11 Best Water Activities In Key West Florida

Nestled at the southernmost tip of the United States, Key West is renowned for its warm tropical climate, vibrant marine life, and the stunning turquoise water. The island paradise is surrounded by the clear blue water that offers the opportunity for fun and adventurous water activities. So, spending your days out on the water is a great way to spend time in Key West. Here are the best water activities and tours to enjoy while in Key West.

Snorkeling

Snorkeling is one of the best water activities in Key West that you just can’t miss. It unveils the mesmerizing underwater world that is brimming with vibrant coral reefs and a large variety of marine life. Taking a snorkeling tour is the best way to experience this underwater world but there are also plenty of places to snorkel right by the shore.

Snorkeling is ideal for both beginners and seasoned snorkelers since you don’t need experience or knowledge unlike diving. As you join a tour, you will receive instructions on how to use the equipment so all you need to know is how to swim.

The guides take you out to the best places to snorkel on a small-group adventure around the living coral reef. There’s a chance to see many tropical fish, eels, turtles, dolphins, anemones, and urchins.

Dolphin Watching

Embarking on a dolphin watch tour in Key West is an exciting experience. Dolphins are some of the most gentle, playful and intelligent marine creatures to encounter. As you venture out into the open water, you will be surrounded by the perfect setting to meet these delightful creatures. Encountering dolphins is a Florida bucket list item and there’s no better place to do that than Key West.

On this tour, you get to combine the two best water activities in Key West, swimming with dolphins and snorkeling. The tour lasts about three hours and includes unlimited beverages and snorkel gear.

Do It All Adventure

With this watersports adventure you get to spend most of the day out on the sparkling Key West water. The do-it-all adventure features twelve different activities including snorkeling, windsurfing, wave runners, kayaking, paddleboarding, trampoline, water skiing, knee boarding, inflatable slide, banana boat, rafts, and an “ice burg” you can climb.

This is the perfect tour for a whole day spent having the time of your life out on the water and a great activity to have fun for the whole family. You can pick and choose which water activities you want to do or have a go at them all. On the way back to the marina, you will be served delicious grilled lunch.

Jetskiing

The thrill of flying across the water is one of the best feelings and a great way to explore the island’s pristine water and breathtaking coastline. This adventure is for those wanting a little bit more adrenaline and to experience an exhilarating time on the water.

The tour takes you on an hour and a half to two hour jetski ride that circles completely around the island. With a few stops along the way, you will be able to see the island from points of view. Keep in mind, to drive the jetski you need to present a passed boaters safety test, but the good news is that the tests only take 15 minutes online and a second person can ride on the back for free if they can’t drive a jetski.

Kayaking

Kayaking in Key West offers a serene and immersive way to explore around the islands. Gliding through the water and exploring the mangroves mainly accessible by kayaking, is the perfect way to explore the Florida Keys natural habitat.

This water activity in Key West is suited for all ages and even welcomes your furry friends. The guide leads the exploration trip and tells all about the ecosystem of the area while pointing out all of the marine life as you’re passing by. There’s a chance to see fish, jellyfish, horseshoe crab, conch, and nurse sharks especially in the shallow water.

Pick your choice of single or double kayaks as you book and enjoy the tour with knowledgeable guides as you kayak around Key West.

Sunset Cruise

If you’re looking for a romantic water activity to do in Key West, then this definitely makes it at the top of the list. Sailing across the water as the sun goes down and paints the sky in vibrant colors, is one of the best ways to spend an evening out on the water. As you sail away, you’ll have a front row seat to one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

On board, you are treated to complimentary drinks and appetizers to enjoy while the catamaran sails around some of the most popular landmarks in Key West. To make the night even more special, there is live music featuring local musicians. For those who want a cruise and a dinner, there is an option for one of those as well with the Key West Sunset Dinner Cruise.

Parasailing

Get sweeping views of Key West as you go on a thrilling and exhilarating parasailing adventure. Seeing the shimmering blue water and taking in the breathtaking views of the islands makes this one of the best water activities in Key West.

The tour goes out with a small group of people and then your guide secures you into a double or triple person parasailing device. Slowly, you lift off and start gliding above the water following the boat.

You have the option to stay dry during the entirety of the ride or you can have the guide splash you into the water for more of a water experience.

Shark and Wildlife Viewing

The Shark and Wildlife Viewing is an epic experience where you get to see sharks out in the wild. The tour takes you miles off the coast for the best shark viewing experience. Watch as the pilot drops bait to draw a variety of different sharks to the boat and capture the moment as you see them feed.

While the sharks are the excitement of this trip, don’t forget to be on a lookout for dolphins, turtles, stingrays and various other marine animals. Also, you will get to learn all about the marine life from the experienced pilot. Drinks, snacks and polarized glasses are included on board so you will have everything you need to view the marine creatures.

Snuba Diving

Snuba Diving is a combination of snorkeling and scuba diving. It was invented so that swimmers can have air as they dive down a little further down than the surface, but don’t have to carry heavy scuba equipment on them. Another benefit of snuba diving is that you don’t have to complete a scuba certification which means you can’t dive as deep as you would scuba diving but you are still able to explore more of the underwater world.

The snuba gear and instruction is provided as you can just enjoy a day out on the water with everything you need including refreshments. Souvenir photos are available for purchase at the end of your trip so you can take this incredible memory home with you.

Tiki Boat Ride

Whether you choose a day tiki boat cruise or one at sunset time, this is a special way to get out on the water. The tiki boat takes you away from the crowds to a beautiful sandbar where you can relax, swim around and have a fun, unique experience.

As the boat heads out, be sure to look out for marine life such as turtles and dolphins and learn about the area from the captain. There’s an option to book a whole tiki boat just for your group but if you have less than six people, you can always book the boat for less.

Deep Sea Fishing

A great way to enjoy your day out on the water is to take a deep sea boat fishing tour. This excursion takes a group of people up to 18 miles off the shore in search of fish to catch. There is a chance to catch tuna, mahi mahi, wahoo, and many more types of fish. Although you’re not guaranteed a catch, with such knowledgeable captain and crew it is almost impossible to not get your catch of the day.

The boat has the best navigational electronics and safety equipment as well as a live tank bait. Get your pick from half day, 3/4 day and full day options or if you don’t have a group of six people, then you can always go on the Gulfstream Fishing tour.