Ballast Key on the way to Woman Key for kayaking.

by Shayne Benowitz

This is officially my new favorite Fury trip! If you’re dying for a beautiful and relaxing day on the water, you absolutely must experience the Island Adventure. Meredith and I hopped on board yesterday for the 3:30pm trip with Captain Anna and her crew Scott and Anthony along with eleven other passengers.

Lately, moon jellyfish have been abundant at the reef, which is not uncommon this time of year. I personally find the jellies enchanting to watch as they drift slowly with their purple and pink tentacles, but when there’s too many in the water they can definitely be a nuisance. No one wants to get stung! Our captains have gotten creative in finding alternative places to snorkel where there aren’t too many jellyfish.

Anna took us to Man Rock, which I’ve never been to before. Slightly west of Man Key, we anchored in a patch of sand that circled an outcropping of coral like a halo. Scott explained that Man Rock is practically off the charts, and since so few people know about it, the coral is extremely healthy and vibrant. The water was so inviting, I couldn’t wait to jump in and explore. We saw a few moon jellies when we first dropped anchor, but nothing to worry about.

Scott was right. The coral was gorgeous with large outcroppings and interesting brain corals and sea fans. Everything was very bright yellow-green. I swam around and saw lots of large yellowtail snappers, a few groupers, and sergeant majors. I came to a hidden cave and decided to swim close and see if anything was lurking underneath. Sure enough, a giant nurse shark, probably six to eight feet long, was snoozing on the sea floor. I called Meredith and Anthony over to come check it out, and a lot of our passengers got to see it too. Very exciting!

Shayne & Meredith on the Cruzan Cat.

We snorkeled a little longer and then got back on the boat to head out towards Woman Key in the Gulf. Meredith and I sat on the bench at the bow and enjoyed a cold Corona while we watched the mangrove islands approaching. We past Ballast Key, which actually has a private home and dock twelve miles offshore surrounded by nothing but uninhabited mangroves–such a cool sight!

We anchored outside of Woman Key and the crew launched kayaks. We paddled to a sandbar offshore and waded around in the crystal clear water. One passenger immediately found a conch shell and Scott waded around to find a sea biscuit, a tiny sea cucumber, and other sea shells. Meredith and I paddled around and spotted what I thought was a conch shell, but Scott explained that it was a welch.

The beautiful sunset.

Next, we were off on another kayak paddle towards the mangroves where we found shade. Scott explained exactly how these amazing trees survive in the saltwater and the integral role they play in our ecosystem. After a little more relaxation at the sandbar, it was time to paddle back to the boat. Sandwiches, chips & salsa, and fresh fruit waited along with more cold drinks.

We cruised back towards the channel just in time to catch the sun sink into the ocean between Sunset Key and Christmas Tree Island. It was absolutely beautiful. There is something about a day spent on the water concluded by a sunset that makes everything feel right in the world. We hope you can experience this feeling with us the next time you’re in Key West.

August's winning photo!

by Shayne Benowitz

I’m not going to play favorites. I couldn’t! We have so many amazing pictures posted every single day on our Facebook page and all of our monthly winners have been extraordinary. But, I have to say, I was absolutely blown away by this photo that Tammy & Dwayne Taylor captured on our brand new Dolphin Watch & Snorkel Adventure.

Tammy and Dwayne in Key West.

It’s always a thrill to see dolphins frolicking in the wild and we are delighted every time we reach the dolphin playground. From personal experience, I know how tough it is to capture these swift-moving creatures on camera. I’ve posted pictures before of a splash in the water swearing that a dolphin was there! Tammy & Dwayne not only captured a dolphin in the frame, but snapped an amazing shot of one flying through the air. Beautiful!

Tammy and Dwayne are from Michigan and had wanted to visit Key West for some time. They finally made the journey after seeing their daughter off in Miami for a five-week trip to Peru where she’s working at a mission school. Afterwards, they made the trek south 154 miles to our island paradise and joined us on the Dolphin Watch tour.

In the comments on her picture on Facebook Tammy wrote: “We had an amazing time on our Fury trip!! Lots of dolphins. Best dolphin tour we had ever been on!!”

That means a lot! Tammy & Dwayne, thank you so much for sharing your amazing picture and part of your Key West vacation with us. We hope to see you back soon, perhaps with your daughter when she returns from Peru!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crew member and freelance writer. For more follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz.

