Florida Keys Kayaking
The Florida Keys are an archipelago made up of 1700 islands that run from Miami to Key West in Florida. The area is tropical with shallow waters and the Upper Keys are coral reefs that have fossilized as sea level declined. The natural scenery there includes tons of different aquatic life and flora. The coconut palm, hibiscus, papaya, and key lime grow wild.
Kayaking in the Florida Keys is a popular pastime. It has been combined with fishing, snorkeling, Kayaks are small, human-powered boats with slightly pointed ends and a covered deck. There can be one or two cockpits with paddlers using a double-bladed paddle. The cockpit has a spraydeck, commonly known as a skirt, to keep the inside of the kayak and the bottom half of the paddler dry. The paddler sits facing forward with legs out front. The longer a kayak is, the faster it is. Some kayaks have been modified and have removed the cockpit and spraydeck.
Kayaks in the Florida Keys can sometimes come with sails and are outfitted for snorkeling and spear fishing. Kayak tours are popular in the area as the aquatic life is abundant of beauties and exotic animals. Because of the shallow clear waters, it’s easier for kayakers to see animals near or far away in the water. There are stingrays, sea urchins, sharks, birds, tortoises, and oodles of different types of fish. There are also plenty of coral around the area. If you go, you’ll probably see these and jellyfish, sea grass, crabs, manatees, finger coral, skates, eels, mangrove forests, sea fans, sea anemones, amberjacks, groupers, wahoos, tarpons, and barracudas.
When you go to the Florida Keys, make sure that you plan in advance. Summer may be overcrowded and swarming with bugs. Try going in winter when the weather is still warm and the bugs aren’t so overbearing. There also won’t be as many people and it’ll be easier to get a tour. Open kayaks are the best for beginners because they easily overturn. This makes it safer to use for those who are inexperienced. Kayakers who are more advanced and are seeking a longer trail usually choose fast hulls (which are longer) that have watertight bulkheads. This makes bringing food and camping gear easier. Kayakers should be out of the water by early afternoon. This is because of the currents. The currents become much stronger and head out to the Atlantic Ocean past the Keys.
Some routes will lead you right under the Seven Mile Bridge, toward Molasses Key, mangrove tunnels in Boot Key, Sombrero Beach on Marathon, and to Key Largo to Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park to Key West. The type of excursion you want and your experience level will determine which route is best for your kayaking trip.
The Florida Keys are a popular spot for all sorts of activities, kayaking being just one of them. Kayaking in the Florida Keys is an unforgettable experience that will bring you closer to wild aquatic life than you’ve ever been
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