Kayaking and Snorkeling Cheeca Rocks

by Amber
(Florida Keys)

On a typical beautiful summer day in the Florida Keys, I kayaked from the shores of Islamorada out to the Florida Key National Marine Sanctuary’s Cheeca Rocks Sanctuary Preservation Area.

A Sanctuary Preservation Area is a protected area where fishing, spearfishing, collecting and lobstering are prohibited, leaving precious submerged resources for all to enjoy. Snorkelers and scuba divers can see living coral heads, seagrass beds and a variety of sea creatures.

As the crow flies and this kayaker paddles, my planned round trip was little more than six miles.
A slight breeze caused minimal ripples in the crystal clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean and cooled my body as I paddled. Once at the reef, I donned my snorkel gear and dove into the amazingly warm waters.

I saw a variety of soft corals scattered throughout the numerous coral heads which are surrounded by seagrass beds and underwater sand dunes. I swam with hundreds of fish of many different species, including a huge barracuda.

After enjoying the water and a quick snack, I paddled the three miles back to shore, working up a sweat and making a nice end to a beautiful day.

On such a beautiful day, I would recommend the trip to any kayaker, from beginner to experienced, who would like to learn about the Florida Keys waters and its delicate ecosystem.