Fort Jefferson and Dry Tortugas Snorkeling in Key West, Florida There is no better place to start your snorkeling experience than heading down to the Dry Tortugas. The 200-foot-long Honduran fighter is now resting on her starboard side, 110 feet below the oceans surface. The water is really warm, blue, and with good underwater visibility. You can see up to 60 feet below the surface of the water around Naples, making this a very good place to swim. The USS Mohawk was intentionally sunk twenty-eight nautical miles off Sanibel Island at Charlies Reef in 2012. The views are incredible and its such a rush! Follow the links to the left to learn more about artificial reef locationsor go toSWFL Reefs . Also, it is visible and accessible for snorkeling. ", Fort Meyers Today: Southwest Florida Water Sports, The Beaches of Fort Myers - Sanibel: Home, Sanibel Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce: Snorkeling, Captain Pete's Diving Outfitters: Dive Gear. How to Travel Between Islands in Cape Verde: The Ultimate Guide, Best Honeymoon Destinations in Egypt: 5 Romantic Places, The 7 Most Deadly Snakes In Zimbabwe To Know About, Is Boracay Safe? Experience new cultures, share your own adventures and make memories that will last a lifetime. scubaquestusa.com. Pack sunscreen and swim clothes if youre going to the beach, because there are plenty of activities to do there. A sunset and snorkel reef adventure is also available seasonally and sets sail at 5:30 p.m. Prices for all tours start at $50 for ages 13 years and older and are $35 for children 12 and. Share your stories, get inspired, and plan your next adventure with us. Despite its depth and distance from shore, visibility is still good, and youre sure to see quite a bit while visiting. Edison Reef is located off the coast of Sanibel Island, just east of the Sanibel Island Lighthouse. Fort Myers Beach is consistently warm year-round because it sits on the Gulf of Mexico. The first rope youll need is either 600 long or twice as long, depending on how spectacular you want it to be. There are many different boat tours and coastal beaches in order to enjoy everything this reef has to offer. Photo Credit: Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau. When the Fort Meyers bridge sank, an underwater habitat was created. Located just 70 nautical miles from Key West, the Yankee Freedom III serves as Dry Tortugas's official ferry. Image Source. Coral reefs and mangroves are two of the best places to see fish and other marine life. There are usually schools of vibrant fish in the area, and the water is calm for being in the ocean. And Sanibel Island is home to plenty of exciting marine life like stingrays, nurse sharks, dolphins, and manatees. Captain Pauls Yacht Charters offers small groups a private charter tour aboard the 44-inch Boadicea. Divers frequently see whale sharks, barracuda, and curious sea turtles here. Cayo Costa is known for its secluded beaches, making this a perfect location for couples. You can rent a vacation home or condo in Marco Island to stay while on the water or while in town. Eye-popping coral, brilliant marine life, barracuda, manta rays, and the bones. By subscribing you accept Boatsetter Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. (239) 872-6295. We have all types of inflatables from balls to boats, every kind of towable equipment from tubes to water skis, canoes and kayaks and the carriers and racks to get them to the water, snorkeling gear, pools, waterproof action cameras to record your aquatic adventures. Thus, it also caters to fishing and kayaking. The 5 Best Places To See Monkeys In Costa Rica In 2023, 5 Ways To Travel Tulum On A Budget Top Travel Tips, Is Leon, Mexico, Safe? Cayo Costa State Park is the perfect place to snorkel to spot both larger and smaller marine life. Youll also need an advanced dive certificate (or higher). The 8.5 foot, 4,000 pound statue depicts Christ with his arms outstretched, surrounded by beautiful coral formations. The most popular artificial reef for snorkeling is the Destin East Pass Reef. The Edison & Ford Winter Estates is a historical museum that takes you back in time. Since it sank more than ten years before the USS Mohawk, it is considerably more worn, but the marine flora and fauna are more abundant. It is a man-made reef that was created in 1984. Peagus/Charlies Reef is located 28 miles due west of Red Fish Pass. Visitors arrive to this park to