Coral Reef Private Snorkel Tour Out To John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

With 6 of us traveliing, getting a private boat for snorkeling had high value. we could customize the trip as we desired. Captain Eric was very friendly and knowledgable about the area, and we had a wonderful time.

Our experience with Captain Walker was great. He was very helpful and got us equipped and out to the reef quickly. We also had a small snag because we hadn't filled out our waivers, but Summer in the office got the link to us quickly so we could get those filled out.

This snorkel trip with Bob was incredible! There were some winds that tried to dampen our trip and Bob called and discussed the weather conditions in detail with us prior to the trip. We were supposed to get to snorkel at two different sites, but could only do one site due to the winds and associated increased waves. We did receive a refund since we could not do 2 sites. The site that we went to was absolutely awesome. We saw multiple types of fish, beautiful coral and had clear visibility! Would strongly recommend this trip with Bob!

Don’t skip this opportunity to snorkel with your group. Captain Bob was welcoming, accommodating, and patient. He gave us clear instructions on safety and took us to ideal locations to see a variety of creatures and coral. The boat was clean and very comfortable. It was a great relaxing day out. Just the right amount of adventure for our family. Kids age 7 and 9.

Everything happened according to the plan, nice, clean and spacious boat. Chose a sunny and windless day!

We had a great time with Bob. He was very knowledgeable and ensured that we were in the best spots for snorkeling.

Captain Bob was concerned first and foremost about our safety and ability. He put us where the waves were less on both locations, and burned off factory coatings on new masks, then applied antifog. He’s also very concerned about the health of the reef, giving us good guidance on how not to damage it and making sure no trash blew off of his vessel. We had such a good time we’re going again!

We had a fantastic experience with our family’s private snorkel tour. It my wife and I plus 2 17-year-olds. Sizing all our equipment went smoothly ( including finding the correct prescription lenses for my wife and I). It was a windy day with waves but we still found a spot to snorkel where we all felt safe. We saw turtles, barracuda and a ton of other fish. I was so glad we’d booked a private tour as we could do things at our own, especially after seeing some of the giant tour groups. Highly recommend!!!

Our family truly enjoyed our snorkeling experience. Bob is a wonderful tour guide and made sure we saw the best of the reef. It was nice to have a private tour so that we could move at our families pace. Thank you Bob!

Our family totally enjoyed our private snorkel tour out to the coral reef. Captain Bob was very professional along with first class equipment. Spending a little extra to have the private experience is highly recommended. It was the highlight of our vacation to the keys.

Capt Bob @SnorkeltheKeys was absolutely amazing with the whole family. Made sure we were ok during the boat ride as it was lil rough waters. He called the day before to discuss the weather and best location to go. Had very nice gear to use, helped us with adjustments making sure it all fit properly. We had use of short water suits for the colder water temps. I highly recommend his company

This is the 2nd time we have been with captain Bob. He is great at getting to the clear water with less people. Both times we have been lucky enough to see either spotted rays or turtles alongs with the statue. The boat is clean, he has drinks and snacks for after. Safety was never an issue either time as I always felt like he knew what he was doing and cared unlike a few others I have been on.

Our snorkel tour was terrific. We enjoyed the short boat ride out to the reef, and enjoyed two stops including Grecian Rocks and Key Largo Dry Rocks. We saw plenty of fish and coral formations. We got to see a huge eagle ray and a nurse shark! Captain Bob was very informative, shared a lot of history and knowledge of the islands and the reef. We were treated to a really special encounter when Bob spotted several dolphins swimming ahead of our boat. He circled around and we got to observe dolphins (4-5 of them) for a little while before heading to our second snorkel site. The boat and equipment were clean and new. Snacks and drinks were provided. We were also able to use an underwater camera that was provided and received our pictures and videos the same day! Highly recommend!

I went on this trip with my father. The sea was a beautiful turquoise blue and once we arrived at the reef there were lots of fish to see. I did feel a bit sea sick because of the heavy tide though. I would definitely recommend.

We went out snorkeling on the Encounter with Captain Tommy and Cody. It was all so beautiful. I had an asthma attack in the MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN, Cody dove in and pulled me back to the boat & the whole crew helped me until I regained control. They were the best to go out with & Cody is a rockstar! This is the crew to go out with. (I shouldve asked for his number :) )

We had an absolute blast on our snorkeling adventure! Captain Travis, Sonja, and Cody were phenomenal. Obviously, the scenery was beautiful, but they made the trip that much more enjoyable with their helpful information and humor. The state park itself has a ton of amenities, but I would highly recommend this snorkeling excursion as they put you on to some of the most beautiful coral I’ve ever seen.

We're so glad we decided to splurge and do this private tour! The weather was a bit iffy during our stay, so we really appreciated the communication and flexibility that allowed us to still get out (while keeping safety in mind). The boat and equipment were in great shape and we had a fantastic afternoon. Thanks Captain Bob!

Excellent communication. Terrific private charter. We were unsure about the weather on the day we booked. Captain Bob kept in contact with us and helped us decide to rebook for the following day. He made sure we were properly outfitted and comfortable with snorkeling before we entered the water. He took us to a spot where we were certain to have success and we did. His charter was one of the highlights of our time in the Keys and we would go again in a heartbeat. Do not miss an opportunity to do a private charter with Captain Bob!

