So, you want to try some Key West snorkeling? If you’re buying your own gear, or even renting it, these valuable tips can make all the difference between a great day on the water and a day spent watching your snorkel mask fill up with water.

Number one: get a well-fitting mask. If your mask doesn’t fit right, then don’t try to snorkel until you either adjust it or buy a better one. $40 is enough to spend to get a good mask for Key West snorkeling. When choosing a mask, make sure you can keep the mask on without the strap. This means you can make a seal on your face with the mask, by breathing in through your nose. The seal is key, so make sure there’s no strand of hair between the mask and your skin, or you won’t make a good seal. Make sure you can tighten the straps without hurting your face too much. Speaking of straps, you can buy a replacement strap for your mask, which is not made of rubber so you don’t rip out your hair when you go snorkeling. These straps feature a wide band made of fabric, not plastic or rubber.

Get a good snorkel too, if you’re serious about Key West snorkeling. This is important because after diving down, and then coming to the surface, a good snorkel will not get any water in it, and you can breathe through it immediately after surfacing. No need to empty the tube out, because it will be dry if you have a good snorkel. There are mid-range ones for $25 and then hte $45 ones are really good. This is for beginners only. If you get better at Key West snorkeling, you will want to get something more aerodynamic to reduce drag. Most beginners and people just going for some light Key West snorkeling might like the dry snorkel.

For sun protection and protection from jellyfish, wear a long-sleeve rashguard, especially for Key West snorkeling where the sun is strong. You will be in the water for a long time and you’ll be in Key West, so those two reason right there should be enough to justify the $25 to $30 a rashguard will cost you. Go to Divers’ Direct on Simonton Street since they have the biggest selection. It just happens to be the biggest dive store in Key West, that’s all.

This shiny lovely snail was found under a dock in Key West.  If anyone knows what it’s called or anything about it, please advise!  When touched, the snail withdraws into the shell, leaving only the harder foot exposed, to seal up the shell.

Fog rolled in Friday morning and has been hanging around for a few days now. It moves back and forth, so just when you think it’s clearing up, it rolls back in again. Here are some recent pics of this rather unusual Key West fog. There are two pictures taken at night across the canal behind the Yacht Club.  You can see across to Conchy Joe’s, and the mist is visible across the bight. Click on the small images to get the full size fog pictures.

The large picture was taken on Valentine’s day, heading southwest out of Key West harbor, somewhere in the channel.  Maybe a mile from Key West.  The fog was so thick you had to drive a little slower because boats weren’t visible until you were kinda close!

Key West snorkeling always brings surprises for us. Take a look at this archaic looking creature, the Slipper Lobster.  They taste great.

This winter has been a cold one.  It was in the 40’s one night, but it didn’t quite make a record.  It was in the 50s for a while at night, but now when I wake up it’s usually about 61 degrees F.  For Key West, that’s cold.  Even during the day the temperature hasn’t been able to climb out of the sixties.  And the wind.  20 to 25  knots for days on end!  We’re just hoping for a 15 knot day, which by comparison is calm.

Not getting out there for spearfishing makes us feel landlocked and stir crazy so we go lobstering in front of Key West when it’s too rough to head out to the reef or the bar.  The thing is, because the water in front of Key West is shallow, like 15 feet or so, it is colder now that the nights are colder.  The water temperatures on the reef are actually warmer, but we can’t get out there lately because of the rough waters.  You need a good wetsuit, preferably 5mm and your hood is just about mandatory because of the cold.  My new wetsuit ROCKS, and I haven’t been cold all winter.

So a little Key West lobstering never hurt anyone on a windy day.  Best part is dinner!