Key West Water Activities: Get Out Beyond Duvall Street

Key West and the Florida Keys could perhaps be the ultimate adult playground. Of course, there is the nightly Sunset Celebration, countless bars and restaurants serving conch fritters and key lime pie martinis, rum runners, and just about every tropical drink imaginable, and pretty damn good live music at every street corner. But Key West is more than just hanging out and drinking. At least, it is if you do it correctly. Your days on Key West can be filled with plenty of active fun on the water. Here, we will dive into some of the best water activities on and around Key West.

SCUBA Diving

Amy & I heading out to the reef aboard the Phoenix dive boat

Southern Florida and the Keys are home to the Florida Reef, a coral reef that stretches 350 miles from West Palm Beach to the Dry Tortugas. The reef hosts over 40 corals and hundreds of species of tropical fish. From Key West, it’s about a 30-minute boat ride to get to some of the more popular diving sites where you can take in some very colorful marine life including tropical fish, stingrays, and sea turtles.

While SCUBA diving is mostly reserved for those who have been previously certified, some SCUBA outfitters offer a “dive in a day” course that will allow you to learn some basic skills in the morning, then dive on the reef in the afternoon with supervision from a certified instructor.

On a recent trip to Key West, we signed up for this experience offered by Southpoint Divers and loved it. I have been certified as an open water diver in the past, but it has been a while and Amy has never been, so for her, this was a good introduction to SCUBA, and for me, it was a good refresher. I had never been diving on a reef in tropical water before, so the experience was amazing. We saw a number of colorful, tropical fish, barracuda, and plenty of corals and sea sponges. We did not see any sea turtles, which was a bummer, but maybe next time.

If you want to explore the underwater world beyond a snorkeling excursion, then I highly recommend this experience.

Snorkeling

Of course, you may not want to spend a whole day on a SCUBA outing. Or, perhaps, you want to mix some underwater exploration with some lounging around and a few drinks. If this is more your style, then there are plenty of snorkeling adventures on Key West. You will still get to experience some of the Florida Reef and its tropical inhabitants without having to spend the morning in a skills session.

These excursions take place from a boat to access the reef. Some are pretty large catamarans with live music, food, and beverages for the duration of the trip. Participants snorkel at their leisure with provided equipment including a mask, snorkel, fins, and buoyancy vest that can be inflated with air to float on the surface.

These trips make great water adventures for families. They are more affordable than SCUBA excursions and can be enjoyed by younger participants.

A couple of recommended snorkeling excursions include the Key West Afternoon Snorkel With Live Music and Cocktails, and the Key West Snorkeling With Breakfast and Unlimited Mimosas.

Jet Ski Tour

For those who enjoy the thrill of going fast, several jet ski operators offer guided tours around Key West. As soon as you leave the no-wake zone, you and your group will pin the throttle and take your wet bike on a circumnavigation of the island.

Along the way, you may ride through an old Navy submarine base, pass Mallory Square, and ride alongside one of the docked cruise ships. You will also stop for a bit at a shallow sandbar where you can jump off and swim for a bit. This may be the only time on Key West where you can feel real, soft sand under your feet.

The jet skis can comfortably seat two adults and there are points along the way where you can stop and switch out drivers. If you want to save more than a bit of cash, ride two to a jet ski. This is what Amy and I did while on this tour and it was fine. Being on the back of the jet ski allowed me to look around more and get some GoPro footage. See the YouTube video linked on this page for more info on this tour.

The jet ski tour that we did while on Key West is linked here. The skis were nice and in good repair. The tour was two hours.

Paddling

Paddling is always one of our favorite water activities when we travel to new locations. It allows us to experience the marine environment at a more serene pace, without the drone of engines. And with the water around Key West being crystal clear, paddlers get to see quite a bit of marine life while out and about.

You could rent paddleboards or kayaks and go on your own, but a guided tour will likely take you to some cool mangroves or other sites that you would not otherwise find. We went with Lazy Dog Adventures for a paddling excursion. They offer a popular Mangrove Kayak Eco Tour through calm water that is suitable for all ability levels.

Knockabout Key West Audio Tour

Take a self-paced walk through Old Town Key West. Explore all the major attractions and must-sees while traveling at your own pace. The tour is GPS guided with audio that starts automatically as you walk, so you don’t have to keep looking at your phone.

Details and Purchase

Sunset Cruise

The sun hangs low over Key West aboard the Appledore Star. See related video for more footage.

This popular Key West water activity requires no athletic ability and you do not even get wet. It’s pure relaxation and fun. There are almost countless providers of sunset cruises on Key West, and they are not all the same. Who you choose to sail with will depend on the vibe you want to guide you into the evening. Amy and I were looking for a fairly chill sailing: quiet, a few drinks, but mostly a relaxing environment with some elbow room on deck. If this is what you are seeking, then go with a schooner sailing. We went with the Appledore Star, a representation of an 1890s Chesapeake Bay oyster dragger. The Star is small compared to some of the sunset cruisers that you will see, but they only book 22 guests, allowing plenty of breathing room on deck. Most passengers were in their Middle Ages, like us, and just wanted to catch a great sunset and chill for the evening (well, at least before heading back into Old Town). For more information about this cruise, see the YouTube video linked on this page.

But if you want a party at sea, then that’s also available. Cruises with live music and dancing on the deck are also on the menu. One popular option is Fury Cruises, who operate a 65-foot catamaran with live music, appetizers, and bar drinks. If you’re looking to grab that special someone by the hand and lead them onto the dance floor (deck), then this may be your cruise.

Sunsets are incredible on Key West. You really need to take in a few of them while on-island. I would recommend at least one from land at Mallory Square during the nightly Sunset Celebration, and one from sea during a sunset cruise. You won’t regret it.

Sandbar Excursions

Photo Courtesy of Danger Charters

One thing that Key West is not known for is its beaches. Few and far between, the beaches that do exist are mostly broken bits of coral that make a pair of water shoes a necessity. Visitors generally know this before arriving, but that doesn’t mean you won’t want to feel the sand between your toes at some point. Your best bet will be a sandbar excursion.

Like the sunset cruise, there are a few ways to enjoy this particular excursion based on your preferences.

If you like to mix your lounging around with some physical activity, then you might enjoy the Ultimate Key West Kayak Eco-Tour: Mangrove and Sandbar Adventure. On this half-day adventure, you will have access to kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkel gear and explore some of the calm, backwater mangroves along with kicking back with a few included drinks on the sandbar. Lunch and drinks are included.

Smaller crowds are a big draw for some, so hopping aboard a schooner limited to 20 guests sounds like a great way to enjoy the Key West Full-Day Ocean Adventure: Kayak, Snorkel, Sail. Kayaks and snorkel gear, along with beer, wine, and lunch are included. After paddling a bit, you might enjoy floating lazily alongside the boat on a couple of pool noodles, beer in hand.

Florida