We had a great experience with Captain Bob and Captain Tommy. They were very knowledgeable and took us to two great spots away from the crowds. They were very friendly and we would highly recommend snorkeling with them. You will be happy you did :)

We had a private tour with Captain Bob and the day was perfect. The boat is extremely comfortable and Captain Bob is very thorough with safety, amenities (so many drinks, snacks), gear in great condition. He makes you a photo album and gives an underwater camera to use during your dives. We were sorry when it ended!

Many fish and a Nice boattrip. Windy weather placer US alone at the reef which was great. We sailed IN a fine boat with fine views and room for all

Captain Bob was a great communicator. He returned my call promptly the week before the scheduled trip to discuss our last minute changes and called from the water day of the trip to discuss wind conditions. The boat was clean and well stocked. The equipment was first-class and fit everyone perfectly. Offered his camera to take underwater videos. He was careful with the first-time snorkelers and made the experience memorable for everyone. We really enjoyed having a private charter and not being part of a larger party boat. The price is reasonable and fair and we will do this again.

The visible was good, nice variety of fish and corals. Saw a few rays and 1 green eel. Very comfortable and clean boat. Captain was friendly and knowledgeable of the area. Highly recommend!!

Captain Bob made sure we would have the best experience and therefore modified the order of visits to allow us to swim with less people. We ended up having the reef all to ourselves the whole time we were swimming instead of swimming with 100 people. We also got to swim Jesus Christ. It was a really wonderful experience.

Captain Bob was amazing!! Super friendly and the boat was great!!! He let use use his camera when we were in the water and captured a lot of great photos! I highly recommend! When we come back to the keys we will definitely be visiting Captain Bob again!

I don't even know where to begin. Our experience was so phenomenal. I had only snorkeled once, our son had never done it and was a little nervous. I thought if we had a nice relaxed private entry into snorkeling it would give him confidence. I could not have been more right and it was thanks to Captain Bob. He gave great instruction, brought us to a nice beginner spot and made my son feel ready for giving it a go. My son said "Captain Bob is really nice" and hopped in without hesitation, 60 minutes later and we were dragging him back on the boat. It set the tone for our whole vacation and when we went snorkeling again on our last day in Key West, our son couldn't wait to get in the water. The equipment seemed top notch and clean. The wet suits were VERY appreciated and I didn't know there was such a thing as prescription goggles, but WOW they made such a difference (as I sadly found out at our next snorkel experience). If you spend money on one thing I would without hesitation recommend this above everything else. Thanks Bob

Very well organized where someone picks up the phone to answer questions and easily book online. The crew was great and had a fun sense of humor. The equipment was in good shape and due to Covid we kept the snorkel. It was a clear calm day so the reef visibility was very good. Saw lots of variety of fish. The ride out to the reef wasn't too long and we spent about an hour in the water.

Our snorkel excursion was just okay. The boat captain didn't seem to be a people person, wasn't interested in small talk, interacted with us only when necessary, and lacked the enthusiasm we have experienced on similar excursions. He seemed annoyed we brought beer to consume after snorkeling. We received a long series of instructions on how to call the coast guard, followed by another long series of instructions on where to snorkel, followed by yet another lengthy set of instructions on how to use the underwater camera. Due to the information overload, when we got into the water, none of us had grasped how to use the camera and each of us hoped someone else knew how. To make this process better, the captain could have laminated the instructions on how to call the coast guard in an emergency, so he could have briefly went over them, and told us where to locate them. Then, he could have asked who will be using the camera and made sure the person who was going to use it understood how it worked. We were surprised nobody went into the water with us to guide us to where the fish were. It was difficult to know where to go for snorkeling, because the boat, our point-of-reference, kept turning around. It was just okay, and it didn't seem like Captain Bob wanted us there.

Captain Bob has a beautiful boat and fantastic equipment. He adjusted our trip due to conditions and we were able to have a great experience. Our only compliant is that he was not very friendly. All of the reviews were excellent, except for the one with a family and we were also a family. 12,14 year old kids. Maybe he is better with adults.

My husband and I and our two adult children and their partners were on this trip. Very nice boat, well cared for. Captain was very knowledgeable and accommodated our comfort levels and adjusted to crowds due to Labor Day weekend. Found us two great spots, the second was almost just us. Saw sharks, sting ray, barracuda, and a zillion fish. I got seasick despite Dramamine and he took us to the calmest areas and let me use his rapid relief zapper watch. He had great snorkeling equipment, masks were the best I’ve used and he had the lenses for nearsightedness. Also had not idles. Prepped all the equipment for us, nice light snack and drink selection. Not a trip for partying, just serious snorkeling. Oh yay, he also had a go pro camera he let us use and took pics as well.

