John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
4.5
8:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 8:30 PM
About
Check out the living coral reefs around Molasses Reef at the country’s first undersea park. If you're a strong swimmer, join a snorkeling or scuba diving tour to get close to the corals and marine life. Otherwise, enjoy the underwater scenery from a glass-bottom boat. The park also has designated spots for camping, fishing, swimming and barbecuing—fun activities to round out a great vacation. The adventurous traveler might also enjoy exploring the mangrove swamps on a guided tour and hiking the Wild Tamarind Trail. For thinner crowds, visit on weekday mornings. Reservations are recommended, especially during the holidays. – Tripadvisor
Duration: More than 3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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See what travelers are saying
- Wanda L84 contributionsBest camping trip ever!!!!This place is absolutely perfect!! Don't miss this Florida paradise. We got to do everything!! My favorite part was the glass bottom boat cruise! Many thanks to our crew Captain Jorge mate Bryce and narrators Lindsay and Maria. You can tell that they love what they do and are fantastic at it 👏 Perfect weather and you can see fish turtles and lots of coral 🪸 It's a really good deal 32 bucks for 2+hour cruise 🛳 I wish I could give this adventure more stars 🌟 Thanks again for a wonderful lifetime experience 😘Visited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten September 20, 2023
- Lynn WScottsboro, Alabama22 contributionsState Park SnorkelingThe trip to the reef was fun. Good views. The captain was a bit snarky but Sarah was enthusiastic and promoted a positive and fun attitude. There was just enough room on the boat and at the reef for a fun time. Any more people and there would be someone swimming into you. Overall great trip but not sure if we will do it again. We chartered a snorkeling trip in Marathon to Sombrero lighthouse and the State Park trip was the better of the two!Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten September 20, 2023
- Escape504207194102 contributionsKey largo weekend retreatI live in Sarasota Florida with the best beaches in the US. I didn't expect the water atCannon beach to be so murky. Snorkeling is not possible. I thought the beach area was small and a bit dirty with dead seaweed. It really could use a fresh up. The kayaking was amazing. The map was helpful but mark off and area in the water better. Anyone could get lost out there. Overall my husband had a wonderful time.Visited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten September 20, 2023
- AnnaMunich, Germany10 contributionsGreat nature experienceWe went twice, once kayaking, once snorkeling. Both were amazing experiences, the provided maps for kayaking make it an easy and safe experience. Snorkeling was great, even though it was a big group the reef could accomodate everyone. Free freshwater showers were a blessing, ample supply of drinking water and wifi made everything easy.Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten September 23, 2023
- Wendi B1 contributionSnorkeling FunOur boat staff was simply amazing ! Friendly , knowledgeable and chill ! The mini class about snorkeling helped me to feel more comfortable snorkeling. Snorkeling scares me and by the end I was ready to stay in the water ! Thanks for an amazing time !Visited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten September 24, 2023
- Anne B1 contributionSnorkeling tour 2.5 hoursCaptain Travis made our trip so much fun! We had a great time snorkeling and saw so many fish! Shame we forgot our camera but it let us live in the moment and truly enjoy our time on the water! Definitely recommending it to all my friends and coworkers for a great vacation stop!Visited September 2023Traveled with friendsWritten September 25, 2023
- Cydney F1 contributionLove Pennecamp!This was out second time on this trip so we had good expectations. The wind was high so we weren't able to go the the dive site we preferred but the trip to the chosen site was good. We were warned there might be jellyfish in the area, and that was indeed true. Of course the snorkeling was beautiful but the majority of the boat came back in well before the allotted time due to the quantity of jellyfish. Nothing the captain or first mate could have done about that we realize. (I myself got stung at least 5 times.) We will definitely try again next time we are in South Florida!!!Visited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten September 30, 2023
- Bret G6 contributionsNice state park !Very nice tidy state park,it was still a little hot but the park is a nice one with polite and friendly rangers. We went on the glass bottom boat tour with Lindsay and Jorge and they were very nice and informative. Only got to stay for 6 days as we reserved this campground 9 months ago and it's very hard to get into. Plan on coming again next year.Visited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 2, 2023
- Kel S1 contributionGreat time snorkelingBeautiful little park with very nice staff. Nice aquarium and educational theater inside. Snorkelled right of the entrance to the ship wreck at the park and got to swim with wild tarpon then took the afternoon snorkeling tour to the reef which was beautiful. Great captain and mate. Park itself was very clean and well kept. Would definitely check it out again next time we're in the KeysVisited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 2, 2023
- AmandaHawthorn Woods, Illinois6 contributionsSee what’s happening to our coral reef!We were on a smaller boat with large viewing portholes while the usual boat was being worked on, but we were really glad this did not put us off going. It was a more personal experience with a smaller group. Lindsay was very knowledgeable, willing to answer any questions and passionate about her concern for the state of our oceans. It was a great experience.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 3, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
14,687 reviews
Excellent
10,747
Very good
2,633
Average
879
Poor
275
Terrible
153
Trobb
Eugene, OR26 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
Great family snorkeling trip- our second in 4 months.
