Florida Keys Snorkeling: 12 Best Places & Tours

The Florida Keys are an archipelago of islands, coral reefs and shallow water. A popular activity in the area is snorkeling with sea life like tropical fish, eels, lobsters and turtles. This post will teach you about the 12 Best Places and Tours for Florida Keys Snorkeling as well as reviews of some tours that offer this experience on a day trip!

Anyone who has ever scuba dived or snorkeled in the Florida Keys knows that this is one of the best places on Earth to experience marine life. The warm water, sunlight and clear visibility create an aquatic playground for you to explore! There are so many different options when it comes to snorkeling in the Keys, but this post will serve as a guide to help you narrow down what type of experience is right for you!

Florida Keys Snorkeling: 12 Best Places & Tours

Anyone who has ever scuba dived or snorkeled in the Florida Keys knows that this is one of the best places on Earth to experience marine life. The warm water, sunlight and clear visibility create an aquatic playground for you to explore! There are so many different options when it comes to snorkeling in the Keys, but this post will serve as a guide to help you narrow down what type of experience is right for you!

1. Looe Key Reef Resort & Dive Center

Looe Key Reef Resort & Dive Center is located right off the coast of Florida at Looe Key. This place has received much praise for being one of the best snorkeling spots in America, so it’s no wonder that you can also stay here overnight! The resort itself offers various packages that include equipment rental and transportation to and from the island. There are also multiple tour companies that offer day trips to Looe Key Reef.

Looe Key is known for having some of the best snorkeling conditions in all of Florida, so you will be surrounded by tropical fish and other aquatic life! You can even join organized dives with experienced divers if your snorkeling skills need a little more honing.

2. Crocker Reef and Wall

The south wall of Crocker Reef is about 30-60 feet deep, which is situated near the southern boundary, has spur and groove formation with mounding coral heads on top in 60-80 feet of water and is a fantastic sea slope dive. Large fish, turtles, barrel sponges, sea fans, green morays, and other species may be very visible.

This reef is great for all levels of diving and snorkeling skill. The best time to visit Crocker Reef and Wall would be around the months of May through August, when water visibility is at its highest!

3. Davis Reef

Davis Reef is one of the most popular spots in all of the Florida Keys for snorkeling. This reef sits just about five miles north of Sugarloaf Key and features a shallow patch that reaches depths between 15-25 feet. The western side drops down to deeper waters with larger fish like barracuda and sharks.

Davis Reef is a great place to snorkel around the months of May through August, since water visibility tends to be at its best during this time! This reef has been said to have some of the most beautiful underwater scenery in all of South Florida so it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a unique experience!

4. Hen and Chickens Reef

Hen and Chickens Reef is a large reef known for being home to one of the largest coral patches in all of Florida. This spot sits about two miles southwest from Sugarloaf Key, so it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re staying nearby! The depth of this reef ranges between 20-40 feet with most areas only reaching depths around 20 feet.

Hen and Chickens Reef is a popular spot for people of all skill levels, but it’s best known for beginner snorkelers because the waters are calm with very little to no waves or current! You can find this reef about two miles southwest from Sugarloaf Key in Marathon Florida. This location offers some of the clearest waters in the Florida Keys and is a great place for snorkeling!

5. Molasses Reef

Molasses Reef is a very popular spot in the Florida Keys for snorkeling. This reef sits about four miles southwest from Sugarloaf Key and reaches up to 50 feet deep!

This particular area is well-known for its variety of underwater life including eels, crabs, angelfish and starfish. The water tends to be a little choppy around this reef, so it’s best for more advanced swimmers who are comfortable in the water.

If you’re up for an adventure that will let you explore one of the most unique reefs in all of Florida then Molasses Reef is definitely worth checking out! This reef can only be accessed by boat, but private vessels and tour companies alike offer trips to this location.

Molasses Reef sits four miles southwest of Sugarloaf Key, so make sure you’re dressed for the water if you plan on going! You can find some great deals on boat tours from nearby marinas or private vessels are another option as well.

6. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

Key West’s finest beach is the best place to swim and snorkel! Discover and get involved in this picturesque aquatic environment. Snorkel off the beach to see colorful tropical marine life including parrot fish, schools of yellowtail snapper, lobster, and other hard and soft corals. On a side note, Fort Zachary Taylor is a coral beach, therefore water shoes are recommended and may be rented in the souvenir shop.

This reef can only be accessed by boat, but there are tour companies that offer trips out to this location from nearby marinas or you can always set off on your own personal vessel as well.

