Not everyone is a natural-born swimmer. Even in places like the Florida Keys, you’ll find lots of people on vacation and who live here who don’t want to go in the ocean for one reason or another. But that doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy a life on the water.
There are even plenty of water activities that they can enjoy, whether they just aren’t strong swimmers or are scared of the water.
Below are a few activities to try the next time you’re in Key West and looking for some mellow hours on the water.
4 Ways to Hit the Water in Key West, Even if You're Scared of the Ocean
So you want to enjoy all that the Florida Keys have to offer, ocean and all, but you’re a little queezy about getting in the water. The first thing to know is that you’re not alone! Whether you had a bad experience or have just seen Jaws a few too many times, there are plenty of others like you who are afraid of the water.
Still, it’s a shame to come to Key West and miss out on one of (if not the single) best part of island life. Spending time on the water in the Keys is blissful, and there are plenty of ways to do it without working your nerves.
For the best luck, try to find experiences that are relaxing, peaceful, and calm — the way nature is supposed to be. In other words, avoid adrenaline-inducing things like jet skis and parasailing and opt for mellow kayaking, floating with a mask and snorkel, or private boat tours with just your family.
Here’s a look at a few ideas to try if you’re on the island and want to spend a little time in the water.
Key West Big Boat Tours
Depending on the level of your hesitation, you might consider booking on a big-boat tour. There are a ton of boat tours to compare in Key West, from catamaran sunset tours to dinner cruises on wooden sailing schooners. The key is finding the right one for you and your family.
If you want to experience the coral reef, glass-bottom boat tours are an excellent way to see them without getting wet. Glass-bottom boats are structurally sound despite their name! The lower level features a gallery where you can view the seafloor through windows. In shallow areas, such as over coral reefs, it allows you to spot colorful reef fish and beautiful coral formations. In other words, you can snorkel without ever getting wet. A guide narrates most tours, so you get to learn about what you’re seeing along the way.
Sunset tours are another great way to get on the water in Key West, and they don’t involve swimming or small boats. The best (in my opinion, at least) are the sailing tours on classic schooners.
Snorkeling in Nature's Swimming Pool
It might sound wild to recommend trying snorkeling for someone afraid of the water, but trust me on this one. As long as you possess a fundamental ability to swim, you can snorkel for the first time with very little trouble. To have the most fun and see the most stuff, the best snorkeling isn’t about swimming at all — it’s about floating calmly and just watching the underwater world go by.
Snorkeling in the Florida Keys is very easy, as it essentially involves floating on your belly. The mask and snorkel allow you to breathe easily, and the fins on your feet enable you to move with minimal effort. An inflatable snorkeling vest can help keep you afloat.
The best snorkeling tours are those done in smaller groups. Bigger boats are full of loud crowds, kicking all around, scaring the fish away, and generally making an unpleasant scene. In a small group, you can find a quiet spot just to relax. It’s also best done on the calmest days.
If you want to try it, consider starting snorkeling at a quiet Keys beach with clear water that’s shallow enough to stand up in. That way, you can ease into it. Several of the best Key West beaches have places where you can give it a try. There’s no fancy breathing techniques or anything, just take it slow, breathe normally, and relax in the water. Check out some of our tips for keeping the mask from fogging up.
Still, I wouldn’t recommend snorkeling if you can’t swim at all. If you want to see the reef but don’t want to get in the water, try a glass-bottom boat tour instead.
Backcountry Kayaking Tour — The Ultimate Relaxation Technique
One of the most relaxing things you can do on the water is a kayaking tour — they’re one of the best tours to do in Key West. The types of kayaks we use in the Keys are wide and stable, and you sit on them instead of inside them. It’s not always a dry experience (the paddle will drip on you, and the seat is usually wet), but it’s very, very hard to fall off. Still, you should always wear a life vest unless you’re an excellent swimmer.
There are right and wrong ways to go kayaking in the Keys. Your resort or hotel might have a kayak lying on the beach that you can take out. It’s fun to dabble with, but it’s not what it’s all about.
The absolute best kayaking is in the mangrove creeks and tunnels of the bayside. Back there, the water is flat calm and very shallow. You’ll cruise under tree canopies and over seagrass flats where the water is crystal clear. You always see lots of birds, and sometimes manatees or dolphins.
Just like snorkeling, the best kayaking trips aren’t about paddling hard or making miles. They’re about spending quiet, peaceful hours on the water, spotting wildlife, and soaking up the best parts of the Keys.
Guided Sandbar Adventure for Lifelong Love of the Beach
If you don’t mind boats, a sandbar adventure is just the thing you need. Sandbar tours are worth it because you can pick how much water activity you want — it can range from lounging on a beach and never touching the wet stuff to full immersion in clear, shallow water. For many people, a trip to the sandbar is like a trip to the pool: Some go to sun and lounge, others to float, and a few obnoxious healthy ones go to do laps.
The sandbars of Key West are all a little different. Some have beaches you can walk along, and some are completely underwater at high tide. So it’s important to speak frankly with your captain and let them know what you’d like to do. That way, they can pick the best spot on that given day.
The best part of the guided Key West sandbar hopping adventure is that you won’t have to worry about working the boat or picking the spot. You just book the charter, tell the captain what you’d like to do, and let them show you a good time. Most tours, like the ones I do at Casual Monday, are on smaller boats with just you and your family.
Don't Let a Fear of Water Keep You Dry in Key West
Remember, if you’re a swimmer who’s afraid of the ocean, there’s not much to fear in the Keys. On calm days, the water here is like a swimming pool — warm and clear. Unless you’re going to grab nurse sharks by the tail or swim around with a speared fish on a stick (I don’t recommend doing either), you don’t have too much to worry about when it comes to critters. Jaws was set in Cape Cod, which is a long way away. Also, it was a work of fiction.
If you’re not a strong swimmer, there are still plenty of water activities that can get you out there, having a good time, and enjoying the island lifestyle.
If you’re ready to give it a try, why not call me and we’ll head out on a private sandbar tour? I’ll get the Casual Monday fueled up and ready to go. Let’s dip our toes in the water at the Key West sandbar!
