Photo: Flip Schulke, Public domainHop on a boat from the marina, float over shallow Keys reef, then look straight down at a nine-foot bronze Jesus at Key Largo Dry Rocks. This state park is mostly water, and it is the easiest place in the Keys to snorkel with a guide.
Boat trips from the park visit patch reefs and spur-and-groove coral, where you float over brain coral, sea fans, parrotfish, blue tang, sergeant majors and the occasional barracuda. Sea turtles show up some days. Many snorkelers come for one stop: the Christ of the Abyss statue, standing upright in about 20 to 25 ft of water.
A bronze statue installed in 1965 at Key Largo Dry Rocks, standing in roughly 20 to 25 ft of water with fish schooling around its base. Sources differ a little on exact depth. It is visible from the surface on clear days.
Shallow spur-and-groove coral that tour boats use as the main snorkel stops. Grecian Rocks is the shallowest, with coral heads close to the surface.
The park's shore snorkel area near the marina. Expect shallow water and much less coral than the boat reefs. Exact entry point not verified.
A 9 ft bronze statue standing in about 25 ft of water at Key Largo Dry Rocks, inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Guardian rule: Do not stand on the statue base or the surrounding reef.
A branching coral with thick, antler-like arms that once built the shallow reef crests of the Florida Keys. It is now threatened and the focus of major restoration work.
Acropora palmata
Rounded coral heads covered in winding grooves that look like a brain. Common on Florida reefs and slow growing, so a big head can be centuries old.
Diploria, Pseudodiploria, Colpophyllia
Purple, lacy soft corals that sway in the current on Florida and Caribbean reefs. They face across the current to filter food from the water.
Gorgonia
Colorful grazers with fused, beak-like teeth. You can hear them crunch on coral rock, and much of the white sand on tropical beaches passes through them.
Scaridae
A deep blue surgeonfish that grazes Florida reefs in roving schools. Juveniles are bright yellow and change to blue as they grow.
Acanthurus coeruleus
A small yellow and silver damselfish with five black bars. Bold and curious, it is often the first fish to swim up to you on a Florida reef.
Abudefduf saxatilis
An electric blue and yellow angelfish with a blue crown spot on its forehead. One of the most photographed fish in the Florida Keys.
Holacanthus ciliaris
A long, silver predator that hangs motionless near the surface and watches snorkelers with curiosity. It looks fierce but rarely bothers people.
Guardian rule: Take off shiny jewelry, which can look like a fish flash.
Sphyraena barracuda
Yellow fish with blue or bronze stripes that hang in big, slow schools under ledges and around coral heads on Florida reefs.
Haemulon
Live sea temperature, waves and wind for the next 7 days, with our snorkel rating for each day.
Calm Choppy Rough. Wave heights are offshore model values.
Forecast: Open-Meteo. Model data, not a lifeguard report. Always check posted warnings.
Hand-picked tours that run here, ranked for small groups, a proper reef briefing and respect for wildlife.
by John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (park concession)
The park's own boat runs several snorkel trips a day, about 2.5 hours with roughly 1.5 hours of reef time. A safety vest is provided and must be worn. Mask, snorkel and fins can be rented.
The park is on NOAA's Blue Star list. The captain picks the reef by weather and sea state, so Christ of the Abyss is not guaranteed.
by Silent World Dive Center
Daily group trips to two sites, including the Christ of the Abyss statue at Key Largo Dry Rocks and a shallow reef, with about 45 minutes in the water at each. Snorkel gear, snacks and reef-safe sunscreen are included.
Silent World is a Blue Star operator and partners with Coral Restoration Foundation. Reef-safe sunscreen is provided on board.
by Coral Restoration Foundation with Silent World Dive Center
An educational session, then a snorkel trip to a coral nursery and restoration site. Snorkelers watch from the surface. Dates are set by CRF, so check the event calendar.
Booking supports the Keys' leading coral restoration nonprofit, and Silent World is a Blue Star operator.
We may earn a commission when you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which tours we pick. How we choose tours.
Apr to Aug is the sweet spot: calm mornings, warm water and the best chance the boat reaches Christ of the Abyss. Winter cold fronts bring wind, chop and cancellations. Sep and Oct are warm but storm season.
Morning trips usually have the calmest water and fewer boats at the statue.
