Key West Diving

Posted by KWBlog in Key West Watersports on March 30th, 2009

Key West Diving on the Reef

Key West Diving on the Reef


Enjoy the clear waters on the reef in Key West diving spots all around the island.  From Sand Key Lighthouse to the Sambos to Toppino Reef and the Cayman wreck, Key West diving offers wrecks, reef dives, and shallow water dives for beginners.  Join an excursion on a Key West diving boat or rent your own boat and equipment.  Learn to dive and get certified for a day, and it will be remembered as the hilight of your vacation.

There really isn’t a better way to spend a day of your vacation in Key West, than to get suited up and jump into the Silent World.  Explore the reef, take pictures, and learn about a whole new underwater world.  The reef is just six miles from the coast of Key West, and there are some wrecks not much further out, just beyond the reef.  Explore them all!  Some of the favorite wrecks around Key West are Joe’s Tug, the Cayman, both within a half hour’s boat drive from the dock.   Neither wreck is more than around 85 feet deep.

The reef ranges from 2 feet at Sand Key Lighthouse to the edge of the dropoff.  There are wonderful specimens of coral as shallow as 15 feet,  for even snorkelers to enjoy.   The water is made clearer by its proximity to the Gulf Stream, which brings great visibility wherever it goes.  Your Key West diving boat will include a Captain and a Dive master, and you better believe they are constantly monitoring how close the Gulf Stream is to Key West on any given day! When the Gulf Stream is close and the wind is calm, things are lookin’ good. In fact, any day spent Key West diving is more than good, it’s great!

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Key West Snorkeling

Posted by KWBlog in Key West Watersports on March 29th, 2009

Key West Snorkeling on the Coral Reef

Key West Snorkeling on the Coral Reef

Come see what it’s all about…the coral reef in Key West. The Florida Keys are blessed with miles and miles of reef running along the chain of islands. In Key West, the reef is a mere six miles from shore. That means for Key West snorkeling, it’s a quick trip out to a magical marine world, the coral reef system.

Snorkeling the reef means access to a very diverse set of species, which you won’t find up north or out west. Key West snorkeling offers a glimpse into an underwater ecosystem that’s totally alive with coral, tropical fish, crustaceans, sharks, eels, turtles, rays, and yes…jellyfish! But don’t worry, the jellyfish and sharks are not a problem on Key West snorkeling trips. Mostly we just see nurse sharks and moon jellyfish.

The colors of the tropical fish darting around on the reef are really spectacular. Sargeant Majors, Parrotfish, Blue Tangs, and lots of types of snapper, along with the long silvery torpedos known as barracudas, all clinging to the reef. Peek at holes, you might see a moray eel. Keep an eye ahead of you, you might see an eagle ray. If you see a shark that’s not moving, but just laying on the ocean floor with his head under a rock, it’s a nurse shark. They will not bother you, don’t be afraid.

Jacques Cousteau coined the term “Silent World” with one of his groundbreaking documentaries, and we think it’s a great term for the world we see on a typical Key West snorkeling adventure. The coral reef and the life it supports is one of the most precious things about Key West. You can see it for yourself by booking a Key West snorkeling adventure today.

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Key West Fishing

Posted by KWBlog in Key West fishing on March 29th, 2009

Well, if you came to the Southernmost City for some awesome sport fishing, you already know that Key West fishing is totally out of this world! Fishing here is nothing like fishing on lakes, or fishing where there’s no coral reef. We have clear water, reef, flats, and deep ocean water fishing, making Key West fishing among top reasons people come here on vacation.
Reserve several days for fishing, at least one day for each one of the exciting ways to catch fish: flats fishing, reef fishing, and offshore fishing. All types of Key West fishing bring in game fish that give a good fight. Better hit the gym and give the old muscles a boost before you fly down to Key West…you will definitely get a workout pulling in the fish here. From tarpon on the flats to grouper from the bottom and snapper near the reef, all the fish are strong and give lots of action.

Grouper Caught in Key West

Grouper Caught in Key West

Hire a guide who specializes in the type of Key West fishing you want to do. It’s especially important to have a guide for fishing in the backcountry, otherwise known as flats fishing. He or she will take you to the right spots where bonefish, permit and tarpon are known to roam. The guide can spot the fish and help you throw the bait correctly.

For offshore and reef fishing, expect to fill up your freezer with wahoo, grouper and snapper, or mahi mahi, mackeral or tuna. All these are not only wildly exciting to catch and reel in, they are super delicious as well.

We know that if you’re into fishing, Key West fishing will blow your mind! Once you’ve tried it you’ll never ever forget how it feels to fight the game fish we have in our seas. Come and experience big game fishing in Key West!

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