Key West Scuba Diving -- An Amazing Underwater Experience

While many businesses and homeowners experience financial troubles due to the current economy, it does offer the opportunity to take advantage of considerable cuts in prices for vacation packages, hotels, and airline tickets. It's a great time to save money by visiting a tropical destination like the Florida Keys. Known for some of the most unique and exciting activities in the world, Key West offers an amazing underwater experience, regardless of age or swimming skill.

In addition to incredible undersea activities, the island offers plenty of other things to do including pirate museums, ghost tours, unique shopping, elegant spas, fine dining, an aquarium, a butterfly garden and arboretum, and so much more. Whether you explore the island by bicycle, kayak, charter boat, backcountry hiking, electric car, or airplane, you'll find just the adventure you seek in this tropical destination.

Key West Scuba Diving Offers The Ultimate Adventure

If you want a thrilling vacation, consider scuba diving the coral reef. The largest coral reef in America and the third largest coral reef in the world, you'll see things you never knew existed in these crystal turquoise waters.

After a scuba certification course at a local dive center where thousands of people earn their certification each year, you can sign up for one of the many tours offered. Zipped away on a dive boat with knowledgeable guides to some of the best sites of the reef, you'll enjoy comforts like large dive platforms, photo tables to protect your camera and video equipment, ample storage, complimentary food and drinks, and even fresh water showers for the trip back.

Scuba Diving In The Sanctuary Preservation Area

One of the best areas for Key West scuba diving is the Sanctuary Preservation Area. This area encompasses Rock Key, Sand Key, and Eastern Dry Rocks and works to maintain the fragile ecosystem of the living coral reef, its marine life, and historical shipwrecks.

In Rock Key, you'll find Spanish shipwreck artifacts from the 1800s. Sand Key offers a look at tropical fish, grouper, barracuda, and loggerhead turtles in addition to the vivid corals and anemone of the reef. You'll also find a historic lighthouse where you can still climb to the top for an incredible view of the area. You find a sunken galleon to explore with stone ballast and brass fillings in the Eastern Dry Rocks area.

Snorkeling Offers Adventure, Too

The waters surrounding the island offer an adventure for everyone. If you aren't interested in obtaining your scuba certification, you can still enjoy the coral reef with snorkeling. Since much of the coral reef is in the shallows, it's the ideal adventure for just about everyone.

A snorkeling tour will take you to the best spots around the island and with several shipwrecks in shallow waters, you can even enjoy a piece of history. Tours provide all the snorkeling equipment and instruction you need to have a great experience. Many snorkeling tours offer a glass-bottomed boat ride so those not wanting to get in the water can still see the coral reef.

With so much to enjoy and discounted prices, it's a great time to visit the Florida Keys for the budget-friendly adventure-filled vacation of your dreams.