Florida Keys snorkeling locations

[Ron Reefman]

I hope you have a warm wet suit. The last time we were down there in mid December a few years ago it was darn cold! I have a 3 or 4 mil wet suit and it still only took about an hour and I was getting chilly.

BTW, I got the wet suit at a Salvation Army Store here in Cape Coral. I can only assume from somebody who did diving up north and didn't need it down here. It's a 2 piece and came with heavy gloves, a hood and nice boots that all fit well. It was all in a flip top plastic box like you can buy at Lowes and the whole package was $15. Seriously, $15. The box almost costs that much at Lowes! I only wear it on really cold snorkels in Dec thru Feb as I have lighter wet suits and a dive skin for warmer water.

[icy1155]

We have paddled off Sanibel and went snorkeling/spearfishing a few times this past month, and my 1.5 mil long suit was enough. I have a tendency to not get as cold as some other people, but I do have a range of wetsuits from my rash guard to a 7 mil farmer john.

We are thinking we may rent a boat from Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge and go out to the patch reefs out off of Long Beach. When we were down there this summer we got to know them pretty well and there are some really nice little patches out there.

[G_Sanab922]

Not only is it cold down here right now it's also very windy. Icy, make sure to check NOAA before you head out. It's been 20kts+ most of this month and don't think it'll be slowing down. Phillip from KP aquatics told me it's been pretty turbid these days.

[viggen]

Great thread.... Big fan of the keys.... One of my favorite places to visit

I have always wanted to either rent a boat or bring a boat down there to do some snorkeling and also visit some off the beating path areas. ,y divorce was finalized 2 weeks ago and I am debating in heading to the keys late spring or early summer. Any opinions on if it's a good or bad idea to bring a boat? Found a few 15ft Seadoo speedsters locally which is what I would bring down. I figure I would probably tent camp at either Boyd's or the Koa.

[Ron Reefman]

viggen, welcome to the thread. I have a good friend who lives in Dayton. We raced sports cars together when I lived in Columbus.

My condolences and/or congratulations on the divorce. Been there twice myself and now happily married for 10 years, and my wife has been divorced twice before as well!

On to the Keys trip info:

I think late spring and early summer are great as the water is getting warmer, the days are getting longer and the threat of afternoon thunderstorms (every other day by mid summer) and hurricanes (become a bit of a threat by the end of July).

My take on it is, if you have a boat, bringing it along can't be a bad idea. But if you don't have a boat, don't buy one just for this trip. There are lots of places to snorkel off the beach and see tons of cool stuff. Bahia Honda State Park is probably the best, but there are several free areas that are almost as good. And you can rent a kayak and get to a number of small islands just off shore like Little Bahia Honda (1/4 mile out), Little Money (1/4 mile out), and Money Key (3/4 mile out, but less than 1/4 mile from the Seven Mile Bridge). And then there are a lot of charter boats that go out to Looe Key, Sombrero Key and others every day (even twice a day) if the weather is good.

How long has it been since you were late in the Keys? What areas have you been to?

[viggen]

What type of cars racing did you do? I don't have the $$$$ to race but I am getting back into drivers schools, slowly building a Miata form some track time. Putnam park and mid Ohio are what I plan on hitting this year.

Yea good and bad... It's my second divorce.... Hardest thing is I dont have my own kids and am or I guess was their step dad.... Sucks not seeing them at all.... Most didn't even know that I wasn't the kids dad... I play soccer with one of their old coaches and he said it took me 3 years to realize you were t their dad.....

I have wanted a small boat for a while, and would use it up here at times.... Thus it wouldn't be only for a trip down south.

I have stated at Boyd's, blue water key and sugarloaf Koa. Spent time at Bahia Honda snorkeling however last time I think 4 years ago tropical depressions were moving by thus we were body surfing not snorkeling. Went to the dry Tortugas back in 08 if I recall and years before that I did a snorkeling trip out to the reefs...... This thread has helped a lot of finding other places to snorkel off the shore....

Most snorkeling I have done off the shores were off of key west....

