Finding the pulse of the reef...
This week
snorkel & freedive readBest day this week: Friday, 5–8 PM.
Next 12 hours
Clear now, partly cloudy moving in around 5 AM.
Conditions
Visibility, water, current, and wind. The in-water read.
Visibility
Poor
Strong onshore — blown out
Water
86°
skins / none
Current
0.4 kt
gentle drift
Surge
3.7s
some surge
Wind
15 mph
onshore NE
Visibility is an estimate — wind, rain, tide & water alerts.
The spot
The things that stay true when the weather changes.
Yes. Dry Tortugas National Park, FL is snorkelable directly from shore.
Dry Tortugas National Park, FL suits beginners in ordinary conditions.
Visibility at the moat wall is best on a flood tide. Swimming inside the moat is not allowed; the route runs along the outside of the wall.
None. The park is an island more than 68 miles of open sea from Key West, reached only by boat or seaplane.
Checked 2026-07-21. Sources: NPS Dry Tortugas: Swimming, Snorkeling and Diving, NPS Dry Tortugas: Frequently Asked Questions, NPS Dry Tortugas: Safety, NPS Dry Tortugas: Fishing.
Tides & Sky
When the water moves, and how bright the night.
High
11:54 PM
2.218ft
Low
6:32 AM
0.373ft
Waxing Crescent
7%
Daylight: 11h 40m · UV 7 High
Life
The reef keeps its own calendar.
Least Sandpiper · Black Skimmer · Magnificent Frigatebird · Mississippi Kite · Magnificent Frigatebird +3 more
Regulations
Take only what the season allows.
Our detailed season & limit tables cover the South Florida Atlantic coast so far — rules differ by coast and in the Keys, so check the official source before you fish:
Florida saltwater regulationsOfficial source: FWC· opens the agency site
The reef will wait for a clearer day.
Snorkel: poor viz, warm 86 F water, 2-3 ft waves, 15 mph onshore wind.