Key West Florida

Underwater Adventure -- Key West Scuba Diving And Snorkeling
by Christine OKelly

If you're winter weary, you probably need a little sand and surf to thaw out and reenergize. The Florida Keys offers a great vacation spot where you can do that, even if you're on a budget. Full of history, natural beauty, and fun activities, local tours can provide you with the perfect way to recharge after a long winter while you work on your tan and relax.

While you can stroll and shop in Old Town, jump on an elegant sunset cruise ship, or head to one of the local maritime museums of the area, there is no more exciting way to enjoy this island paradise than with a Key West scuba diving or snorkeling tour. One of the local dive centers can offer you an underwater experience you'll remember for a lifetime.

Scuba Diving

You'll find a Key West scuba diving adventure brings you to a stunning coral reef full of hermit crabs, lobsters, dolphins, anemones, sharks, and thousands of colorful tropical fish. The coral reef of the Florida Keys is the largest reef in the United States and the third largest in the world. With marine life and plenty of shipwrecks to explore, you'll find plenty to see when scuba diving in the clear turquoise waters here.

Scuba diving requires certification in the islands. Certification is not only easy to obtain, but it ensures your safety and the safety of others scuba diving in these waters. Local dive centers offer courses for a number of difference certifications, depending on the type of scuba diving you want to enjoy.

A full certification course takes three to four days to complete, but it certifies you to dive anywhere in the world. Other courses include certifications for diving to shallower depths or even refresher courses for those previously certified who haven't been on a dive in a while. A course always begins with class work before heading into the pool for practice dives.

After accomplishing pool dives, you'll head to the open sea for a supervised dive before earning your certification so you can dive on your own or participate in one of the many scuba diving tours like dolphin dives and shipwreck dives. Formed by a meteor, the Marquesas Reef Line is a great scuba tour as is the Nine Foot Stake wreck tour featuring incredibly sized brain coral. You can even go on nighttime scuba diving tours for an entirely different look under the sea.

Snorkeling

If you want an underwater adventure that doesn't require certification, snorkeling is for you. With much of the coral reef in shallow waters, you'll find plenty to see. Snorkeling the shallows is also great for family vacations with children and for people who aren't accomplished swimmers.

After boarding a boat, a local snorkeling tour will take you to the best areas for seeing the amazing marine life of the coral reef. A snorkeling tour to Whitecaps offers you a more remote snorkeling experience while a local sunset and snorkel tour offers you a day of snorkeling, dinner, music, and a whole lot of fun before you watch the sun set into the water.

Whether you choose Key West scuba diving or snorkeling, you are sure to have a vacation filled with natural wonder that offers you just the underwater adventure of your dreams.

About the Author

Christine O'Kelly writes for the experts at Key West Dive Center. They provide information on Key West scuba diving and much more.