[Ron Reefman]

Ha! Building a Miata... what a crazy small world! My daily driver (and current auto-x and track day car) is an 08' Miata with an after market turbo and currently makes just under 300hp. This pic is from Palm Beach International last summer at an SCCA Track Night in America event. I just got new 16"x 8" wheels and 245/16 Hoosier slicks for the new auto-x season.



From 1980 thru 1995 I raced 4 different cars in 6 different classes from SSC (Showroom Stock C) in a 1979 Fiat X-1/9 to EP (E Production) in a 1987 Toyota MR2. Mostly around the Mid-west. I never ran Putnam Park but I ran a lot at Mid-Ohio. Second wife is still the liaison to Mid-Ohio for OVR (Ohio Valley Region of the SCCA in Columbus).

The kids thing has to be tough. I never felt 'mature' enough to have kids and none of my 3 wives wanted them either, so that was OK. I was having too much fun being a big kid myself and all the wives wanted careers rather than kids. That made funding a race car a lot easier. My friend in Dayton owned HIPPI Racing which owned, rented and maintained 5 to 8 SCCA Spec Racers until a few years ago. Now he plays golf and plays with go-karts (much cheaper and less work).

I have a love/hate relationship with boats. Moved to Florida and got a fairly new 26' MacGregor sailboat for a few years. I loved sailing but it was way too much work getting it in and out of the water. Then we got a very old 21' Proline 'walk around cabin' which was a cool boat but being old had giant issues. Now we have an almost new 11' Zodiac with a 20hp Suzuki. Easy to tow, easy to get in and out of the water, almost no maintenance and fun in the Keys for getting away from shore to little islands where we can snorkel areas with no other people around.

You mentioned body surfing at Bahia Honda due to a tropical storm. Do you know about the Horseshoe? It's just a bit further southwest from Bahia Honda on Spanish Harbor Key. It's so well protected from the weather that there is almost always worthwhile snorkeling there.

We have never done any snorkeling further south than the Middle Keys (except for a trip to the Dry Tortugas). Any suggestions for 'off the beach' snorkeling down toward Key West? Either this summer or next summer (when Elaine retires) we will do a camping trip out to the Dry Tortugas. The snorkeling is almost pristine and Fort Jefferson is really cool and historic. We want to go when there will be a new moon so the sky will be dark, you're 70 miles from Key West's lights... and if the sky is clear the Milky Way should be pretty spectacular stretched out across the sky!

[viggen]

Small world indeed!!! Which turbo do you have! TDR being in Florida? I am also doing a turbo as well as a 2.5L swap. Do you have aftermarket brakes? Or just better pads?

I am not familiar with that racing team, I do know a few people who race mostly solo and Porsche club. The nice thing about Putnam is if you go off track... You are in a field... LOTS of runoff area

Yes boats w/o a doubt can be a pita. I want something simple... Grew up with boats and for a few years had a jet ski.... I am considering seadoo's 15 ft jet boat. Like your zodiac easy to load, trailer, maintain...

I didn't know about the horseshoe when we're were there but I do now! I am debating on heading west to colorado for some jeep trails and mountain biking or to the keys for snorkeling, relaxing, etc.... If I head to the keys spending a night or two at the Tortugas is something I am considering. As stated a awesome place

[kenneth wolfe]

here is some porn for ya..[IMG][/IMG]

[G_Sanab922]

Sorry to break up your car stuff here LOL but just so you know the keys are VERY packed right now. And from what I've seen and heard it's not going to let down for a month or two. My in laws came from Miami to key largo and it took them 2 1/2 hours to get to my house. I can't imagine someone going to key west. Probably 6-7 hours.

Viggen for the time of year you plan to come I think a 15ft seadoo should be fine, especially in the middle/lower keys where their is less boat traffic. We've had renters that bring their boats up to the greater lakes. They are always glad they bring their boat. Renting can be good but there's nothing like having your own boat and having the experience out on the water.

[Ron Reefman]

Much as I would like to chat more car stuff, I try to keep it to a minimum.

G Sanab922, I assume this is mostly the typical snowbird impact? We get the same thing over here in Ft Myers. The traffic is much heavier than the rest of the year and Ft Myers Beach, Sanibel beaches and Naples beaches are much more busy.