The beachfront park, which has 54 acres of picnic tables and grills, is ideal for a beach barbecue. The most magnificent sunset in Key West occurs when the Atlantic Ocean meets the Gulf of Mexico.

7. Coffins Patch, Key Colony Beach

This is an excellent location to get lost in. The reef is filled with a variety of coral species, including pillar and brain corals. Because the reef is in a protected area, both the fish and the coral develop larger here.

An ancient Spanish shipwreck continues to attract tourists to its undersea grave. This site features average 10-15 ft depths and is ideal for underwater photos. For photo albums, try capturing angelfish, mutton fish, and spiny lobsters. It’s excellent for snorkeling as well as SCUBA diving.

8. Elliott Key, Biscayne National Park

This is a very popular spot for snorkeling and diving. The reef consists of several small patches which provide habitat to numerous fish species such as sergeant majors, French angelfish, goatfish, barracuda and others.

Elliott Key Reef features an excellent display of hard corals including elkhorn coral that covers the reef top. Other fish species include octopus, squid and lobster as well as a few varieties of crabs, lobsters and shrimp.

Elliott Key Reef is located in the Biscayne National Park which means that it’s only accessible by boat or kayak. Tour companies offer trips out to this location from nearby marinas so consider checking out a few different companies to find the best deal.

9. Sombrero Reef

The Sombrero Reef dive site is located about 12 miles off the coast of Key Colony Beach. This reef sits in only 18 feet of water, so it’s perfect for snorkeling! There are some coral heads on this reef which attract a variety of fish including queen angelfish, angelfish and others.

The Sombrero Reef is a great spot for those who are new to snorkeling as it’s shallow and calm. Seasoned divers will enjoy this location as well since the reef provides an excellent view of its marine inhabitants!

Snorkeling with sharks, rays and turtles is a great way to get up close in the water! Head out on one of these thrilling snorkel tours today.

10. Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park is located 70 miles west of Key West. This location provides unique snorkeling opportunities with sharks, rays and turtles!

The snorkel tours are led by marine biologists who work for the park’s research facility. The tour boats leave from Fort Jefferson which features a museum that was built in 1846.

The Dry Tortugas National Park is accessible by private boat, charter boat and ferry. For more details on this location check out the park’s website or stop by one of Key West’s local marinas to find a tour company that offers trips out to this unique destination!

11. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is located on Key Largo, about 90 miles from Miami. This location offers a variety of snorkeling opportunities including the chance to swim with nurse sharks and southern stingrays!

This park has been recognized as an underwater wildlife refuge by National Geographic so if you’re looking for some serious photo ops, this is the place to be.

The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park features an underwater snorkeling trail that allows you to explore the reef without getting lost! This park also offers guided tours for those who aren’t confident in their abilities.

Adult fares start at around $38.95 and under 18 years old, while child’s rates begin at approximately $35. Times: 9am, 10:30am, 12pm, 1:30pm, 3pm The minimal number of passengers required for all excursions is two people. Water time is different per boat. (Subject to change).

12. Alligator Reef

Alligator Reef is located near Key Largo and it’s a great spot to snorkel with fish, turtles and Barracuda. This reef sits in 25 feet of water so there isn’t much current or waves.

The best time for this activity is between October 15th through May 15th as the weather tends to be more mild during this time of year.

Alligator Reef is a great location for those who are new to Florida Keys snorkeling as the reef isn’t too deep and features plenty of shallow water areas where you can stand up if needed. This park also has underwater trails that are marked with buoys which makes it easy for first timers! The best part? This park is completely free to visit!

Florida Keys Snorkeling is the best!

Florida Keys Snorkeling is the best! Snorkeling allows you to explore the beautiful reefs that are found in these waters which means that you can see coral, tropical fish and other sea creatures! Before taking your trip out into the water make sure that you’re aware of the tide schedule for this location. The best time to go is at low tide when there’s more reef exposed.

Snorkeling is gaining popularity as a fun and exciting activity that allows people to enjoy the beauty of nature without getting too wet! Whether you want to snorkel with turtles or sharks, there are many great places in the Florida Keys where you can go snorkeling for free – no equipment necessary!

Know Before You Go!

If you’re looking to snorkel with turtles, make sure that it’s legal. In some areas there are laws against this activity so check the regulations before heading out!

It is important that you know what type of fish, if any, will be present in the area before you enter the water. Some fish will only be found in one location so it’s important to do your research before hitting the water!

All tours are subject to availability and different restrictions apply depending on the tour company. It’s best to check with your hotel concierge or go online for more information about these locations before heading out on your snorkeling trip!

That’s all some of our favorite locations for snorkeling in the Florida Keys!