Coral Reef Snorkeling in Key West and the Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are home to the only living coral reef tract in America outside of Hawaii. The Florida Reef extends from offshore from Miami and parallels the islands, running about the same route that the Overseas Highway runs. While it’s easy to drive to the Keys, the reef line lies a few miles offshore, tantalizing visitors with its allure but accessible only by boat. The Keys are home to four distinct ecosystems, each with its own unique attraction.
The hardwood hammocks are coastal forests that lie inland, while the mangroves along the coasts are the most visible Keys ecosystem. Underwater, seagrass flats stretch for miles in every direction from the islands. As you get farther offshore, the fourth distinct ecosystem is the coral reef—and that’s the place to go for the best snorkeling.

It’s the coral reef that attracts all sorts of visitors to the Florida Keys. Here you will meet tourists from all over the world, documentary filmmakers, and marine scientists. But if you want to see the real stars of the show, head out to the reef and introduce yourself to the colorful schools of fish, roaming sharks, playful turtles, gliding spotted eagle rays, and countless other cool sea critters.