The Best Snorkeling in the Florida Keys

One of the best parts about the Florida Keys is snorkeling in the beautiful water. We’ve visited the Florida Keys three times, spending over three months exploring the area, and have snorkeled on several occasions, visiting several different locations. We’ve compiled the best snorkeling locations, gear, and tips and tricks to make your snorkeling experience in the Florida Keys the best!

Florida Keys Snorkeling Map

There are several places to go snorkeling, from walking straight off a beach into the water or going offshore in a boat. We’ve compiled all the best snorkeling in the Florida Keys in one map. You can save this map to your Google Maps by pressing the star button on the map below.

How much does Snorkeling in the Florida Keys cost?

Budget and cost are important when considering snorkeling in the Florida Keys. Traveling to the Florida Keys wouldn’t be complete without snorkeling in the turquoise water, but doing so in a way that fits your budget is crucial. Here are the main ways to snorkel in the Florida Keys based on cost:

1. Snorkel from shore = less than $20. This could mean renting or bringing your snorkeling gear and walking into the water from shore to explore. It’s typically the cheapest option and allows you to go for as long as you’d like. This could be free if you have your gear and go upwards of $25 if heading into a state park or renting equipment. We have personally snorkeled from shore in John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park and loved it.
2. Go on a tour = $40-80/person. This option requires you to select a tour company that will take you to a reef or local spot to snorkel for $40-80/person. Tours typically last a few hours and provide the necessary snorkel gear, making it a great option if you want to get offshore. We went on a snorkeling tour in Key West in 2020; it was the perfect way to get in the water when we didn’t have snorkeling gear and wanted to see marine life.
3. Rent a boat = $300-$600 by hour/day. This option is the most expensive and requires you to have some prior boating experience. You can rent a boat for a few hours or a day and make your snorkeling tour uniquely yours! Depending on your Florida Keys Itinerary, this might fit your needs best. It allows you to have privacy without a tour boat full of people and the most control over your time since you’re not committed to a tour boat time frame.
4. Take your own boat = Prices vary by boat for fuel. Obviously, this option requires you to have your own boat. We took our boat PIVOT to the Florida Keys and snorkeled at some of the offshore reefs. This was by far our favorite way to snorkel and explore the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, but know it’s not possible for everyone. Prices depend on your type of boat, fuel efficiency, etc. Since we had our own boat and gear, this was our cheapest option.

Best time to Snorkel the Florida Keys

The Florida Keys have a mild, tropical-maritime climate, meaning they never report freezing temperatures, making snorkeling the Florida Keys available year round. The winter months are known to have cold spells from the north that bring cooler temperatures and wind, which ends up stirring up the water and bringing worse visibility. Alternatively, the summer months have high heat and humidity. July through November is hurricane season, which brings the potential for powerful storms from the south. In terms of popularity, the winter is the high season as many tourists escape their winter climates for reprieve in the Florida sun, and boaters come to take advantage of the non-hurricane season cruising grounds.

Our favorite time to go snorkeling in the Florida Keys is April as it’s before the summer heat arrives, students are still in school, and the water is warm. Here are some of the average temperatures for Islamorada, located in the central keys. Packing the right clothes to wear will keep you comfortable on and off the water!

Best Snorkeling Locations

There are many spots to snorkel in the Florida Keys! The best snorkeling in the Florida Keys is on the coral reefs that are only accessible by boat. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is a U.S. National Marine Sanctuary in the Florida Keys and includes the Florida Reef, making it a total of 2,900 miles of protected waterway. This barrier coral reef is the only one in North America and the third-largest coral barrier reef in the world.

There are three ways to access these coral reefs: a tour boat, renting a boat, or using your own boat. If you’re visiting the area and want to maximize your time on the reef, using a tour boat is your best option, as it leaves all the hassle of renting a boat out of the equation. The water can be clear with great visibility, depending upon the weather! We’ve organized this list based on location and have shared recommendations from shore, tour boats, or by private boat.

Best Snorkeling in Key Largo

John Pennejamp Coral Reef State Park is the first undersea park in the United States, encompassing 70 miles of coral reefs and marine life. There are both snorkeling from shore and by tour boat at this state park, making it a great fit for many travelers. The park costs $4.50-8 to enter by car. You can walk right into the water from Cannon Beach to snorkel around artifacts from a 1715 Spanish shipwreck. Snorkel gear rentals are available in the dive shop for less than $10/person. The park also offers snorkel boat trips that depart four times daily and last 2.5 hours, giving you about 1.5 hours of reef time. This is the best way to view the park’s living coral and marine life if you don’t have your own boat.

Carysfort Reef in can be access by tour boat or by private boat. This was by far our favorite place to snorkel in the entire keys because the reef adds protection from the ocean on good weather days and the water was clear, giving us great visibility. You can go on a snorkeling tour boat or take your boat to the reef and tie up at one of the many free mooring balls (make sure you don’t anchor on the reef).

Key Largo Dry Rocks require a boat to access this offshore location. These completely submerged rocks provide a great spot to see fish and other marine life.

