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Florida Keys Travel Articles
- On & In the Water
- Close Encounters of the Flipper Kind
Boating
If it floats, local marinas rent it. For up-close exploration of the mangroves and near-shore islands in Florida Bay, nothing beats a kayak or canoe. Paddle within a few feet of a flock of birds without disturbing them. Visiting the backcountry islands and inlets of Everglades National Park requires a shallow-draft boat: a 14- to 17-foot skiff with a 40- to 50-horsepower outboard is sufficient. Rental companies prohibit smaller boats from going on the ocean side. For diving the reef or fishing on the open ocean, you'll need a larger boat with greater horsepower. Houseboats are ideal for cruising the Keys near shore. Only experienced sailors should attempt to navigate the shallow waters surrounding the Keys with deep-keeled sailboats. On the other hand, small shallow-draft, single-hull sailboats and catamarans are ideal. Those interested in experiencing the reef without getting wet can take a glass-bottom-boat trip.
Fishing
These sun-bathed waters have many species of game fish as well as lobster, shrimp, and crabs. Flats fishing and backcountry fishing are Keys specialties. In flats fishing, a guide poles a shallow-draft outboard boat through the shallow, sandy-bottom waters while sighting for bonefish and snook to be caught on light tackle, spin, and fly. Backcountry fishing may include flats fishing or fishing in the channels and basins around islands in Florida Bay. Charter boats fish the reef and Gulf Stream for deep-sea fish. Party boats, which can be crowded, carry up to 50 people to fish the reefs for grouper, kingfish, and snapper. Some operators have a guarantee, or "no fish, no pay" policy. It's customary to tip the crew 15%-20% of the trip price if they were helpful.
Scuba Diving & Snorkeling
Diving in the Keys is spectacular. In shallow and deep water with visibility up to 120 feet, explore sea canyons and mountains covered with waving sea plumes, brain and star coral, historic shipwrecks, and sunken submarines. Avid wreck divers might consider tackling all or part of the Keys Spanish Galleon Trail. There's no best season for diving, but occasional storms in June, September, and October cloud the waters and make seas rough. Dive the reefs with scuba, snuba (a cross between scuba and snorkeling), or snorkeling gear, using your own boat or a rented boat or by booking a tour with a dive shop. Tours depart two or three times a day, stopping at two sites on each trip. The first trip of the day is usually the best. It's less crowded -- vacationers like to sleep in -- and visibility is better before the wind picks up in the afternoon. There's also night diving. If you want to scuba dive but are not certified, take an introductory resort course. Although it doesn't result in certification, it allows you to dive with an instructor in the afternoon following morning classroom and pool instruction. Nearly all the waters surrounding the Keys are part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and thus are protected; the reef is fragile and shouldn't be touched.
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