Enjoy crystal clear water and stunning tropical fish on this snorkel tour with Sundance Watersports in Islamorada in The Florida Keys. This is an incredible trip and a must-do if you love that blue water and sea life.
This post is in partnership with Sundance Watersports and The Florida Keys and Key West who hosted our visit. All opinions are my own. You can read my full Disclosure Policy here.
One of the main draws of The Florida Keys is that crystal clear blue water, and you can’t vacation here without enjoying some time on it, and in it.While we were in Islamorada (which I think may be our favorite Key!), we went on a snorkel tour with Sundance Watersports. We’ve snorkeled in several Caribbean Islands and my husband and I both agreed that this was the clearest water we’ve seen and most full of life.
Our snorkel trip was planned for a Monday, but Mother Nature had other ideas. It was stormy that morning, and the boat was unable to go out.
The crew at Sundance Watersports was wonderful and rebooked or refunded everyone on the spot. The crew was able to do this from their phones, so we didn’t all have to go stand in a line at the check in desk to figure it out. Totally quick and painless.
We rebooked our trip for a couple of days later, and thankfully the weather was just perfect.
Islamorada Snorkeling Trips
Sundance Watersports is located at Robbie’s of Islamorada (another MUST do), and after you check in, sign your waiver, and get your wrist band, they’ll send you out to the bench on the dock where a crew member can set you up with a snorkel and fins.
A few travelers had their own gear, so if you have it you can bring it. There is a bit of an upcharge to rent it from them, but for us, that was easier. We don’t really have our own snorkel gear, and even if we did, we weren’t hauling it all the way from Pennsylvania
All you need is your swim suit and a towel to dry off with afterward.
‘Blue’ is the name of the catamaran we went out on, and it’s a beautiful boat. It’s 26 feet wide, so it’s very stable on the water and not rocking all around. It was also very spacious and comfortable to sit on while we made our way to the reef.
Islamorada Snorkeling Spots
The captain decides on the snorkeling spots depending on conditions, and we went to two spots. The first one was cool, but we didn’t see a ton of fish. The captain had us all get back on the boat and took us over to Alligator Reef.
Islamorada Snorkeling on Alligator Reef
Alligator Reef is marked by this lighthouse, and is the site of one of the best snorkeling and diving spots in The Keys. That water is just an insane color and absolutely crystal clear.
As soon as we got in and looked under the water, there were literally millions of fish. I’ve never seen so many fish in the sea while snorkeling.
The more you looked, the more varieties you saw.
Best Place to Snorkel in Islamorada
The reef itself is gorgeous, too. There are tons of beautiful sea fans, a type of soft coral, waving back and forth on the ocean floor. Many fish swim in and around them and they’re a good place to spot some interesting sea life.
We saw at least 2 sharks on the ocean floor. The crew told us that big predator sharks don’t swim in these shallow waters, and any sharks we see will be nurse sharks which are basically like a big catfish.
We also saw a few barracudas. They just kind of hang out and let all the little fish swim around them.
You can see in the photo above how many small fish there were in the water. They swim in tandem with each other and it’s pretty incredible to watch.
This school of fish stayed sheltered by the sea fans and stuck close together.
A word about the underwater photos and video: Plan for this. You definitely want to take some pics of what you’ll see out there. I just used my phone in a waterproof case, but I wish I’d have brought my GoPro for clearer images and video.
Sundance Watersports Reviews
Snorkeling at Alligator Reef was fantastic. We saw so many cool fish, and I loved doing this with the kids.
Sundance Watersports is also a fantastic tour operator. Their crew was helpful and informative throughout the entire trip.
On the way back, the captain said that if we ever tour with them again, let them know if we had a favorite spot or want to try a new place so they can make our venture as great as possible.
I loved that they realized we weren’t seeing a ton of fish at the first stop, and took us somewhere else to ensure we got the full ‘snorkel Islamorada’ experience.
The crew made sure everyone was comfortable in the water, and got safely back on the boat, too. They provided pool noodles and snorkel vests to anyone that wanted one. We took the pool noodles which were perfect for staying on top of the water.
This tour is an all-ages tour, and there were some pretty young kids on our boat. They did great and had a blast.
It’s also perfect for first-timers. The reefs are pretty shallow so you don’t feel like you’ve jumped off a boat into the middle of the ocean, and the boat is very close by (they got some prime parking!) if you want to hop back on.
Things to Do In Islamorada
The snorkel tour in Islamorada with Sundance Watersports was absolutely one of the highlights of our trip to The Florida Keys.
Not only was the snorkeling incredible, but we had a great crew, comfortable boat ride, and just overall awesome experience. This company is locally owned and operated and has been providing tours in The Keys for over 25 years. They know what they’re doing!
Sundance Watersports offers some additional tours in Islamorada, too. Check out their website for more details, and follow on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and some really cool photos.
The Florida Keys and Key West are the perfect place for a family vacation. Visit their website, and check out their social profiles for tons of ideas to help plan your adventure: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
HOW TO PLAN A FLORIDA KEYS FAMILY VACATION:
WHERE TO STAY IN THE FLORIDA KEYS
BEST PLACES TO EAT IN THE FLORIDA KEYS
- Half Shell Raw Bar in Key West
- Marker 88 Restaurant in Islamorada
- Angler & Ale Restaurant, Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key
- Morada Bay Beach Cafe, Islamorada
- Robbie’s of Islamorada: The Hungry Tarpon + Feed the Tarpon
- Turtle Kraals Restaurant in Key West
- First Flight Restaurant & Brewery: USA’s Southernmost Microbrewery
- 11 Best Places for Key Lime Pie in The Florida Keys
THINGS TO WITH KIDS IN THE FLORIDA KEYS
- Islamorada Snorkel Tour with Sundance Watersports
- The Turtle Hospital, Marathon Key
- Dolphin Research Center, Marathon Key
- Robbie’s of Islamorada: The Hungry Tarpon + Feed the Tarpon
- Aquarium Encounters in Marathon FL: Coral Reef Encounter
- Bahia Honda State Park – Best Florida Keys Beaches
- Key West Butterfly Conservatory
- The Cats of the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West, Florida
- 15 Things to Do With Kids in Key West
Luxury Retreat Group says
Thank you for sharing a great experience in Islamorada! Snorkeling is one of the activities I wish to try with my kids. I hope to get there soon!