Snorkel School is in Session
By Shayne Benowitz
A snorkeler enjoying the wonders of the coral reef.
All right, so you’ve got your travel arrangements to Key West all taken care of and you are on your way to a wonderful getaway in paradise. You’ve decided that an excursion to the coral reef is a must, but what if it’s your very first time snorkeling? You may not know what to expect, and you don’t want to admit it, but you’re a little nervous. Well, allow me to demystify all the wonders of the coral reef and provide you with some pointers for stress free snorkeling. Pay attention, boys and girls, because Snorkel School is in session with Professor Fury Girl!
Where Will I Be Going?
We’ll be embarking seven nautical miles south of Key West to the third largest coral reef system in the entire world. As you may already know Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the largest. The second largest is directly off the coast of Belize in Central America. Our reef, the Florida Straits, is the only living coral reef system in North America, so you are in for quite a treat aboard a state of the art Fury catamaran.
Tell Me More About The Reef…
After about an hour long sail, we will arrive to a small section of the reef in about twenty feet of water. As you swim closer to the reef, the water will get shallower, though. The reef is designed into canyons you can swim in and out of to explore all of the beauty. It’s very important that you are aware of your surroundings and stay in at least six feet of water at all times to avoid contact with the reef. Why? Well, snorkeling is a 100% visual experience. That means you’re not going to touch anything. Coral is a living entity and part of the ocean’s ecosystem. It’s also part of the natural beauty of the Florida Keys. If you touch the coral, you kill it and it takes years and years for it to regenerate. We take the preservation of our reef very seriously and expect our guests to, as well.
What Other Marine Life Will I See?
You will definitely see yellowtail snappers, sergeant majors, parrotfish, and schools of blue tang. You will probably see angelfish, grouper, and maybe even nurse sharks. If you’re really lucky there’s a great chance of spotting stingrays, loggerhead sea turtles, and spotted eagle rays. There’s a huge variety of colorful tropical fish at the reef. Don’t forget to look out for pods of dolphins on the way to and from the reef, also.
What About My Gear?
Fury Girl leading a Snorkel School session on the bow.
At Fury, we provide you with everything you need to get the most out of your snorkel experience. Your first piece of equipment is a mask with a snorkel tube attached, so that you can see everything under the water without coming up for air. Everyone is required to wear one of our buoyancy compensator vests (we call them BCs for short), which make life a little easier for you while you’re floating around taking in the sights. Finally, we’ve got flippers galore that act as propellers in the water so that you can swim with great ease throughout the ocean. If you’re nervous about swimming or are not a strong swimmer, just have a little powwow with a member of your crew. He or she can provide you with tips for staying calm and extra flotation devices.
How Do I Get In And Out Of The Water?
There are two approaches for getting into the water. The quickest and easiest way is to take a nice big step off the side of the boat with all your gear on. Your captain will be there making sure that this is done safely, and two lifeguards will be in the water at your service. Option number two is a more gradual approach. Our boats are equipped with a stairway to the sea that allows you to slide down step by step into the ocean. Once you’re submerged, push of like superman and you’ll be snorkeling. The stairway is the only way to get back on the catamaran, so listen to your crew carefully as they help you back onto the boat.
Your captain and crew will be looking out for your safety and comfort during the entire trip and will orient you with everything you need to know. They’ll also teach you an important safety signal while you’re snorkeling. Hope you took notes and see you soon!
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.