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Many say this park offers some of the best snorkeling in the world. Various boats can also be rented here, or you can take a more leisurely view from a glassbottomed boat.

Closer to Miami than John Pennekamp, the Biscayne National Underwater Park has almost as many good snorkeling possibilities. Here you’ll find vivid coral reefs to dive among, and mangrove swamps to explore by canoe.

A brilliant coral dive location, and the closest great snorkeling to Key West. Accessible from Bahia Honda State Park.

Located almost 70 miles (110 km) west of Key West, these seven islands and their surrounding waters comprise a fantastic park. The snorkeling sights are exceptional, due to the shallow waters and abundance of marine life. You can snorkel directly off the beaches of Fort Jefferson or take one of the trips to the wreck of the Windjammer , which sank on Loggerhead Reef in 1907. Tropical fish, lobster, and even goliath grouper can be found (see Dry Tortugas from Key West).

Both Crandon and Bill Baggs Parks have excellent areas for snorkeling, in some of Miami’s cleanest, clearest waters (see Crandon Park, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area.

Fort Lauderdale has been awarded the Blue Wave Beaches certification for spotless sands and crystal waters, which add up to superior underwater viewing. Many of the most interesting parts of the three-tiered natural reef system here are close to the shore, though most require a short boat ride. In addition, more than 80 artificial reefs have been built to enhance the growth of marine flora and fauna. Ocean Promotion is one of the companies organizing snorkeling and scuba trips.

Boca Raton is famous for its extensive and beautifully maintained parks, and its Red Reef Park offers some of the best beaches and snorkeling in the area. An artificial reef, clearly marked on the park’s visitor map, can provide hours of delightful undersea viewing and is suitable for youngsters. The Gumbo Limbo Environmental Education Center is just across the street.

The Breakers and Four Seasons hotels both offer snorkeling options along the Palm Beach coast.

The beautiful, sandy beach of Bahia Honda in the Keys – often lauded as one of the best beaches in the US – has good waters for swimming and snorkeling. Equipment rentals are available (see Bahia Honda State Park).

Take the plunge right off the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, or join an expedition out to the reefs that lie all around this island (see Key West). There are plenty of trips offered by local companies, most of them taking three to four hours in total, including at least an hour and a half of reef time. They usually leave twice a day, at around 9am and again at about 1pm.