Fury Girl on the slide at Adventure Island.

By Shayne Benowitz

Sweet, sweet summertime. The days of summer are waning as Labor Day Weekend, the last hurrah, is approaching. It’s been an incredible season at Fury in Key West. The weather’s been gorgeous, our guests have enjoyed a host of brand new trips and boats, and we’ve been busy! It’s also been an incredible time on our Facebook and Twitter pages. We’ve hit the 6,000 mark for “likes” on Facebook and every day there’s a ton of interaction with our fans as they post vacation pictures and talk about their trip. It’s almost as good as the real thing day in and day out on the docks at the Westin, the Ocean Key House, and the Historic Seaport.

Parasailing is part of the Ultimate Adventure package.

As usual, we anticipate a busy Labor Day Weekend, so we’re doubling up on the Ultimate Adventure during our two busiest days, Saturday and Sunday September 3-4. In addition to our daily 10am departure, you can rock the Ultimate as an afternoon adventure that includes a sunset sail. Book your 2pm departure and enjoy snorkeling, parasailing, jet skiing, as well as sea kayaking and all the toys at the inflatable water park. Enjoy snacks, an early picnic dinner, as well as all you can drink beer, wine, and champagne. The trip will conclude with viewing the famous Key West sunset before we return to port.

A school of blue tang can often be found snorkeling at the reef!

If you’ve been out with us before, you already know why this action-packed trip is amongst our most popular! It’s also a great value considering two meals are included, as well as a sampling of all the water activities that we offer. Whether you join us on Labor Day Weekend in the morning or afternoon for the Ultimate Adventure or anytime of the year, we’re thrilled to share our love of Key West and it’s beautiful waters with you. Here’s to summer!

Shayne Benowitz is a freelance writer and Fury crew member. For more follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz

Reef Express returning to port.

By Shayne Benowitz

With the expansion of our Fury fleet, we’ve created an entirely new trip that’s going to make it hard for you to decide how you snorkel with us. Our new Double Dip Snorkel Adventure gets you to the reef in express time allowing you for twice the amount of snorkeling!

The thing I’ve loved most about working for Fury is that some days, I get to go snorkeling at the reef three times: first on the morning snorkel trip, then on the afternoon Reef & Ritas snorkel trip, and finally aboard the Rum & Reggae snorkel/sunset combo package. To me, there’s no better feeling than diving into that crystal clear water and exploring what’s underneath. As a lifeguard, I’m happy to be the last one back on the boat!

A school of blue tang swimming alongside a parrotfish.

If you’ve been snorkeling with us before, you’re accustomed to our beautiful 65′ catamarans with plenty of room to spread out and our leisurely sail out to the reef. With the new Reef Express catamaran for the Double Dip, we treat you to an entirely different experience. This 52′ cat is one of the fastest in our fleet. She’ll get you out to the reef in half the time, which means twice the amount of snorkeling and we’ll make not one, but two stops along the reef!

Sand Key Lighthouse.

Our most popular snorkeling destinations are the Sand Key Lighthouse, Rock Key, and Eastern Dry Rocks. Each spot offers something slightly different whether it’s an amazing outcropping of brain coral, a large disc from an old shipwreck, or dramatic coral canyons. Our expert Fury captains know the best places to take you!

For our active and adventurous guests, the choice of the Double Dip may be a no-brainer! Twice the amount of snorkel time, twice the amount of reef! Others might think that after an hour of snorkeling, it’s time to kick back with a cold beer and find a spot on the upper deck in the sun.

Well, we’re proud to offer both options at the same price. Both are three hour trips and both depart three times daily. Double Dip or the Classic Snorkel trip? The choice is yours, we’re just glad you choose Fury!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crew member and freelance writer. Follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz.

Meredith on Woman Key.

By Shayne Benowitz

I am very excited to share with you a brand new trip! You may or may not know, but we’ve recently acquired three small catamarans and we’re proud to present three new boutique eco-trips to our water sports menu! Today, I’m going to give you the scoop on the brand new Island Adventure. It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

Meredith and I hopped on board the Cruzan Cat, a 42’ power catamaran with seating at the bow, inside a covered cabin, and aft. The Cruzan Cat holds 30 passengers max, and the day Meredith and I went there were only about ten people on board. It’s a completely different vibe than the action-packed Ultimate Adventure. Think laid back and completely personalized. By the end of the trip, I felt like I knew everyone’s life story!

