Looe Key Snorkeling

Our friends from home the Jagodzinski's arrived to check out their new condo and spend some time away from the "cold cold" North and we have been eating up a storm since they arrived. One item that both Marge and Dave wanted to do was to snorkel out at the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. Popular for skin diving, snorkeling, fishing and boating, the sanctuary is considered to be the most spectacular reef in the Lower Keys. The remains of the H.M.S. Looe which sank in 1744, and for which the sanctuary is named, still remains on the ocean floor within the sanctuary boundaries. This small patch of reef (about five acres)is located about 5 miles South of Big Pine Key with lots of outfits around the area to take you out there. We picked as calm a day as we could, but unfortunately the water wasn't as clear as we had hoped and the sun was not shining. There were lots of people out there in both private and a variety of the group boats (see below) like we went on moored to the permanent buoys located within the sanctuary.


Leaving Bahia Honda State Park

The Old Bahia Honda Bridge at the State Park
Receiving safety instructions and warnings before entering the water.

Dave and Marge in the water.
These boats are perfect and even have glass bottoms to them for viewing, but as I said earlier the water was not the clearest this day and not much could be seen. There were huge schools of Yellowtail Snapper everywhere though that people obviously feed, that swarm about you as you enter the water (which was a tad cool - 70 degrees) Some wore wet suits to keep warmer.

The day was fun and we even saw some porpoises as we were coming and going. Coming back I think everyone was hungry and tired from the exposure to the cold water, but it was a trip we'll remember for some time.