Is it safe to go snorkeling in Key West?

Is It Safe To Go Snorkeling In The Florida Keys? Any water sport comes with some level of danger, and snorkeling is no different. The coral reefs are living, and house dangerous sea creatures, as well as other dangers that can be in that environment. But overall, snorkeling while in the Florida Keys is fairly safe.



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May will offer the best snorkeling in the Florida Keys. The weather is warm during May, and the waters are perfect for snorkeling – calm and clear!

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Are there Sharks in the Florida Keys? You bet. It is common to catch nurse sharks while fishing on the flats. These bottom dwellers are generally docile and will only act defensively if provoked, so if you see one out snorkeling or diving there is no need for alarm as long as you do not disturb it.

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You can also swim and enjoy other water sports like windsurfing and snorkeling as well as kayaking and paddleboarding in the clear, clean water inhabited by tropical fish.

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Key Largo at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is one of the must-visit snorkeling spots in the continental United States. You will find the only living coral reef here. Snorkelers can expect to see various sea turtles, shipwrecks, bottlenose dolphins, and tropical fishes here.

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Probably not. There's simply not enough fresh water in Key West, which has no lakes, no rivers, and gets significantly less rainfall than the Upper Keys, Everglades, or Miami. Occasionally, Key West gets American Crocodiles.

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American crocodiles are most prevalent throughout Central and South America; however, small populations reside in the very southernmost area of Florida. The crocodiles you will find in the Florida Keys play a role in the delicate Everglades ecosystem, preying on reptiles, fish, birds and small mammals.

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Since the late 1970s, healthy coral cover in the Florida Keys has fallen 90 percent due to disease, heat stress, and damage from boats and storms. Mission: Iconic Reefs aims to restore 7 key reefs to self-sustaining levels by 2040.

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47th Annual Swim Around Key West on June 3, 2023.

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The crime rate in the Florida Keys is low, but you should still use common sense when exploring Key West, especially at night and around hectic Duval Street and Mallory Square. Exercise caution when going into the water as well; be sure to heed all flags and warnings from authorities.

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