Catamaran snorkel tour in Key West

[wjbc]

Has anyone done this excursion? Who was it run by? Was it crowded? I'm wondering if I should book the DCL excursion or book it on our own when we get to Key West.

Thanks.

 

[jlawall]

My parents and brother's family did this excursion a few weeks ago and they didn't like it. They felt it was crowded, their kids wouldn't snorkel and it wasn't what they expected. I'm not sure why it didn't work out because I wasn't there.

 

[snelsonbrown]

Hello - this is Shirley with The Perfect Gift and an ol' conch from Key West - I have offered and sent out hundreds of packages that have a great deal of information on Key West - where to go - etc - it also has coupons, discounts etc - there is no strings attached to getting all this stuff - all you do is send a large manilla envelope that is self addressed with about $3.50 worth of stamps on it - I fill it up and send it back to you - the cards that has my stamp on it, if you go to their place, they will offer up to 30% off - some I recommend and many I don't simply because Key West is such a tourist town, the shops open and close like flies - anyhow if you are interested, you are most welcomed to write me at snelsonbrown@aol.com -----
As always
Shirley

 

[Kabuli1]

We did it last November. It was a nice excursion. The snorkeling was good . . .but . . .I don't know if this is always the case, but there was very heavy surge when we were out and it was very very tiring. There was lots to see - the coral and fish were much better than I thought they would be, but the water is quite deep and the water conditions meant that you really needed to be a strong swimmer. My DD (16) had not snorkeled before and did ok but I don't think its a snorkeling excursion for beginners. The surge and currents could have just been a function of the weather adn time of year, I don't know. I enjoyed it. My DH got seasick on the way back and my DD wasn't thrilled with her first snorkeling eperience. Grand Cayman was much better. I would do this excursion again, but my family would not!

Does this help? Seems like my answer is it was good . . . BUT!!!!!

Karyn

 

[jrabbit]

It's a "Fury" catamaran. They take us out about 7 or 8 miles to a place called "Sand Island" - I think that was the name. The water is fairly deep there - 20 feet or so. The advantage is that it is very difficult to accidently touch the reef (which is deadly to the coral). There are many, many fish and other critters out there.

You really are out in the middle of the ocean at this point. The waves are like the "bobbing" waves in a wave pool - NOT the 20 foot wall of water you get at Typhoon Lagoon's wave pool. DS13 kept getting a lot of water down his snorkel because he kept tucking his chin down, which aimed the snorkel towards the water. Once he got that straightend out, he was fine.

The crew served soft drinks and snacks while going out to snorkeling and added alcholic beverages for the trip back to shore.

Me, I get motion sickness and the bobbing in the ocean and on the boat really got to me. I tried sleeping off the effects on the trip back into Key West. Next time I take a double doase of Dramamine!! I think that we were suppose to "sail" out and back. I'm not sure we did any sailing, we definatly motored out to the snorkel location (needed to get out of the downpour that was heading into Key West). Comming back, I can't say if we sailed or not.

DW really enjoyed this snorkel trip. For her it was the best so far (CC, St. Johns, Key West and Grand Cayman). DS and I put it second behind our snorkel trip in Grand Cayman. At GC we did the trip that goes to a shipwreck and another reef. We never left the harbor, we snorkeled infront of where the Magic was anchored. Very calm waters here.

 

[cruisnfamily]

I'm guessing they give you some sort of floatation vests since the water is so deep? Were there any young kids there? Mine are 7 & 10?

Also, did you take dramamine and it didn't work? Or did you not take anything? I never get seasick when cruising but this type of "bobbing" motion does it to me every time. I guess I better be prepared with some bonine just in case.

 

[jlawall]

I just want to mention that the Fury Catamaran excursion at Cozumel was a load of fun. My brother did both trips and the Cozumel trip was more suitable to his young boys. I believe that the high swells and deep water are part of the reason he didn't like the one in Key West. Either did my parents.

 

[prymsu]

I just did this in June at Key West, and it was OK, but I really wasn't that impressed. The crew was very polite, and the boat was super clean. I didn't think the snorkeling was all that great, compared to other similar excursions i have been on, as it was pretty rough water, or at least it was the day i went. There was tons to see though, if you could fight the waves. Maybe the day i went the water was rougher than usual.

 

[cruisnfamily]

OK, that's several people mentioning high surf. Has anyone done this excursion and not encountered high surf?

Also, what about floatation vests?

 

[Kabuli1]

It's not high surf, it's surge and currents. And from what I've seen here of the responses, they've been at very different times of year. As I mentioned above, my DH got seasick on the way back as well. Generally speaking, it was a fairly calm day and we didn't have rough water.

If it were my 7 and 10 yr old kids, I would find an easier snorkeling experience. But, that's just what I would do. Yes, they give you flotation devices - jackets and floats if you need them - but those will just help you float - they won't help you against the surge and currents on the Key West excursion.

The experience on Grand Cayman was so much nicer, we did Capt Marvin's and we would all choose to do it again. The water in Grand Cayman was quite deep but it was calm and you didn't feel like you were being swept out to sea while floating around looking at the fish.

Just my thoughts and opinions, another person may feel differently about it.

Karyn

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

We did this excursion during an unscheduled stop at Key West in 2000. I liked it a lot. This was in early October, the water was very warm and not rough at all, as I recall, no strong currents to speak of. The crew was great. They had a couple of people in the water helping kids out, and a couple on deck helping people on and off the boat.

 

[jrabbit]

I took only my 1 dramimine that day (you can take up to 2) - I think that this would have helped me a lot.

I really don't remember having to fight any currents, it was just the bobbing.

Salt water helps you float, the Buoyance Compensators will keep you on top of the water if you fill them up even a little bit - they are more than adequate.