Finding the pulse of the reef...
This week
snorkel & freedive readBest window today: all day.
Next 12 hours
Partly cloudy now, clear moving in around 2 AM.
Conditions
Visibility, water, current, and wind. The in-water read.
Visibility
Murky
Onshore ENE chop
Water
86°
skins / none
Current
0.3 kt
slack
Surge
3.85s
some surge
Wind
10 mph
onshore ENE
Visibility is an estimate — wind, rain, tide & water alerts.
The spot
The things that stay true when the weather changes.
Yes. Key West, FL is snorkelable directly from shore.
Key West, FL suits beginners in ordinary conditions.
The nearshore water is shallow and just deep enough to snorkel over the breakwater rocks. The park says the current from the adjacent shipping channel keeps the water clean and clear.
On-site lots inside the park at 601 Howard England Way; the vehicle fee covers the car and up to eight people.
Checked 2026-07-21. Sources: Florida State Parks: Fort Zachary Taylor, Florida State Parks: Fort Zachary Taylor hours and fees, Florida State Parks: Fort Zachary Taylor experiences and amenities, NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: preservation areas.
Tides & Sky
When the water moves, and how bright the night.
High
10:32 PM
2.524ft
Low
5:28 AM
0.258ft
Waxing Crescent
7%
Daylight: 11h 40m · UV 7 High
Life
The reef keeps its own calendar.
Eastern Wood-Pewee · Magnificent Frigatebird · White Ibis · Great Blue Heron · Brown Pelican +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
Not perfect, but the reef is calling.
Snorkel: murky viz, warm 86 F water, 1-2 ft waves, 10 mph onshore wind.