Snorkeling and Glass-Bottom Boat Tours in Biscayne National Park

Biscayne National Park protects more than 170,000 acres of Biscayne Bay and the northern end of the Florida Reef, and its Dante Fascell Visitor Center at Convoy Point, 9700 SW 328th Street in Homestead, is about 35 miles (56 km) south of downtown Miami. Roughly 95 percent of the park is water, so boat tours are the main way to see it. The activity combines glass-bottom boat trips, which let passengers watch coral and reef fish through viewing windows, with guided snorkeling excursions to the reef and shallow patch reefs. Trips typically last three to four hours and depart from the Convoy Point dock. The tours are run by Biscayne National Park Institute, the park's authorized concessioner, which can be booked at biscaynenationalparkinstitute.org or by calling 786-335-3644. Glass-bottom tours need no fitness or swimming ability, while snorkel trips require comfort in open water; participants should be able to swim and handle a life vest, and the operator sets minimum ages and may require children to be accompanied. Snorkel gear is included on snorkel tours, while visitors bring a swimsuit, towel and reef-safe sunscreen. Prices start at roughly $66 USD per person, with snorkel trips costing more, so current rates and which tours are running should be confirmed when reserving. Safety is covered by a briefing from the captain and crew before departure, which explains how to use equipment, how to enter and leave the water, and how to follow the guide in the water. Crews carry first-aid and radio equipment, and the National Park Service and the Coast Guard handle evacuation if a serious incident occurs. Reef rules prohibit touching or standing on coral, and visitors are asked to use reef-safe sunscreen. The best snorkeling window is May to October, when seas are typically calmer and clearer, although tour schedules vary seasonally and trips can be cancelled for weather, low visibility or low demand. Winter cold fronts bring wind and chop that can limit snorkeling. Summer afternoons bring thunderstorms, so morning departures are preferable.