calling all south florida resident experts!
 

Was wondering if anyone had experience around the dry tortugas area and if so, best side to anchor for a while and snorkle or dive? Going to stop by there in a couple of weeks...
Any help on the subject would be greatly appreciated!

Head over to www.donzi.net

A group of Donzi owners made the run from Key West to the Dry Tortugas last Nov when they were in town for the worlds.

There are a few people who can give you the info yer looking for. Hope this helps.

Yep but you're really in the middle of nowhere.
There's anchorage to the SW side of the island. If you have a small boat you can dock it or beach it and take of tour of Ft. Jeff.
Snorkeling is very good around the lighthouse island to the west.
The whole area is surrounded by reefs.
Great fishing too.
Keep in mind there are no facilities for overnite, just camping and no fuel but it's a pretty cool trip

as neefer said, we were there in Nov....

on the ESE side of the docks is an anchor area for overnighting, it's directly across the small channel from the docks itslf, it is pretty protected anchorage.... as for specific snorkeling area's, I would ask the Ranger on duty for suggestions, the gift store is only open for like an hour a day, the rest of the time they wander around the dirt spit making sure the stickers and palm fronds are all lined up....

JH

thanks for the insight, I'm flying to sarasota and picking up the 60' viking sport cruiser and going to take my time... all the way back to ny. Going to spend the first night in Key West, so I thought I would make a pit stop, heard about the great snorkling and stuff.

Any good transient kew west suggestions?

Are you going to the Tortugas before KW? Otherwise it's a 140mile out of your way pit stop.

yeah, definitely before...

Good plan.
I have a group going for the Mem. Day weekend.

if your bringing a 60' dinghy, you need to pay attention to the channels into the anchorage area, you probably draw 5' or more, so due diligence is a key word, there is a decent but not terrible current switch on tide changes to consider also...

good point, draft is only about 4' though. do I have to anchor and just swim up to see ft. jeff? or is there any kind of docking at all?