[G_Sanab922]

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

Much as I would like to chat more car stuff, I try to keep it to a minimum.

G Sanab922, I assume this is mostly the typical snowbird impact? We get the same thing over here in Ft Myers. The traffic is much heavier than the rest of the year and Ft Myers Beach, Sanibel beaches and Naples beaches are much more busy.

Yea it's snowbirds but it wasn't that bad in Nov or early December. It's picking up like last year but a little late. And last year was a very packed winter. I like giving the heads up for people who plan to come because it can easily ruin a trip when you expect a 2-3 hour ride and it's a lot longer. And on the water it's worse obviously.
Down here we get all the drunks and on your side you get the people who relax lol. I love the beaches in Sanibel, but I couldn't imagine how long it'd take with that low speed limit road

[viggen]

Cars... Fish... The ocean...

Yea I could only imagine what it's like down there now. It's been 10-15 years since I went down during the spring break time and it was always slow going.... Early 90's the first time I went down during that time it wasn't to bad.

Last time I was down there I did look into renting a boat at the camping area, if I recall it was close to $200 a day for a small beatup pontoon. I think it would be a lot of fun to be able to find a small island/beach/sandbar whatever to relax at w/o a bunch of people around. Unless it's girls in bikini's then I could deal with the spectra scenery

[Ron Reefman]

Elaine and I always find it so relaxing to snorkel for a couple of hours at an out island like Little Money, Little Bahia Honda, Money or Molassas and then take a break for lunch. Just laying in a small Zodiac is laying sideways leaning up on one side tube and the legs draped over the other side tube, but it's so easy to unwind. It's quiet, gentle waves, comfortable water temps, warm air and sunshine! God I can't wait for May or June!

[WilRams]

Wish I would have taken a look at this thread a couple months ago when I was down there. Good stuff.

[icy1155]

Well, for a little weather report. The wife and I went down this past weekend. It has been blowing pretty good down there lately, but we decided to give it a try anyways. We brought the kayak and paddleboard to get out to the patch reefs off of Sugarloaf and were staying at the KOA. The water was pretty milky out on the Atlantic side of Sugarloaf, about 1' visibility. Sat we went out on the gulf side and got about 8' visibility, which was enough to get a couple keeper lobster and a hogfish for dinner. All in all, anyone who is going for the snorkeling should probably wait a little for it to calm down.

And if you are thinking of camping, get SOMETHING that stops no-see-ums. Usually they aren't this bad because it is cooler, but this winter has been warm and they are terrible. Our tent didn't keep them out, and we were miserable all night long.

[Ron Reefman]

WilRams, you can come back to the Keys again any time. Late Spring before the afternoon thunderstorm season starts is a great time to visit.

icy1155, windy eh? Thanks for the update, we'll wait until May.

BTW, we are back online after being without internet or TV for a week after a small tornado took the cable that ran from the house to the telephone pole! It also took soffit, facia and about 25% of the insulation in our attic! Oh, and 4 big trees from our yard. One was a 25' tall mango that I raised from a 1' tall pup! But we were the lucky ones as less than 1 mile away houses all have blue tarp roofs and a few are uninhabitable!

[Speedfreak241]

I am in the keys all the time and snorkel there quit often. This bahia Honda place I keep seeing, is it legal to collect there. There's a few places I go but don't know there exact locations other than the way there from the house.

[G_Sanab922]

Originally Posted by Speedfreak241

I am in the keys all the time and snorkel there quit often. This bahia Honda place I keep seeing, is it legal to collect there. There's a few places I go but don't know there exact locations other than the way there from the house.

Direct quote from Bahia Honda website:

"•FISHING: Tarpon fishing in the area rates among the best in the state. Charter boats and guides are generally available for hire during tarpon season. Saltwater fishing licenses are required in Florida. All fishing within the park must conform to the regulations concerning size, number, method of capture and season. Spearfishing, possession of spearfishing equipment and collection of tropical fish (by any method) is prohibited inside the park. Collection of live shells & Queen conchs are prohibited."

