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A wonderland awaits beneath the surface at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park renowned as the country’s first undersea park.
Located in Key Largo at mile marker 102.5 on Overseas Highway and named for a Miami Herald editor, the park includes 70 nautical square miles – ideal for snorkeling because of its more shallow seagrass and mangrove areas.
Looking at the roots of these plants, snorkelers can see multicolored sponges, mangrove oysters, tunicates and many algae species. Crabs, shrimp and juvenile lobsters also congregate here. Occasional encounters with larger animals such as manatees, sea turtles, dolphins or tarpon are possible.
– Anne Geggis, Florida Politics