagine, so please refrain from taking any souvenirs.

Help Clean Up the Waters

Unfortunately for us, not everyone that encounters the seas is as self-conscious as us, and can be apathetic about andldquo;cleaning up after him or herselfandrdquo;. The sad reality is people that throw their trash into the water from cruise ships or leave their trash on the beaches, really do exist. Sometimes it's not intentional, and sometimes it is. There are two things you can do that will help us keep our oceans and rivers clean if you do this.

First, if you see someone that intentionally litters the oceans or beaches, or anywhere in the world for that matter, politely say that you would appreciate if they could be responsible for their trash and to please put it in the receptacle that it belongs in. Do it in a polite and friendly manner to let them know you are asking as a fellow human being, and they will think twice about littering next time.

The second thing you can do to help us conserve our oceans is to help us clean up. Whether it's organizing a beach or river clean up, or simply bring in trash found on your Key West snorkel trip, every bit of an effort helps us save the marine lives of the coral reef. Imagine if you picked up a plastic bag from the ocean. You could have saved a Sea Turtle's life, which could have eaten the bag, mistaking it for it's favorite food, the jellyfish.

Snorkeling in Key West is a great thing to do, and we recommend you definitely book a tour for your vacation. We just want to make sure everyone understands these two tips before going on you embark on your Key West snorkeling adventure, and help us protect our coral reef!