The iconic Sand Key Lighthouse.

Captain Ames was at the helm with his mate Scott who has a background in marine biology. He did an awesome job teaching everyone about the unique ecosystems we were about to discover first hand. Ames charted a course south to the reef and Sand Key Lighthouse.

In all the years I’ve lived in Key West and worked at Fury, I still get a thrill snorkeling our reef. It was absolutely lush and vibrant that afternoon. One of the first things I saw was a conch shell nestled in the coral rock. There were the requisite yellowtail snappers, parrotfish (my favorite!), sergeant majors, and blue tang, and also some beautiful angel and butterfly fish.  I was swimming through a canyon with an outcropping of coral in the middle when I spotted a giant lobster tapping around on the ocean floor. So cool! I dove down to get a closer look, and sure enough, I spotted another one!

We hopped back on the boat and Ames cruised out to the Gulf of Mexico’s sand flats and mangrove islands referred to as the backcountry. The backcountry is the nesting ground for thousands of species of juvenile fish and birds. It’s a very unique and important ecosystem in the Florida Keys. We dropped anchor near Woman Key, which is basically an enormous sandbar island in the middle of the ocean.

Time to go kayaking!

Ames gave us a quick kayaking lesson and then launched us into the water with Scott as our guide. At first, it seemed a little choppy, but once Meredith and I were in our kayak it was smooth sailing. We paddled out to Woman Key and beached our kayaks on the sand where we lingered and floated in the shallow, warm water. We discovered seashells, coral rocks, sea sponges, turtle grass, and mangrove pods. There was an interesting driftwood sculpture decorated with found objects like lobster traps and buoys on the shore. One gentleman from San Antonio, who was in town with his wife for a wedding, discovered a giant sea biscuit. That was the find of the day! Oh yeah, and Scott packed a cooler full of Coronas for us to sip on while we splashed around and chatted.

A sea biscuit found on Woman Key.

Eventually, Ames called us back to the boat, although no one wanted to leave. A tasty spread of sandwiches awaited, though! We snacked away and cruised through the Gulf as the sun sank into the ocean. Yeah, that’s what I call paradise!

Sunset!

Island Adventure 411:

Departure times at 9:30am & 3:30pm (includes sunset)

4 ½ hour trip: Snorkel the reef; kayak the Gulf.

Sandwiches, fresh fruit, & snacks served.

Coronas-a-plenty!

What are you waiting for?

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember, a freelance writer, and a social media specialist. Follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz.

A tropical hibiscus.

By Shayne Benowitz

This is the beginning of the most beautiful time of year at Fury Key West. We are getting sunny, warm weather day after day. The wind is calm and the water is flat. And the best part about it is that we have months to look forward to more of the same. That’s kind of what life on an island paradise is like.

A blue tang swimming amongst sergeant majors.

Yesterday, I worked the Key West snorkeling trips aboard the Pacific Fury and it was absolutely stunning. We sailed out to Sand Key. I just love being on the boats and feeling the sunshine on your shoulders coupled with the sea breeze. We got to the reef and moored up, and before you even jumped in the water you could just tell that the visibility was remarkable!

Lisa assisting a snorkeler into the water.

I headed down the steps and felt the first splashes of the salty Atlantic. So refreshing! I dove right in with my mask on. The first thing I saw was a small school of enormous midnight blue parrotfish. These are my favorite and so I swam with them as long as I could. As always, schools of yellowtail snapper and sergeant majors fluttered around me.

Fury Girl's fave, the midnight blue parrotfish!

We had a lot of passengers, so I assisted some of our snorkelers with getting the hang of the salt water and using their snorkels. The first thing I always tell them, “Relax! You’re floating!” And then, we take it from there. Over the years, I’ve realized that ANYONE can learn to snorkel.

After an hour, we hopped back on the boat and dried off in the afternoon sunshine. And of course, it was time to get the pitchers of margaritas and cold beer circulating. Those drinks just go so well with being out on a boat after snorkeling!

Shayne Benowitz is a freelance writer and Fury crewmember. Follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz.

Parasailing, courtesy of Fury fan Sheridan Kushner.

