Page 423 - Visitor Guides

Snorkeling: Easy to Explore Subsea World Tim Grollimund

eaturing vivid coral reefs teeming shrine stands on a Stephen Frink (2)
with exotic sea creatures, the concrete base in
FFlorida Keys offer a vacation approximately 25
paradise that attracts almost a million feet of water and
snorkel and scuba aficionados each year is one of the most
who can’t wait to get into the water and photographed
explore — even as first-timers. underwater sites in
Snorkeling primarily requires a the world.
mask, snorkel, fins for propulsion and French Reef and
inflatable snorkeling vest to enjoy a day Davis Reef, also
of underwater sightseeing. Professional off Key Largo, are
snorkel charters rent equipment and easily navigable
provide instruction. Add a T-shirt or along the top of
sunblock and you’re set to go. the reef and sandy
Spectacular coral reefs are a short ledges. Grouper Keys Divers Volunteer
boat ride from the islands, located in and moray eels
shallow water that’s often just 10 to 15 cruise among the To Restore Coral Reefs
feet deep. cliffs and canyons,
Some favorite marine sites include gullies and Alexa Frink explores a shallow water wreck off northern Key Largo. Divers assist staff members with cultivation of young corals at the Coral Restoration Foundation’s coral nursery off the Upper Keys.
the nation’s first undersea park, Key archways at depths from 15 to 40 feet. Key Reef is one of the most spectacular
Largo’s John Pennekamp Coral Reef Off Islamorada, Alligator Reef boasts shallow-water undersea environs. Its reef ivers can help keep Florida is a grass-roots way of giving people Divers also can contribute through
State Park, and nearby, the 9-foot-tall huge populations of yellowtail snapper, fish annually play host to an unusual, Keys reefs healthy through ownership.” everyday conservation actions to leave
4,000-pound bronze statue known as grunts, goatfish and damselfish and a event for snorkelers and divers: the D“voluntourism” vacations, Capturing lionfish helps prevent an area cleaner than they found it.
“Christ of the Abyss.” The underwater mini-wall where lobsters hide in crevices Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival. doing things to protect the reef while the invasive Indo-Pacific species from Cutting and removing monofilament
Among Marathon’s notable Key West’s largest protected coral volunteering for the greater good, up voraciously preying on invertebrates and fishing line eliminates a potential
patch reefs and spur– reef is Western Sambos. The popular close and purposefully. juvenile fish such as grunts and hamlets, entanglement for other divers. Picking
and–groove formations is snorkeling site is part of an ecological Recreational sport divers can and stealing resources from domestic up other lost fishing tackle, such as
Sombrero Reef, marked by reserve created in 1997. Several other join ongoing coral restoration and species like grouper and snapper. hooks and sinkers, as well as removing
a large lighted tower. You extensive shallow reefs off Key West propagation efforts with marine The popular aquarium fish, probably cans, bottles, plastic and refuse makes
might see a pair of spotfin including Eastern Dry Rocks, Rock Key scientists from Key Largo’s Coral introduced to Florida waters in the a huge difference over time.
butterflyfish circle in their and Sand Key are abundant in corals, Restoration Foundation. They learn 1980s, has no natural reef predators coralrestoration.org
reef.org
courting dance, French gorgonians and fish, and range from 5 about environmental impacts on Florida’s except humans. fla-keys.com/volunteer
angelfish nip and peck at to 45 feet in depth. reefs through education and participate The Keys’ Reef Environmental
reef plants, a huge school of Snorkeling is the perfect family activity in hands-on dives to restore endangered Education Foundation, whose mission David Gross
grunts slide back and forth for visitors to the Keys for close, calm staghorn and elkhorn corals. The two is to conserve marine ecosystems,
in a gentle tidal surge or a observation of the inhabitants of one of are among the reef-building species partnered with the Florida Keys
stingray scour the sandy the world’s most diverse, complex and with the best chance to propagate and National Marine Sanctuary and the dive
bottom for a snack. beautiful ecosystems. create new habitats. community to educate divers on how to
Snorkelers explore coral formations in the clear shallow
waters off the Florida Keys. The Lower Keys’ Looe fla-keys.com/diving Volunteers go on working dives to capture and remove lionfish from Keys
waters.
coral nurseries to clean and prepare
Museum Showcases Man’s Quest to Dive corals for planting. An orientation dive Lionfish need to be removed regularly

reduce its Atlantic population.
evolution of corals over time.
he Florida Keys History of Diving Museum is filled with Museum visitors can come within inches of the earliest at a restoration site shows firsthand the in order to fish down the species and
unique artifacts, antiques and photographs relative to diving machines, including a full-scale replica of an all-wood “This is something the average person Recreational lionfish roundups provide
Tdiving and its heritage. diving bell, and view the Parade of Nations, an unparalleled can get their hands on and do,” said divers a chance to earn prizes, sample
Since 2005 the museum’s 3,000 square feet have collection of historic hard-hat dive helmets from 25 foundation director the edible, tasty fish and help preserve
featured the world’s largest and most comprehensive countries around the world. Ken Nedimyer. reef ecosystems.
collection of diving artifacts representing more than Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., as well as “Volunteers can REEF also enlists divers for volunteer
30 countries, in addition to the Bauer Diving History during free monthly evening lectures, the museum is take the experience reef survey and annual fish count
Research Library, a world-class facility containing rare located at mile marker 83 bayside in Islamorada. back to their home projects to help collect and report data Diver Patti Gross shows her success in cap-
historical materials. divingmuseum.org communities — it on marine fish populations. turing several invasive lionfish off the Keys.

6 www.fla-keys.com/dive Keys Traveler Keys Traveler www.fla-keys.com/dive 7