Added note: it's freezing down here. lol

[Speedfreak241]

Ok thank you very much for the information and I know it's freezing down there I have family down there that I visit all the time in Islamorada. Can't wait till it warms up again so I can go out and snorkel. Sadly I will have to take out one of our smaller boats because or bigger one sunk because of all the rain we had one week.

[G_Sanab922]

Dang sorry to hear that. Same thing almost happened with ours, I try to check it as much as possible but sometimes it rains non stop.

[water is wet]

What's the best time of year to come down? Our first time down was last April and the water was very beautiful and blue but pretty choppy but my last time down at the end of September the water want nearly as clear and wasn't very blue. I'd like to go when it's the bluest and calmest.

[icy1155]

I love August. Why? Lobster season is open after the 6th, grouper season is open, and it is usually good weather, barring the occasional hurricane/tropical storm. With that being said, if you aren't from FL, you will probably find it hot.

[G_Sanab922]

Originally Posted by icy1155

I love August. Why? Lobster season is open after the 6th, grouper season is open, and it is usually good weather, barring the occasional hurricane/tropical storm. With that being said, if you aren't from FL, you will probably find it hot.

+1

I think any time in the summer is good. I normally go spearfishing May - July. I went in late August and there was a thunderstorm for half of the day and flat calm beautiful the rest. That's Florida for you, land of the bipolar weather.
Just try to avoid long weekends if you can lol

[Ron Reefman]

Speedfreak241, you need to figure out where you are snorkeling and share.

We tend to snorkel Bahia Honda when we are just going out for a good time and not collecting. There are more than enough cool places to collect the same things you see at Bahia Honda, so no need to test the rules enforcement at the park. LOL!

We find April - June is pretty good weather and the water is getting warmer and the air isn't too hot. July - Sept can be OK. The water is nice and warm, the air is hot and afternoon thunderstorms are fairly common. But there are days of flat, clear water. Oct - Nov are also pretty good. The water is slow to cool so it's comfortable, the air is cooling off some and afternoon thunderstorms are much less frequent.

We are so ready to get back again.

The last 2 weekends we have done beachwalk/collection on Sanibel Island (west of Ft Myers/Cape Coral). The strong west winds associated with rare cold front passage create the right conditions for lots of things to wash up on the beach. Two weeks ago I got to play with a small sharpnose shark that was struggling to get back out into deeper water. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would catch a shark, even a small one, with my bare hands! We also found small reef octopus, lots of big horse conch, hundreds of dead urchins and pin shells. BTW, I walked the shark out into waist deep water and it swam away just fine. Some of the other animals we find on the beach also get returned to the water in hopes that they will survive.



As you can see by my clothes, it was cold (by SW Florida standards) and I had on a dive skin pants under my blue jeans!

This weekend I found a purple Gorgonian that is flat like a sea fan (but it isn't one), is about 16" wide and 12" tall. It has been in my 75g hexagon Gorgonian tank for 36 hours and appears to be in good condition. I'm hoping that the polyps will come out today, now that it has had some time to acclimate. I'm sure spending hours on the beach in sub 50 temps is a shock to it's system... I was to mine as well! Here is a smaller one that my wife took a photo of on the beach.



These beaches are normally pretty good for shelling and there are lots of snowbirds doing that, even on really cold days. I probably had 10 to 15 people each weekend come up to me and ask about what I was looking for when I was tearing open the sponges that had washed up. We were the only people doing that, so we were obviously up to something, especially with a big bucket and a bubbler.



I find it enjoyable to share some of the local knowledge to the curious visitors. Almost no locals asked (and probably very few out there in the cold), but the people who did ask me were from California, Texas, Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Vermont, North Carolina, Canada and Germany! This is what the beach looks like the day after a strong west wind causes big waves for 24 hours or more (very uncommon here).




BTW, when almost everything on the beach is dead or dying, we open sponges and find porcelain crabs, small serpent and brittle stars, pistol and peppermint shrimp and occasionally other critters. I got a few American Warty anemones and a handful of Green Lip Muscles as well. All are home and in various tanks acclimating. It makes the $6 bridge/causeway toll and $4/hour parking toll (we did 3 and 4 hour stays) well worth the visit. And just to be perfectly clear, my wife and I both have Florida saltwater fishing licenses so we are doing this all completely legally.