Can You Snorkel Off The Beach In Key West?

Key West offers a variety of shore entry snorkeling spots, reefs, and shipwrecks accessible by boat. Two of the best spots are Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Beach, Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach, and Smathers Beach. These beaches provide an opportunity to experience Florida’s marine life without going on a boat trip.

Free shore snorkeling can be found at several locations, including John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Sombrero Reef, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Cottrell Key, Bahia Honda State Park, Higgs Beach, Dry Tortugas, and Fort Jefferson. For first-time snorkelers and seasoned beachgoers, Key West is home to many recommended snorkeling spots.

For those who prefer not to join a boat tour, there are several options for snorkeling directly off the beach. Fort Zachary Taylor offers a gradual, sandy entrance to the water, while Higgs Beach along the Reynolds Street Pier offers a sandy bottom with plenty of fish. Other popular snorkeling spots include Fort Zachary Taylor, where there are lots of fish along the rock breakwaters, but water shoes are required.

Snorkeling from the beach is acceptable for beginners, but it can quickly become boring. The best snorkeling spots in Key West are located 12 miles offshore around the reefs at Looe Key, which requires a tour boat. Some of the best places to go snorkeling at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park include Cannon Beach and Far Beach.

Key West offers some of the best snorkeling in the Florida Keys with a variety of shore entry snorkeling spots, reefs, and shipwrecks accessible by boat. Snorkeling in Key West is popular and can be fun if you know where to go. Most snorkeling is accessed by boat tours that take you away from the island itself.