By Shayne Benowitz

Dear Fury Fans,

We’ve been doing a lot of reflecting in the New Year. We are so fortunate to do what we do every day on the water in the Key West sunshine. And we know that none of this would be possible without YOU! It’s been so fun over the years meeting people from all over the country and around the world aboard our snorkel trips, our parasail boats, and our sunset cruises, not to mention the Ultimate Adventure!

"It doesn't get better than this!" courtesy of Fury Fan Cathy Pauly.

It’s also been great to keep in touch! We’ve received letters and cards from our dearest fans expressing what a memorable time they’ve had with us. And trust me, those cards hang in the Surf Shack for everyone to see! It’s also a thrill when someone hops on board and says, “Hey, you were the parasail mate last year when we were here!”

When we jumped on facebook and twitter a few years ago, everything changed. Now we can have daily conversations, share pictures and memories, and really keep in touch. It’s like you never left the island (well, sort of!)! From a weeklong conversation about Captain Chuck to amazing fan photos of the powerboat races and more, I’ve been thoroughly entertained!

Celebrating 50th birthday aboard the Commotion with Capt. Chuck, courtesy of Fury Fan Kim Lunsford Schadle

We thought it was about time we gave back to our loyal Fury fans because, well, that’s how we roll! If you haven’t visited our facebook fanpage in a while, you’re going to find some great new features. If, for some silly reason, you’re not already apart of our facebook community, simply “like” our page, and you will immediately be entered into our new fans reward program along with the rest of our fans.

Every month starting in February we’ll select a fan at random for an awesome giveaway. You could win a trip with Fury or sweet Fury swag like crew shirts, hats, and other accessories. Click on the “Win A Trip” tab and fill out the quick form to sign up for our eNewsletter (written by yours truly! Come on, you know you want to!) and you’ll immediately be entered in an all-expense paid 3 day, 2 night trip to Key West with luxe accommodations at the Ocean Key House, spa treatments, dinners, and of course, trips galore aboard Fury!

Honeymooning, courtesy of Fury Fan Julie Carty.

For the more creatively inclined, and I know a lot of you are, we’re also starting a Fan Photo Contest. We already receive awesome pictures from you guys, and now we want to reward one fan every month with an Ultimate Adventure for two just for sending your vacation pictures our way. Check out how the contest works on the “Photo Contest” tab of our facebook page, and keep the pictures coming in!

This is just the beginning of how we want to give back to you, so stay tuned for more offers, deals, and contests in 2011. Oh yeah, and don’t be shy about sharing your Fury love with your friends on facebook (and in real life!). The more the merrier!

"Having a blast on the Ultimate Adventure," courtesy of Fury Fan Daron Blake.

Here’s hoping your 2011 is off to a rockin’ start. We’re certainly enjoying ourselves in Key West. And, of course, we hope to see you down here soon! Next time, maybe it’ll even be on us!

XOXO,

Fury Girl

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories visit her at web.me.com/shaynebeth and follow her at twitter.com/ShayneBenowitz.

Sailing to the crystal clear reef.

By Shayne Benowitz

It’s hard to believe, but this time next week it will be the beginning of a long Labor Day Weekend and the official end of summer. I know, I know, don’t get too depressed! No one likes it when summer ends, right? Well, we’ve all got one more weekend to really live it up.

Of course, in Key West we exist in a state of perpetual summer. Maybe you can enjoy Labor Day with us at Fury or maybe we’ll just see you in the fall. Either way, it’s time to toast to the end of a long, hot summer. What have you got planned? Family picnics or BBQs? A quick escape to the beach?

At Fury, it will be business as usual—or perhaps, more than usual. We’re gearing up for a busy weekend of water sports, and of course, we’d love to see you aboard our fleet.

The Ultimate Adventure is by far the most popular trip and the greatest value. It’s the perfect Labor Day package: Key West snorkeling, parasailing, jet skiing, kayaking, inflatable water park, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and all you can drink. That pretty much says it all!

If you’re looking for a quick escape, join us on one of our snorkel trips departing three times daily: 9:30am, 1pm, and 5pm. This is an absolute “Must-Do” in Key West. It would be embarrassing to be this close to the third largest coral reef system in the world and not set out to explore it.

If you’d prefer an aerial view of our island paradise, then the calming thrill of Key West parasailing is for you. Trips depart every hour on the hour from 9am to 5pm. Yep, for some of us that’s the daily grind!

