Anyone been to the Florida keys?

[adamizy]

Any of you guys go to the keys and do some snorkeling or scuba driving? How is it? I just want some real reviews before I go lol. It looks good but I want some real people feedback! Maybe even some pics. Also how's the fishing? Thanks guys and happy thanksgiving!

 

[Hawain_Rob]

I was there fo the 4th of July. I went snorkeling and was amazing. Lost of fish and corals to see. Beaches aren't the best. There's a lot or sea weed. There's plenty of places to get your drink on and lots of roosters running around..lol. but over all you'll have fun.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I can't be much help because my experience goes back to the early 70's when there were corals and fish. A friend's family had a motel on Big Pine Key and I spent may days diving in and around Big Pine Key. Caught so many lobsters, and cooked it every which way, that we got sick of eating it. Back then lobster were plentiful....found under coral heads, and when we got tired of lobster, we'd go spear fishing for grouper and jewfish. My understanding is that the fish population is way off now as well.

We had Ken Nedimyer of Coral Restoration Foundation come and talk at our local reef club twice now. He has told stories of the difference between now and when I use to dive.....first loss of the long spine urchins and then the corals...and the big fish.

If I were going back down today I'd check out volunteering for Coral Restoration (in Key Largo) and also dive John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (also in Key Largo.) The couple years I lived down there I never dove Pennekamp.

 

[RareEarthCorals]

The Key's was an annual family thing. Our family has several homes down there in Islamorada and Key West. Lobster season wrapped up a few months ago and my in laws came back with over a hundred lobster. Scuba diving is ok not great. Its no Australian reef but there are several places to dive. Take a day cruise out to Dry Tortuga you will find some of the best diving. Beaches are almost nonexistent but you can find a few like Bahia Honda off Big Pine Key. You must go it is an experience like no other.

 

[adamizy]

Lol I've been to the Bahamas/Costa Rica/Aruba and did snorkeling but after you do the Bahamas you're spoiled and there's prob nothing better lol but it sounds like fun

 

[RareEarthCorals]

Most of the reefs are artificial (manmade) there is the Eagle and Alligator close to Islamorada two sunken ships. Its a fun dive and worth a day trip.

 

[jolt]

My favorite snorkeling was at Looe Key. Very nice! It's a national marine sanctuary about 5 miles out from Big Pine Key I believe. You can find operators who take snorkel boats there.

 

[DiverGirl82]

I can't comment on the snorkeling/diving because the one time I went my snorkel trip got cancelled because of a tropical storm that had just passed by and the boat captain said the water was still too rough. But make sure you go to Mallory Square one evening to watch the street performers and the sunset. Make sure you take some cash to tip the street performers. Some of them get really angry if you watch their act and don't tip. Also, see if you can find No Name Pub. It's a fun atmosphere and good food. All off their walls and ceilings are covered in dollar bills people have signed and decorated. I've got a dollar in there somewhere.

 

[tj w]

U might as well go to the Virgin Islands. I spent two weeks in st croix and that place is second to none. Amazing snorkeling and diving! Natives are great also

 

[Martyd]

There is some very nice diving about an hour south of Cancun. I use a dive shop in a small beach resort, Puerto Aventuras.

 

[glb]

John Pennekamp State Park is great. They have a glass bottom boat for anyone who doesn't like to get wet. Have fun!

 

[rickybrooks05]

Ive been to ST John and loved the snorkeling. We are heading back this January

 

[Maritimer]

Lived in Key West for six months, but that was in 1980, at the time of the "freedom boatlift" from Cuba. (A mess, for the most part, but fascinating to live through!) Back then, snorkeling off the pier on the south side of the island was a garden of gorgonians, filled with flittering beau gregories and slippery dick wrasses, snorkeling a near-surface wreck behind the islands opposite Mallory pier brought rose corals and a young goliath grouper (which my dive buddy returned to the next day and promptly speared - want to know why they're so rare?) and a tongue-and-groove reef farther to the south-west was hands-down the most astonishing place I'd ever been, with trumpetfish, rock beauties and tarpon in the channels. Fishing wasn't too bad either, whether it was a crevalle jack on my second cast in tropical waters, or the shark in 5 feet of water that emptied a reel of 180# line in the middle of the night off East Key in the Dry Tortugas . . .

I'd like to hope that at least some of that wonderfulness is still there.

