I would like to tent camp at one of the campgrounds in the Florida Keys and do some snorkeling. I don't have a wet suit or anything like that. I'd like the water temperatures to be around 80 degrees if possible. I have heard there are times with the brown seaweed is real bad, and would like to avoid that. Anyone have any tips or suggestions? Nothing like first hand experience!
If you can find a site, try "John Pennykamp State Park" in Key Largo. Go on the "Reserve America" web site and keep trying! I do know that they keep several sites open fo walk-ins too! Even if you can't get a site there, you can still take a boat out of there that takes you to a large coral reef for a snorkeling tour. My wife and I did the snorkeling trip 2 years ago and it was great!
We had a blast in October several different years. Recommend the State Park tours especially for beginners but I'm sure the private tours would be fine too. If you have time, do both.
Further up the Keys - Bahia Honda State Park is a great place to camp and they have snorkeling at Looe Key which is also nice but beware the water is rougher and strong swimmers have more fun. I would get experience at Pennekamp first.
You can also have fun snorkeling off the beach at both parks.
"Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform."
Mark Twain
Went to high school in Key West. Love Pennekamp and Bahia Honda. Like many native Floridians, I enjoy swimming during the summer months...lol. Been a long while since living in the Keys, but IIRC, the seaweed problem seemed more prevalent from late August into September. May be different today... everything else is.
When is the water warm enough? I'm ashamed to say I've never been. The earliest we could make it this year is early December, but I'm thinking March might be better.
You have to be careful of the "christmas winds." If they are real bad you will have murky water and will not be able to see anything. They usually run from Dec. through Feb. or March. I would say March and April are some of the best times to go in the spring. Summer is nice too, warmer water, less tourists, but it is hot!
I think, if this gets to be the trip we go on, we will plan for March. This sounds about perfect for our schedules. I hate to wait that long to go camping again, so maybe a trip to the mountains is in order for this winter.
THere is really good snorkeling at Looe Key..... Bahia Honda has a boat trip out there. Another good place to tent camp is Big Pine Fishing Lodge and take the Looe Key boat out of Looe Key Dive Center just down the road
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