Key West Snorkeling-Tip #5
Key West Snorkeling Tip #5: Ask about bad weather destinations
Well, the wind is west-southwest and blowing 17 to 22 knots. Where do we go? The cattle boats don’t mind putting their snorkelers out on the reef. Never-mind the seas are 2-4′ with breaking waves. The tourist are bobbing, coughing water like harpooned whales, and generally wishing they were somewhere else. So what do we do? Our guests deserve the very best.
These folks drove all the way from Miami, and Jimmy booked us from Afghanistan, hoping to treat his friends and family to a day of snorkeling with us two days before he heads back to Kandahar. Our policy is not to put folks out in conditions that we would not go out in ourselves, but jeeze, these folks deserve a good time.
We opted for the lee of Flemming Key. Other boats would say there is no coral and the water is green. We say there is plenty to see, and if you are serious about the marine ecology, you can turn this trip into a wonderful eco-adventure.
Capt. Trish stepped up to the plate and gave a 30 minute presentation on the wonder of near shore eco-systems. Sponges, star corals, rose corals, juvenile fish, coral alga’s, you name it, Capt. Trish brought it life with her presentation. That’s what makes us different. We take the extra effort to share our passion and our guests appreciate it.
Finally made it, picked up a mooring, and now the challenge of introducing a fine group of willing but not so experienced snorkelers to the beauty of a near-shore eco-system. After several minutes of gear adjustment and getting accustomed to 1 foot breaking waves, our guests followed Trish to a wonderful patch of Black Ball Sponges.
Black Ball Sponge
I'm OK
Everyone got in, and though we all did not make it to all the sponges and star corals, we tested our skills and overcame the natural fear of rough water. Great Job!
Trish and the team got some great pictures and found a short spined sea urchin, and we did a show and tell (it did not leave the water).
Short Spine Sea Urchin
Finally back at the boat; Steph showed off her talent with her famous mint-blueberry Mojito. It looked great, but unfortunately the captains would have to wait till we got back to the dock.
Steph's world famous blueberry mojito