sunbathe, snorkel the reef, hike, bird-watch, fish, picnic, and search for seashells on a daily basis. Walk west up the beach (toward the marina). Check out our Local Hot Spots The hard-bottom reef at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, just a short distance away, is ideal for beach snorkellers. Discovery Cove's Grand Reef is also an enclosed environment, where factors like weather, water temperature and predators are totally accounted for and controlled. There are tons of boat tours that will take you to all the best spots. The Best Cozumel Snorkeling Tour Palancar, Colombia and El Cielo Reefs 30 Recommended Ports of Call Tours from C$118.05 per adult Cozumel Snorkeling Tour: Palancar, Columbia and Cielo Reefs 52 from C$83.33 per adult Cozumel Snorkeling Tour from Playa del Carmen 14 from C$173.74 per adult El Cielo Cozumel 4 Day Trips from C$180.55 per adult Tips When Snorkeling Key West's Colorful Reef. For those with extra time on their hands, Cayo Costa State Park is an amazing snorkeling day trip from Sanibel Island. Powered by Mai Theme, Where To Stay In Miami: Best Hotels and Areas, Key West Double Dip: 2-Stop Snorkeling Trip, Fort Zachary is one of the best beaches in Key West! Perhaps the greatest snorkelling spot in all of the South Pacific can be found near the French Polynesian island of Tahaa, which is within shouting distance of its sister island, Raiatea. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an adrenaline fix. Rainy Season in Bali: 7 Things to Do in Canggu in the Rain, Thailand or Maldives: Battle of the Tropical Paradises. Only in Florida do manatees congregate at Crystal River. Raja Ampat in West Papua, Indonesia is a divers' paradise. In terms of access, snorkeling Lighthouse Beach Park doesnt get much easier. Your best option is to participate in a tour. Five nautical miles offshore, you can also find Belton Johnsons reef conveniently marked by a yellow and white float. Because of its clarity, the Naples park is one of the most popular spawning grounds on the Paradise Coast. What are the best parts? Key West is perfectly located on the worlds third largest living coral reef, flourishing with over 500 different species of marine wildlife. The Sanibel Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce keeps a directory on its website of cruise companies and private captains that offer snorkeling excursions. Cruise Whitsundays is the only tour operator in the Whitsundays to have two pontoons on the outer reef conveniently located 40 nautical miles from Airlie Beach. Join our travel community and discover the world through the eyes of passionate travelers like yourself. Sunset Watersports | Key West Snorkeling, Jet Ski, Parasail, Cruises & More, Sale Kiteboarding Gear | MACkite Boardsports Center, Key West Scuba Diving Official PADI 5 Star Center, Fort Myers Events Calendar Fort Myers & Sanibel, Premier Ski, Fishing & Pontoon Boat Dealer in South Florida, welcome to the the Cortez Fleet, Parasailing, Jets Skis, , Sarasota. Swimming and exploring the many public beach access points in Fort Myers Beach are two of the best things to do on the beach. navigate over 400 miles of waterways in the area and get you to the beaches. The water on Marco Island is beautiful, as is wildlife. The island is really very small - just 35050 meters. Since this is out in open, deep water, it is best that only confident, experienced divers go here, or at least bring an experienced, safe guide. The reef is an artificial habitat built from the remains of a collapsed mainland bridge. WEST BAY, ROATN. A large number of alligators can be found on Sanibel, which has over 2,200 acres of freshwater wetlands. Blind Pass Beach is actually located on Captiva Island, not Sanibel Island. A 150-year-old lighthouse and a fishing pier overlook Lighthouse Beach Park, which is located along the beachs coast. The Belton Johnson Reef named for a well-known fishing guide is located five nautical miles off Bowmans Beach. Wrecks and man-made reefs help restock our waters with fish for the benefit of Scuba divers and fisherman alike. Sanibel Island is Known for it's Beautiful Beaches, But Don't Forget About Their Beautiful Waters. Join our Facebook group for travelers and connect with a global network of passionate explorers. Youll want to consider the best places for marine life, safety, water visibility, and accessibility. It is about 3 miles in length and 1 mile in width The southwestern coast, in general, is suitable for all divers regardless of skill due to its shallow waters. Below are ten of the best places to snorkel in Islamorada. 