John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park: 5 Extremely Helpful Tips for Planning the Ultimate Diving Trip in this Underwater Paradise
Looking to book a fun trip that you’ll look back on for years to come? Then you absolutely must visit Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park! Located only 65 miles away from Miami, this
The number one thing that draws folks from all over is the special opportunity to get up close and personal with the reef through diving and snorkeling. Pennekamp offers guided and unguided diving experiences that you’ll treasure for a lifetime and leave you wanting to come back again and again! For a perfectly planned diving trip to Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, be sure to follow these 5 helpful tips:
- Book your tour ahead of time
- Arrive early to gather your gear
- Consider getting SCUBA certified before your trip
- Bring any personal diving equipment you have
- Consider booking a snorkeling tour
With that in mind, let’s dive into your next vacay!
Booking Your John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Diving Trip in Advance
The first thing you need to do when planning your diving trip to Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is to reserve your spot. There are several tours that launch from the park throughout the week, each going to different locations along the reef. Booking ahead not only gives you peace of mind, but it’s also necessary for the crew so they have an accurate count of everyone boarding the boat, which helps ensure a safe and engaging tour.
Tours run seven days a week and leave from Key Largo in both the morning and in the afternoon. A pro tip here is to check the weather in advance of when you want to dive. Aim for a day that has clear skies and calm waters to maximize your visibility underwater so you can see all of the wonders that are hidden in the reef!
Arrive Early
There are a lot of things that need to be done before embarking on the boat and rolling over the side to begin your dive. One of the most important things is getting your gear issued out to you! In order to get outfitted with all of the required gear, you’ll want to arrive at least an hour before your tour is scheduled to depart.
If you have the time, get there even earlier to check out the aquarium at the visitors’ center! You’ll be treated to a preview of what you’ll see on your dive in the 30,000-gallon saltwater tank. That way you’ll know exactly what you’re looking at on your tour! It’s even more fascinating and fun when you can recognize the coral and fish around you, as it brings a sort of treasure-hunting vibe to the experience. Can you find a parrotfish? Shimmering scales mark the spot!
Get Your SCUBA Certification
The one thing that will end your trip before it begins is showing up to get your gear and being asked to provide your SCUBA certification card and not being SCUBA certified! Everyone who books a SCUBA tour must be certified to dive as required by the US Coast Guard. The best piece of advice here is to get that certification well in advance of your visit.
If you’re not SCUBA certified before your trip, but you’d like to get your certification done at Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, you can register for one of the SCUBA certification courses offered through the park. Over the course of four days, you’ll go through an expertly instructed course and learn everything you need to know to dive practically anywhere around the world! And the best part is, once you’ve gotten your certification, you don’t need to worry about renewing it—it lasts for a lifetime! (Sometimes I wish driver’s licenses could be that way, LOL.)
Bring Your Own Diving Equipment
For experienced divers, you’ll likely want to bring your own gear. The minimum requirements include:
- Buoyancy Control Devices (BCD)
- A regulator with an alternate air source as well as a Submersible Pressure Gauge (SPG)
- Dive weights
- Mask and fins
- Bottom timer
If you don’t own any of these gear items, no problem! You can rent everything you need from the dive center. Just be sure to let them know when you book your trip so that you’ll have your gear set aside for you when it’s time to dive.
In addition to the dive equipment mentioned above, be sure to bring a comfortable swimsuit during the summer months and a light wetsuit for the winter months. That way you’ll be comfortable throughout the course of your dive, no matter what the water temperature is.
Book a Snorkeling Tour in this Florida State Park
If you end up missing out on your SCUBA tour because you weren’t able to get certified ahead of time, you didn’t have the required gear items, or you weren’t able to get a trip booked for when you plan on visiting, don’t despair! You can still enjoy the wonders that are hidden in the reef by taking a snorkeling tour. (This is also a great option if SCUBA diving sounds too intimidating!)
Since you won’t be diving for extended amounts of time and using an external air source, you don’t need to be certified to snorkel. There’s also far less gear required, so you’ll be able to get the same benefits of exploring the reef without needing to shell out the amount of money needed to rent (or buy) SCUBA gear.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, booking a diving tour at Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is an easy and worthwhile process. By booking your trip ahead of time, getting to your tour early, getting SCUBA certified, bringing your personal diving equipment, and enhancing your trip with a snorkeling tour, you’ll be well on your way to making memories that will last a lifetime. Plus, after experiencing all of what Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park has to offer, you’ll have the experience to visit other areas around Florida for more premium diving experiences!
And as always, be sure to let us know how much you enjoyed your trip by dropping a comment below! We can’t wait to hear all about it!
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