Snorkeling from a Private Yacht in Miami

Where to snorkel

Close to the city, the clearest water is on the ocean side of Key Biscayne and around the sandbars on a calm day, with seagrass, rays and fish. Further south, Biscayne National Park has patch reefs in shallow water, a longer run that suits a full-day charter. Visibility changes with the wind, the tide and recent rain, so the captain chooses the stop on the day and nothing underwater is guaranteed. The other activities are on Miami water sports.

How long to book

A short cruise leaves little time to reach clear water, gear up and swim. Plan at least four hours for snorkeling near Key Biscayne and a full day for the national park, with time at anchor for lunch and a second swim.

Gear and getting in

Many yachts carry masks, snorkels and fins; the listing says what is aboard, and you can bring your own for the best fit. Guests enter from the swim platform once the engines are off, with a float or a life jacket for weaker swimmers, and stay within sight of the boat. A divers-down flag is flown while anyone is in the water, and boats are required to keep clear of it.

Protecting the reef and seagrass

Do not stand on coral or touch it, keep fins off the bottom, and wear a reef-safe sunscreen or a rash guard. The captain anchors on sand, never on coral or seagrass, and everything that goes in the water comes back out.

Snorkelers and non-swimmers together

Guests who would rather stay dry have the deck, the shade and the water mat, and the crew keeps an eye on everyone in the water. For deeper reefs and wrecks, see scuba diving by private boat, and for the captain’s rules on swimming, yacht safety protocols.