1. You can book the tour on the sea front at Puerto Morelos. The beach also has many shells for beachcombers and shell collectors. If you enjoy snorkeling or scuba diving, you will like this area. Looking to snorkel in Fort Meyers, but don't have the gear? The best snorkeling you will find is located in the islands off the shore Captiva Island and Sanibel. Besides being a great water sport where you never leave the surface, snorkeling provides benefits such as increasing lung capacity, providing better joint mobility, burning calories and is a great workout for your legs, core and shoulders. The Sanibel / Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. For the most part, the further south you go along the coast, the clearer the water will be and the more youll be able to see. You can take a parasailing ride on the island that is the longest in the world. Snorkeling here is suitable for all levels of experience, making it a great activity for the whole family to enjoy. At Skys the Limit Parasailing, you can get an incredible view of Marco Island with two spectacular options. In doing so, it created the first Veterans Memorial Reef. These trips cover a distance of around 120 miles and include more than 1700 islands. This reef is located approximately 15 nautical miles from the Sanibel Lighthouse. Whale Shark in The Maldives. Due to conservation and restoration efforts, the coral here is thriving. You can find even more on the nearly-adjoining Captiva Island (these two islands narrowly miss each other and are only connected by a narrow channel and a road bridge. parasailing costs between $47.50 and $112.50 per person, depending on the length of line and number of passengers. For snorkelers with their own equipment, Cayo Costa State Park -- just west of Fort Myers and north of Sanibel -- offers snorkeling in its pristine, blue Gulf of Mexico waters. If you have your own gear great! Here, visitors can snorkel straight from the beach, making it a great location for independent and budget snorkeling. Sanibel Island can be found in Lee County, Florida. The beach is located at the northernmost point of Captiva Island, meaning it is accessible but a slightly longer journey than to other locations weve covered. Where can I see manatees on Sanibel Island? 971 Creech Rd, Naples, FL 34103. Blind Pass Beach best suits families, beginners, and those who want easy accessibility. However, currents occasionally get strong, so its best to check with locals on the day you plan to snorkel. A small camera can be helpful in identifying the fish you see. The barrier reef is the second-largest in the world and stretches for more than 600 miles along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. Wind will be extremely strong in March, making snorkeling difficult. Since 2000 Donna T. Beerman has contributed to newspapers and magazines. The Florida Keys' reefs are the only living coral reefs in the continental United States. The Belton Johnson Reef is named after a famous local fishing guide and constructed of concrete culverts. Keep in mind that COVID 19 may affect these businesses being open.conta. Sadly, low oxygen levels in the water cause patches of marine life to die, which has environmental repercussions and can be disappointing for those snorkeling. During the winter months, manatees come further towards the shore, searching for warmer waters. If youve never snorkeled before, you might want to try Scuba Outfitters of Naples. It is the second-largest barrier reef in the world, behind Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The currents along the causeway, which can be too rough for swimming, are what you should keep an eye on. But, when snorkeling Sanibel Island, which locations should you choose? The Sanibel Island Cruise Line maintains an inventory of 30 sets of snorkeling gear; and takes guests out to a prime location, allowing snorkelers to explore in three to eight feet of water. Key West: Reef Snorkel Morning Tour with Breakfast & Mimosas. Like Edison Reef, Pegasus Reef is located offshore, requiring a private charter or group tour to access it. It isnt easy to access the engine room, but the deck and below are still relatively easy to get to and look around. 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