~Bruce

 

[Th0rn]

It is amazing! The corals and the fish (especially the Angels and tangs) are beautiful, but keep in mind this is not the coral sea or the Red Sea so you will not see amazing corals. It is truly a once in a lifetime experience. When I went I even got to swim right up to a 8' nurse shark, see a stonefish come out of its camouflage, see a 9' Goliath grouper and see a huge green moray eel!

 

[adamizy]

I can't comment on the snorkeling/diving because the one time I went my snorkel trip got cancelled because of a tropical storm that had just passed by and the boat captain said the water was still too rough. But make sure you go to Mallory Square one evening to watch the street performers and the sunset. Make sure you take some cash to tip the street performers. Some of them get really angry if you watch their act and don't tip. Also, see if you can find No Name Pub. It's a fun atmosphere and good food. All off their walls and ceilings are covered in dollar bills people have signed and decorated. I've got a dollar in there somewhere.

I know all about the street performers and how they are lol I see them all the time in Manhattan. But hopefully I can find that pub

 

[adamizy]

Ive been to ST John and loved the snorkeling. We are heading back this January

I went on a cruise to about 6 virgin island and St Thomas was by far the most amazing snorkeling. We went to a beach and I wasn't expecting it but about 30 feet off the shore was a gorgeous little reef right on the shore. Never experienced something like that before it was great

 

[PatW]

I think Key Largo has the best diving. The reefs are a ways off shore, so it is boat diving. The visibility is not great about 60 to 80 feet. There are healthy populations of gorgonians: sea fans, sea rods, and sea whips. There are some acrophobia but the acres of stag horn coral is past. Also there are good stony corals. But you don't see the huge brain corals of the past. You should see queen Angels, French Angels and grey Angels. You should see schools of grunts. You also grouper, snapper and jacks. Barracuda are pretty common. Also you see lots of sponges. Sponges are kind of rare in reef tanks but on reefs they rival the corals. If you look closely, you will see blennys, gobies and jawfish. Also nurse sharks, Rays and morays are common. For some reason, I don't see many turtles. I have dove the Tutks and Caicos, Caymans, Roatan, Utila, Virgin Islands and Cozumel. Key Largo has fish populations that rival the best out there.

 

[Rjramos]

The reefs are still alive! Despite some negativity I've read above. As a life long resident of Miami, I have seen better times 20+ yrs ago, But as a pure salt, both on and off the boat in the water, some areas are still flourishing and doing great, and no, most of the reefs down here are natural, not artificial. The areas that I've seen suffer the most are close to the coast, mostly in Miami, possible run off effects. There's plenty of living corals, the problem I've seen most is bleaching in some species, like staghorn corals and some other SPS's. As you go away from the coastline, 6 miles out in Miami, a lighthouse called Fowey light, the water changes color to a rich turquoise blue, and the reefs from here all the way down the keys to the dry tortugas is all reef where depth allows. Absolutely beautiful bottoms, and although some tablefare species of fish are diminished, there is still lots to eat and lots to see in ornamentals that no one messes with. You adamizy will have a great time down there no doubt! The important thing is catching a good day when conditions are epic, which is usually in the summertime. I've seen 100+ft visibility. There are some days in the high season too though, just less. Gotta see pennycamp for sure, you will enjoy!!![emoji4]

 

[adamizy]

The reefs are still alive! Despite some negativity I've read above. As a life long resident of Miami, I have seen better times 20+ yrs ago, But as a pure salt, both on and off the boat in the water, some areas are still flourishing and doing great, and no, most of the reefs down here are natural, not artificial. The areas that I've seen suffer the most are close to the coast, mostly in Miami, possible run off effects. There's plenty of living corals, the problem I've seen most is bleaching in some species, like staghorn corals and some other SPS's. As you go away from the coastline, 6 miles out in Miami, a lighthouse called Fowey light, the water changes color to a rich turquoise blue, and the reefs from here all the way down the keys to the dry tortugas is all reef where depth allows. Absolutely beautiful bottoms, and although some tablefare species of fish are diminished, there is still lots to eat and lots to see in ornamentals that no one messes with. You adamizy will have a great time down there no doubt! The important thing is catching a good day when conditions are epic, which is usually in the summertime. I've seen 100+ft visibility. There are some days in the high season too though, just less. Gotta see pennycamp for sure, you will enjoy!!![emoji4]

Well I'm going sometime in December so I'm hoping the water isn't too bad

 

[Rjramos]

Temperature is not a problem, but if you catch a period like we've had the past week or so, windy rainy it won't be as good. But there are perfect says in December sometimes.