Very reasonably priced and a great value!
We took our 4-kids (17,16,11,9) who had minimal experience.
Great park, boat, staff, and prices.
Snorkeling was rough the second trip here on July 25th but still very amazing fish and experience.
Captain Mike and First Mate were very informative and as mentioned with the rough waters, kept an eye out for all of us and the other 15+ or so guest.
I would recommend earlier trips as weather seems better and bring as little as possible but bring: towel, shades, and phone for beautiful pics!
Sanitary and very clean with everything pandemic-wise going on.
Very reasonably priced and a great value!
We took our 4-kids (17,16,11,9) who had minimal experience.
Great park, boat, staff, and prices.
Snorkeling was rough the second trip here on July 25th but still very amazing fish and experience.
Captain Mike and First Mate were very informative and as mentioned with the rough waters, kept an eye out for all of us and the other 15+ or so guest.
I would recommend earlier trips as weather seems better and bring as little as possible but bring: towel, shades, and phone for beautiful pics!
Sanitary and very clean with everything pandemic-wise going on.
Written July 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephanie B
Marshall, MI31 contributions
Feb 2020
We enjoyed the glass bottom boat ride. The only disappointment is we'd paid to go snorkeling & there wasn't enough people signed up in advance. We waited an hour since it sounded like more people would in time. However, everyone that came up in line to snorkel were talked out of it & into the boat ride. So the man at the inside counter was very discouraging to folks. It was very odd..did the captain not want to go out? We were really bummed. Especially after getting out there & seeing the calm clear waters. Not cool.
Written February 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dianna P
1 contribution
Jan 2020
We hosted a company retreat and added the snorkel trip for our employees and customers. The online reservation was very simple and painless and even better was the online waiver process. As soon as I was able to forward the online waiver, the participants were able to complete that using less paper and in an efficient manner.
For the ones that did not make the final trip but were registered and paid for, the refund was processed quickly and without issues.
I can't ask for a better process that what is currently in place.
For the ones that did not make the final trip but were registered and paid for, the refund was processed quickly and without issues.
I can't ask for a better process that what is currently in place.
Written February 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
632stacy
Pittsburgh, PA7 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
This park was a disappointment compared to the others in the keys we visited. It was way overcrowded and very little to do when boat rides are sold out which we were told happens days in advance.
Beach is very small and rocky, shore snorkeling has nothing to see. Even renting kyaks is limited to a small space to use them.
If your in key Largo do a sunset cruise rather than spend time at this park.
Beach is very small and rocky, shore snorkeling has nothing to see. Even renting kyaks is limited to a small space to use them.
If your in key Largo do a sunset cruise rather than spend time at this park.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Holden S
1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Family
Great snorkeling experience! Led by captains Katie Jordy, my son and I joined a full boat of tourists to snorkel around the reefs of Key Largo. Although I had snorkeled before, it was my son’s first time—and neither of us had snorkeling equipment. Luckily, though, we were able to rent everything we needed. The crew’s humorous yet informative commentary helped move along the 30 minute boat rides there and back. My son and I spotted loads of wildlife at the reef—including pufferfish, hogfish, and barracuda. We were glad we had purchased a disposable waterproof camera, so we could take pictures. Overall, this was a great way to spend our afternoon at Key Largo, accompanied by fellow snorkelers and a lovely crew.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GreenUnicorn
New Jersey3,329 contributions
Dec 2019
We went to this park three days in a row. The first day, we saw the hour-long film about the coral reefs and all the creatures inhabiting the reefs. Excellent film! We also took a short walk to the historic key lime grove, which was ok but nothing exciting. The other trail was closed for maintenance......
The second day, we rented kayaks and went kayaking in the mangroves, something we had also done in Key West. They give you a map (coated with plastic), but unfortunately, the map does not depict the area correctly, nor does it cover the entire area where one could kayak. In addition, there was virtually NO signage. One channel with mangroves looks exactly like the next one! We did half the trails and decided to call it a day, as the other section would be more of the same. When we mentioned to the guy who took the kayak that the map was bad, he said he had heard that from a lot of other people. Great!!! Also, as I stepped out of the kayak, I noticed nearby a bottlecap that had been in the shallow water long enough to have rusted. Who is paying attention?
The third day, we took the snorkeling trip. The water was very rough, which apparently it is in December. However, people could waste hours here waiting for a tour that never happens. We were told that the 12 noon tour was definitely going out. Some other people had signed up, right before noon, for the 3 pm. If 13 other people didn't sign up by 3 pm, there would be no trip, and they would have wasted basically half a day. I get the economics of it, but it is not tourist-friendly.
Overall, I felt our kayaking and snorkeling experiences were much better in Key West.
