Snorkeling in Florida

Florida has one of the longest coastlines of all American states, and is the only state that borders on two different oceans. Besides, it is one of the most important vacation destinations in the country, as well as in the world. These two together make it one of the most popular snorkeling destinations in the country, and noobs and pros alike love the snorkeling around here.

There’s both freshwater and saltwater snorkeling available in Florida. A large number of reefs abound in the ocean surrounding Florida, both in the Atlantic Ocean and in the Gulf of Mexico. The clear, unhurried water and generally sunny sky is especially good for snorkeling. Add to that the large variety of ocean flora and fauna that you can see around here, and the relative safety of the designated snorkeling zones, and you have a snorkeling paradise.

One of the best places for snorkeling in Florida is in the Florida Keys. The water here is shallow and crystal clear, and there are a number of colorful and vibrant reefs around here. When you are snorkeling in Florida, one option is to start snorkeling from the shore itself. If you want more adventure, you can charter a boat to take you out into deeper waters, where you can find very good snorkeling grounds.

One of the most amazing experiences around Florida is snorkeling inside a shipwreck. A large number of shipwrecks have occurred in Florida for the last few hundred years, and some of these wrecks are carefully preserved as living relics. You can get a guide to show you around the wreck, while you explore the ancient and modern ships that have long disappeared under the ocean.

If you are interested in freshwater snorkeling, Florida offers that in abundance too. Florida has a large number of inland springs that have beautiful and clean water. Marine life may not perhaps be as abundant in these warm waters as in the sea, but you can chance upon a West Indies Manatee or another rare species of animal, in these waters.

However, when snorkeling, there are a few things you should be careful about. Firstly, it is against the law to go snorkeling between the hours of sunset and sunrise. Also, when snorkeling, always try and get an experienced guide along. That may cost you money, but that will add to the experience by keeping it safe, and making it more interesting. Especially when snorkeling near shipwrecks, a guide can be very helpful. Many of these guides have a good knowledge of local history, and can tell you more about the ships that you are seeing than any book. Besides, snorkeling around shipwrecks has its own danger. A sunken ship is more or less like a dungeon under water, and if you are a bit too adventurous, you can easily become lost in a very claustrophobic place. If you do not have the necessary experience, this can actually be pretty dangerous. So, it is a good idea to invest in a good guide when you go snorkeling around here.