Best Snorkeling in Islamorada

Alligator Reef Lighthouse is our second favorite snorkeling spot in the Florida Keys. This lighthouse was named after a pirate ship that sank in that location over a hundred years ago. Alligator Reef Lighthouse is a short boat ride offshore to the Florida reef. Several great tour boats come out to the lighthouse. It has several free mooring balls to tie up to for private boats on a first come first served basis. If coming by private boat, we recommend coming out early to secure yourself a mooring ball and get the most clear water.

Library Beach Park has some great snorkeling from shore. Located behind the Islamorada Public Library, many people enjoy swimming near manatees, Florida Keys lobsters, and Nurse Sharks. This area is frequented by boats, so make sure to use the buddy system and be cautious of boats, jet skis, and dinghies. It’s a free option if you have your own snorkel equipment or rental gear from a local dive shop.

Best Snorkeling in Marathon

Heading out to the Florida Keys Reef at Sombrero Key Lighthouse is the best snorkeling in Marathon. There are free mooring balls to attach to if you’re traveling by private boat on a first-come, first-served basis.

Snorkeling in Key West

There are also Key West snorkel tours, including your own rental snorkel equipment. We did this in 2020 and had a great time, enjoyed the turquoise waters, and saw marine life. It’s a stress-free way to go snorkeling as a professional captain and crew take a boat out to a popular spot, have all the gear, and can teach you techniques for making the most out of your experience. Some boat tours even include breakfast or drinks for sunset cruises.

Fort Zachary Taylor Beach located in Key West offers beachside access to snorkel. Their beach hut offers gear rental and is known as being the best beach in Key West.

Other Snorkeling Spots in the Florida Keys

There are countless other places for snorkeling in the Florida Keys, including Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park, Long Key State Park, and our favorite, Bahia Honda State Park. Bahia Honda State Park is located close to Marathon, Florida. It has a concession store where you can rent equipment. Bahia Honda State Park is the best spot for easy shore access to snorkel, making it a great activity for kids. The state parks can be good budget-friendly options; however, the National Park option would be more costly as you need to reserve a ticket well in advance.

Coral Reef Update

The coral reefs in the Florida Keys underwent massive coral bleaching in the summer of 2023 due to the el niño and climate change. The water temperature was five degrees hotter than normal, causing the temperatures on the reef to reach 93°F. Coral bleaching events cause the coral to lose its color and a lot of the marine life that lives on them. For more information, read the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation or the NOAA Coral Reef Watch Program.

Snorkeling Gear

A mask and snorkel are the only *must-have* items you need to snorkel. If you book a snorkel boat tour, the company typically provides you with snorkel gear. However, we have listed our snorkeling gear recommendations if you want to invest in your equipment or plan to snorkel without a tour boat.

Mask and Snorkel

A mask and snorkel are the two must-have items for snorkeling. You’ll want to fit your mask and snorkel properly so water doesn’t leak into your mask when you’re snorkeling. You can prevent your mask from fogging up by using a little bit of baby (tear-free) shampoo, using a mask defog (we love Stream-2-Sea), or rubbing a little bit of spit (sounds gross, but it’s free) on your mask lens. If you have difficulty using a snorkel, try using a full-face snorkel mask.

Fins

Although fins aren’t required to snorkel, they make swimming in the water easier! Fins help to give you more propulsion, making your strokes more powerful without extending the extra effort. We love our fins from Cressi and Tusa.

Reef Safe Sunscreen

Being sun-safe is key while snorkeling since you’re exposed to direct sunlight and have double the UV rays since the rays are bouncing off the water. Using a reef-safe sunscreen is key to helping protect the reef for generations to come! Our favorite brand is Stream-2-Sea because of its commitment to safekeeping the marine environment. Another brand we love is Think Sport; they’re EWG-verified and have kid-friendly sunscreen.

Rash Guard

A rash guard helps to cover and protect your skin from UV exposure. Both rash guards for men and rash guards for women are great if you plan to be in the sun for an extended amount of time or do a lot of snorkeling on your trip. By using a rash guard, you don’t need to reapply sunscreen or apply sunscreen on your body where the rash guard covers.

Snorkeling Tips and Tricks

We’ve compiled our best tips and tricks to get the most enjoyment out of your snorkeling experience:

1. Safety first. Snorkel with a buddy to have someone to watch out for you in case of an accident. If you are snorkeling from a private boat, ensure you have your dive flag displayed.
2. Properly fit your mask. By fitting your mask beforehand, you’ll reduce the chances of your mask filling with water.
3. Stay hydrated. Swimming in the water under the hot Florida sun can be deceiving, causing you not to drink as much water or electrolytes. Make sure to drink plenty of water!
4. Watch the weather. Calm conditions make for great snorkeling as the water is more settled. Choose a day to go snorkeling with sunshine, light winds, and calm waters.
5. Be aware of your surroundings. Depending on where you’re snorkeling, it’s important to watch out for boat traffic, currents, tides, and marine life.
6. Wear sunscreen or a rash guard. Being sun-safe while snorkeling is key! There’s nothing worse than snorkeling for several hours in the hot sun, face down in the water, only to have forgotten to apply sunscreen. The sunburn on your back makes sleeping on your back painful and uncomfortable.
7. Only take memories, leave only ripples. It’s best not to touch the reef or any marine life. Do not take any part of the reef, shells, or anything else with you from the reef. Please be respectful of the marine life and delicate ecosystems you’re visiting. You’re the visitor in their home.