snorkel tours what reef(s)?

Question

Does anyone know what reef(s) do the tour boats from Key West take you out to? We've already been out to the American Shoal lighthouse when we went to Islamorada and want to make sure that when we pick a tour from Key West they don't go to that location as we've already been there done that. Looking at Google maps I do see another lighthouse called Sandy Key Lighthouse and then Western Sambo Reef. I see boat tours that say take you out to the reef and in some I see a picture of the American Shoal lighthouse?

I just called Sabago Watersports and the woman who answered the phone said it was up to the captain depending on weather, etc. I understand that but when I asked her what reefs would be options she had no idea or would not even name reefs in the area. Does anyone know of another tour company that has snorkel tours that might know at least what reefs are options on their tours. Odd. Thank you.

Answer

Great question. It’s a very good point to make sure you’re not just doing “the same reef” again. The truth is, *where* Key West snorkel boats go depends a lot on the operator, the weather, and the comfort level of the captain — so there isn’t always a fixed single reef that all tours hit. But yes, there are several commonly visited reefs, and some good tour companies that are transparent about reef destinations.

Here’s a breakdown of what reef(s) you might be taken to, what different tour operators say, and some recommendations to help you avoid repeating American Shoal if you’ve already done that.

What Reefs Do Key West Snorkel Tours Visit?

Western Sambo Ecological Reserve (Western Sambo Reef) — This is one of the most common reef destinations for Key West snorkel tours. For example, Danger Charters explicitly calls out snorkels “at the barrier reef, the Western Sambo Ecological Reserve.”
Eastern Dry Rocks / Sand Key Area — Eastern Dry Rocks is a well-known reef ~7 miles southeast of Key West. Some snorkel tour companies like Snorkel Key West talk about “Key West’s living coral reef” (this could be referencing reefs like Sand Key / Dry Rocks area) .
Patch Reefs / Shallow Reefs — Some charters (private or small group) will go to shallower “patch” reefs rather than deep barrier reef; for example, Making Memories Charters mentions “Key West’s living reef” plus sandbar stops, and lets the captain pick the most suitable snorkel spot depending on conditions.
Backcountry / Mangrove Channels — For a different kind of snorkeling, Danger Charters offers tours into the Key West National Wildlife Refuge (“mangrove-shaded shallow water channels”) which is not a typical reef, but still offers snorkeling among fish, rays, and other wildlife.

Some Tour Companies & Their Reef Options

Danger Charters: Very clear that they go to Western Sambo reef plus also offer back-country snorkel in mangrove-shaded channels.
Bimini Sailing Charters: Their snorkeling tours go to “West Sambo Reef” — they note it as one of the healthiest and most vibrant reefs in the area.
SnorkelKeyWest.com: Their “Rise & Reef” and “Dip & Sip” tours mention exploring “the world’s third-largest living coral reef.” They don’t always name very specific reef names, but that suggests they hit major reef areas (not just very shallow patch reef). Additionally, their 3-hour map often says “snorkel #2 on map,” meaning they may go to different reef spots depending on conditions.
Making Memories Charters: They do private snorkel + sandbar trips, and their reef snorkeling varies depending on weather. Their page mentions “swim among coral and tropical fish on Key West’s living reef.”
Capt. Rollin’s Key West Charters: Their snorkel and sandbar trip goes “out to the reef” then to local sandbars. They don’t always name which reef, so that may be flexible based on conditions or captain preference.

What This Means for Your Situation

Because some tour companies are flexible (depending on weather, sea conditions, and what they call “best reef for the day”), there’s no 100% guarantee you *won’t* hit the same reef you saw from Islamorada — unless you specifically pick a company that names different reef targets (like Western Sambo). When you call, ask for: “Which reef(s) are likely on today’s trip?” and name the ones you *don’t* want (e.g. “We’ve already done American Shoal.”) Good captains or charter companies should be willing to tell you their common snorkel sites, or at least the reef reserve they tend to use (“Sambo”, “Dry Rocks”, etc.).

Recommended Tours to Ask About (to Avoid American Shoal):

Danger Charters — specifically ask for their “reef snorkel” tour to Western Sambo.
Bimini Sailing Charters — get them to confirm they are going to “West Sambo Reef.”
SnorkelKeyWest.com — ask their crew what reef they plan to hit that day (they pick based on conditions), and specify you don’t want to go to American Shoal.
Making Memories Charters — since it’s a private charter, you potentially have more flexibility to tell them what reef or how “far out” you want to go (if that’s an option on that boat).

Bottom Line

- Yes, there *are* reef options off Key West beyond American Shoal, including Western Sambo and Dry Rocks / Sand Key-type reefs. - Tour choice matters: pick a company that names or is willing to tell you the reef location, and *ask* when booking to emphasize you want reef snorkeling, not just a sandbar or “generic reef stop.” - Because most tours are somewhat flexible, you should be able to avoid going to American Shoal again — just be explicit when you book.

snorkel tours what reef(s)?

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