The second day, we rented kayaks and went kayaking in the mangroves, something we had also done in Key West. They give you a map (coated with plastic), but unfortunately, the map does not depict the area correctly, nor does it cover the entire area where one could kayak. In addition, there was virtually NO signage. One channel with mangroves looks exactly like the next one! We did half the trails and decided to call it a day, as the other section would be more of the same. When we mentioned to the guy who took the kayak that the map was bad, he said he had heard that from a lot of other people. Great!!! Also, as I stepped out of the kayak, I noticed nearby a bottlecap that had been in the shallow water long enough to have rusted. Who is paying attention?
The third day, we took the snorkeling trip. The water was very rough, which apparently it is in December. However, people could waste hours here waiting for a tour that never happens. We were told that the 12 noon tour was definitely going out. Some other people had signed up, right before noon, for the 3 pm. If 13 other people didn't sign up by 3 pm, there would be no trip, and they would have wasted basically half a day. I get the economics of it, but it is not tourist-friendly.
Overall, I felt our kayaking and snorkeling experiences were much better in Key West.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Makayla M
1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Couples
We had a great snorkel at Pennekamp. Gage was a fantastic guide/instructor-he was funny and very helpful. I liked that Pennekamp offered a variety of tour times and lengths, as we didn’t want to be out for 5 hours like a lot of other companies offered. They have equipment to rent at a great price too. In our hour of being in the water, we went to the Christ of the Abyss, and it was perfect! Plus, we saw dolphins on our way back to Pennekamp, and the crew made a circle to go back to the dolphins to make sure everyone saw them. The dolphins wound up following us back for a while after that!
Written January 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gcgray92
Sparta, KY110 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
Entry to the park for 2 people was $9. My husband and I paid for a full day kayak rentals (4+ hours) which was $86 for 2 singles. The Staff provided a laminated map and reviewed it with us. We headed out towards the marina and spent almost 3 hours touring the mangroves. There were minimal signs to help guide you back, but it was pretty easy to see where you should and shouldn’t go. We then went to Cannon Beach with our cooler and chairs for some swimming and snorkeling. The water throughout the park was clean and clear. You could see the shipwreck very well and it was cool that it was so close to the beach. You are able to snorkel the entire area around the beach to see plants and wildlife. We even saw larger fish coming out of the water and playing right where everyone was standing.
Written June 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aajeans
The Villages, FL42 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
I had once visited Pennekamp about two decades ago and don’t remember too much about it other than the beaches being scroungy. Things haven’t changed that much but it depends on where you go, I guess. Only one beach area was really disgusting and the others seemed okay as many others were swimming in those locations. The prices have gone up, for two of us in a car it is now $9 (mid-August 2020). We decided against getting in the water and opted to go on a trail instead. One of the three trails is still being worked on but we checked out the Wild Tamarind trail. No complaints there, it certainly delivered what you’d expect from a trail that was very walkable. We appreciated the educational markings throughout the trail that described an array of flora. For us, this is one of those “been there, done that” places. We clearly did not do what most people go for, which is the coral so obviously I cannot base anything off of that but that of which we did do, meh.
Written August 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Penny
3 contributions
Dec 2019
This was a really lovely two hours! We took our kids and grandkids for the excursion. Most of us had little or no snorkeling experience. Captain Katie and Mate Jordie were so helpful and accommodating--especially for the kids, who at 7 and 11 were a little overwhelmed. They took the time to give the kids special attention and coaching, and then made it easy and comfortable for them to return to the boat when the sea got to be too much. The adults were equally accommodated, no shame. Instructions were all fun, yet clear and firm, so it all felt completely safe and controlled. All in all, a beautiful day on and in the water.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am facing similar situation. Did you get refund from the park eventually?
Written January 13, 2024
Not sure! Better call the park directly
Written February 21, 2023
Bonjour,
Ma fille a 5 ans, elle ne sait pas nager sans brassards.
L'activité est elle possible pour elle?
Merci
Written January 30, 2023
Is there good snorkeling off the beach?
Written April 24, 2022
At Cannon Beach there some "shipwreck" pieces that have been placed that are interesting to view but the best snorkeling is going to be from a boat tour.
Written April 25, 2022
Dream60677280232
Miami, Florida
How many feet deep after the dropoff (where you can't see the bottom) is in the Cannon beach is the maximum ?
Written October 18, 2021
I don’t believe Pennekamp had rv spots.
Written January 16, 2021
Did you need to wear a wetsuit to snorkel? The temperature seems low?
Written January 7, 2021
Yes it was cold at the time and a wetsuit would be preferable this time of year
Written February 13, 2021
to snorkel at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park do I need to do a tour or can i snorkel independently with my snorkel gear?
Written September 22, 2020
AllissaQ
1 contribution
The beautiful part is pretty far out there, I would probably go on a tour or rent a boat.
Written September 22, 2020
We, 4 adults, will be in the keys toward the end of January 2021. How far in advance should I make reservations for that time of year?
Written September 8, 2020
We booked the first one two weeks out but the second one we did after getting back from the first trip. We got the last spots on the second day. They are limiting the numbers because of COVID so I would be earlier to make sure..
Written October 19, 2020
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