Waves were rough when we went out but Bob still found us some great snorkel spots. One of the people in our party got seasick and captain bob helped them to get feeling better! Great tour

Was able to book a dive charter and go see the famous statue that everyone wants to see at least one time! They are short staffed,as every place you visit in Florida is,but they still get the job done Clean boat,friendly knowledgeable captain and staff Trip was 4 hours for $95,and you can’t find that just anywhere Swam with tarpon and turtles and parrot fish.Wanted to catch some lobster since they were everywhere,but that’s not allowed LOL

Trip was great. Took my two granddaughters out and Capt Bob was extremely kind and accommodating. Already talking about our next trip

If you're debating a public tour or this, stop. Captain Bob is amazing. The flexibility and first class experience is very worth it. Make sure to confirm for 3.5 hrs

Capt. Bob was an awesome host to us on a choppy day he found spots where we were able to snorkel without getting tossed around. Having an underwater camera provided for the trip was genius. The quality of the photos are excellent. We at an epic encounter with an eagle ray and caught it all on video! Boat was a smooth ride for the windy day. Highly recommend.

Captain Bob was an exceptional host. We booked a private snorkel tour with him, however windy conditions kept us from departing at our scheduled time. Bob was very accommodating and his schedule permitted us to delay our departure to allow for better conditions out on the water, as well as shortening our trip and refunding the difference! He’s the best; conscientious, safety minded, and had everything for us we might have needed. Our 9 yr old daughter was a first-timer and had no problems! His trip was all inclusive, gear, beverages, snacks, even towels! Worth EVERY PENNEY! Snorkel the Keys is the only way to go!

I read all of the reviews before booking this trip and thought it was going to be the best ever! Not sure if we just caught Captain Bob on an off day or if somehow we just rubbed him the wrong way but friendly and easy-going wasn’t what we experienced. The trip was our family of four-my husband, myself and our two sons. He seemed absolutely bothered and irritated by my kids the moment we arrived. My youngest has autism and likes to ask a lot of questions. At one point he told my son “do you want to ask questions or do you want to go snorkel”. He was very short with all of us. My oldest was afraid to ask for a can of soda. The reef was beautiful and the equipment was either new or in like new condition. I wouldn’t recommend it for families.

I would definitely recommend a snorkeling trip with Capt. Bob! The weather was a little rough when we were there, and he was really great about communicating and working with us to find a time when it would be safe to go out. The boat is clean and comfortable - it handles the waves smoothly, you're in the shade, and there is even a bathroom on board. Capt. Bob lent us short wetsuits, which really helped us to extend our time in the water! The reef around Grecian Rocks is beautiful, and we saw a huge variety of fish. Having the underwater camera is also a great addition. Fantastic experience all around!

Highly recommend Captain Bob for a great snorkeling adventure!!!! His location is very easy to find with easy parking. The boat was super clean and maintained as well as all of the equipment. The use of a GoPro was fantastic and the pics are just wonderful memories we have to share. Very knowledgeable about the area and gracious to make sure you get to see what you hope to see (underwater Jesus :)). Big thanks to captain Bob for helping make our trip to the keys a memorable one!!

What an awesome morning of snorkeling the reefs. Captain Bob was professional and very knowledgeable. He provided us high quality snorkel gear and got us on our way over to the reefs. It was a bit windier than usual so he made sure it was safe enough for us to head out and found some protected spots for us to explore. He has a GoPro available for use and will download the footage you took and share so you can capture your experience. The private tour is an awesome way to stay safe and experience the reefs with your own party. 100% would recommend anyone interested in snorkeling the reefs to go out with Capt Bob over at Snorkel the Keys.

Knowledgeable captain, great communication leading up to and during the trip, boat clean and in excellent condition. Highly recommend. We had a great time.

We had a great day, saw an amazing assortment of fish, coral and sea fans. Captain Bob is a knowledgeable guide with a comfortable and well equipped boat.

Bob was an awesome guide, he gave us a couple different options due to the weather and we decided to go out to the reef and if was amazing. We saw a bunch of different fish species; parrotfish, grouper, barracuda. And although we had all our own gear Bob had everything on hand anyways. We had wetsuits but the water was so warm (at least for New Englanders!) that we didn’t need them. Would definitely do this again and will probably get our friends and family out there too.

The three snorkel locations were beyond our best expectations, Captain was knowledgeable and prepared! We were so impressed, will book again and again.

With COVID-19 risk, we decided to charter our own Pennekamp snorkel trip. It was well worth the extra cost over a group trip. Not only did we feel completely safe, but Captain Bob is great. He was knowledgable and personable. He also provided all kinds of extras at no extra charge, the highlight of which was the use of an underwater camera. He uploads the photos and videos to you at no charge. He also includes pictures he takes of us from the boat. His boat is spotless, and the equipment brand new. We brought our own masks, but chose to use his because they were like new and cleaned with bleach water between triups. We can't wait to return.

Captain Bob was awesome and the reefs were truly amazing. Very clean boat and beverages provided. Highly recommend this private charter!

This week We went out snorkeling to ahogan Pennekamp with a captain Bob. The boat was extremely comfortable and very clean. The gear that was provided was in excellent condition and also pristine. Captain Bob was very knowledgeable and my family enjoyed every second of our mini vacation. I highly recommend Snorkle the keys.