Tide matters little on the offshore reefs. Wind and swell are the bigger factors.
Days after a strong cold front, and when a tropical system is nearby. Operators skip the statue on rough days and crowded holiday weekends.
| Row | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snorkel conditions | Fair | Fair | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
The famous reefs and the statue are miles offshore and only reachable by boat. On your own you can use Cannon Beach near the marina, but it is not the reef. Take a guided trip for the statue, and use a vest and dive flag if you go independently.
Swim level: Comfortable swimmer
The park is at mile marker 102.5 on Key Largo, oceanside. Boat tours leave from the park marina.
Free parking with your park entrance fee at the marina and visitor center lots.
For shore snorkeling, walk from the marina area to Cannon Beach. The reef tours board at the marina.
About 25 to 40 minutes each way, roughly 5 miles. Boats leave from Pennekamp Park marina.
$8 per vehicle (2 to 8 people), $4 single occupant or motorcycle, $2 per pedestrian or extra passenger, plus $0.50 per person county surcharge. Boat tours cost extra.
Official fees and hoursChecked 2026-10-22. Fees change, so confirm before you go.
The park runs its own snorkel boat several times a day, about 2.5 hours door to door with roughly 1.5 hours at the reef. Private shops on Key Largo run similar trips, often with two stops. Pick a Blue Star operator, check the statue is on the route, and book early for holiday weekends.
Pay the entrance fee at the gate, then book your boat trip separately. Gear rentals need a refundable deposit. Follow sanctuary rules on the water: no touching coral, no fishing in the SPA, and use a dive flag if you swim independently.
Pennekamp sits inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, so sanctuary rules apply on the water as well as park rules.
The park supplies a safety vest on its snorkel tours and you must wear it in the water. Official rule
Key Largo Dry Rocks and Grecian Rocks are one SPA. Snorkeling is allowed. Fishing and removing marine life are not, and you may not touch or stand on coral. Official rule
Boats must use mooring buoys where one is available instead of anchoring. Anchoring on coral is prohibited. Official rule
Florida law requires a red and white diver-down flag when snorkelers are in the water, and boats must slow within 300 ft in open water. Official rule
How snorkelers protect reefs · Choosing a reef-safe sunscreen
These local groups restore coral, rescue wildlife and keep the water clean. Volunteer a morning, donate, or just follow their work.
Coral nurseries and reef restoration in the Upper Keys
CRF grows staghorn and elkhorn coral in offshore nurseries off Key Largo and plants them on degraded reefs. It runs public snorkel and dive programs with local shops and takes volunteers.
Visit coralrestoration.org →
Entry is $8 per vehicle with 2 to 8 people, $4 for a single occupant vehicle or motorcycle, and $2 per pedestrian, cyclist or extra passenger. A $0.50 per person Monroe County surcharge is added. Snorkel and glass-bottom boat tours are charged separately.
No. The statue is at Key Largo Dry Rocks, miles offshore, and you reach it by boat. The park captain picks the reef based on weather, so it is not guaranteed on the park tour. Silent World lists the statue as one of its two daily stops.
Sources put the base at about 20 to 25 ft, with the statue standing roughly 9 ft tall, so the top sits near 8 to 10 ft below the surface. On a clear day you can see it from the surface and free dive down for a closer look.
No. The park rents masks, snorkels and fins for a refundable deposit, and provides a safety vest. Many private operators include gear, though some sell snorkels at check-in. Wetsuits can be rented too and help in winter.
Yes, at Cannon Beach near the marina, but it is shallow and has far less coral than the boat reefs. It is fine for kids and a first swim. For corals and the statue, take a boat trip.
What we pack for every snorkel trip. Each link searches the category on Amazon so you can compare brands and prices.
Non-nano zinc oxide only. No oxybenzone or octinoxate, which Hawaii bans.
Shop on Amazon →The best sun protection is fabric. Less sunscreen in the water, less sunburn on your back.
Shop on Amazon →A low-volume mask that fits beats any rental. Short travel fins pack easily.
Shop on Amazon →An inflatable vest lets you rest without standing on the reef. Lifeguards love them.
Shop on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Disclosure.
We check fees, rules and access against official sources first, then local operators and recent visitor reports. Conditions change, so always follow posted signs and lifeguards. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