And of course, don’t miss a single sunset while you’re here, and make sure you catch it on the water at least one night. We’ve got a classic champagne sunset sail or a little bit of rock n roll with the Commotion on the Ocean featuring a great live band, appetizers, and margaritas.

Either way, we hope you and your family have a wonderful Labor Day and we hope to see you on the water in Key West soon!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories and a daily dose of what’s cool around the globe visit her Wanderlust Website at http://web.me.com/shaynebeth.

by Shayne Benowitz

If you happen to live in the Cape Coral or Fort Meyers area, then surely you’re familiar with Fox 4’s morning show, the Morning Blend. Well, while you’re home for the holidays, be sure to tune in because it’s Key West week. And what’s a week in Key West without an excursion on the water with Fury?

That’s exactly what host Bill Wood had in mind a few weeks ago when he arrived with his executive producer and camera crew. Captain Scotty and I took them for a spin on the parasail boat for a taste of the excitement 300 feet above the waters of Key West. Then, we shuttled them to Adventure Island with Captain Chuck and crew for the Ultimate Adventure.

I told Bill what the Ultimate Adventure was all about (snorkeling, parasailing, jet skiing, breakfast, lunch, drinks… best time you can have in Key West!). Chuck filled him in on how unique our coral reef ecosystem is. After all, we are home to the only living barrier reef in North America. It’s pretty special and certainly warrants a visit to our little island paradise.

Bill interviewing Fury Girl.

Then, Bill and I went for a spin on the jet ski. All the while his camera crew filmed the action for a segment that will air this week. Remember, if you’re in the Cape Coral or Fort Meyers area, tune in to see all the fun we had. Rumor has it, there’s a big Key West vacation giveaway, so don’t miss out! If you live a little farther away, no big deal, just check out the behind the scenes video on our youtube channel! Happy Holidays!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories and a daily dose of what’s cool around the globe visit her Wanderlust Website at http://web.me.com/shaynebeth.

by Shayne Benowitz

Fury Girl (center) with friends Alecia and Bob

It’s easy to entertain guests when they come for a visit in Key West. Quite simply, I take them to work with me. When my family came down over the winter holidays, they spent all day on the Ultimate Adventure and watched the sunset on the Commotion. The plan was the same when my best friends came to visit over New Years. Recently, I had a long lost childhood friend make a visit to the Keys with his fiancé. What did we do? Hopped aboard the afternoon snorkel trip, of course!

Passengers awaiting Cottrell Key snorkeling

We sailed west to Cottrell Key with Captain Steve. Cottrell is a destination we do not head to very often. The wind conditions have to be just right. Instead of the barrier reef south, Cottrell is a patch reef full of soft sponge coral. It fosters a rather different set of marine life species, and I told my friends that the times I’ve snorkeled at Cottrell I’ve seen some of the biggest fish of my life. I’ll never forget the massive goliath grouper I spotted resting in the shade underneath our catamaran or the stingray whose wingspan fluttered at eight feet underneath me!

Hemingway's fishing platform

We sat aboard the bench at the top deck (the best seat in the house, if you ask me), and enjoyed a tranquil sail through the Northwest Channel. The ocean’s beauty never ceases to amaze me, and it was a gorgeous sea green aqua. I always get a little thrill when we pass the old Hemingway fishing platform where he used to spend his days on the hunt for game fish back in the 1930s.

Anthony with spiny urchin

Once we tied up to the mooring ball, I couldn’t wait to jump in. The visibility was great! One of our crewmembers, Anthony, was quick to point out to me the abundance of spiny urchins on the seafloor, something you rarely see at the barrier reef south of us. The soft sponge coral is also unique to the Cottrell Key area. Snorkeling is such a relaxing and enjoyable experience, and any time I get to swim in the ocean I’m thrilled. My friend, Bob, was impressed with the anemone that he spotted, and his fiancé, Alecia, was excited to see a manta ray gliding by. I spotted a couple varieties of conch on the seafloor, which I had never actually seen before.

All in all, it was a wonderful afternoon snorkeling. For the sail back to Key West, we claimed our spot on the upper deck and enjoyed the service that Fury is known for: pitchers of beer circulated by friendly crewmembers and cups that never go empty!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer working on her debut novel. For more travel stories and a daily dose of what’s cool around the globe visit her Wanderlust Website at http://web.me.com/shaynebeth.