Honest Eco Key West – Snorkel Tours on the Squid, an Eco-friendly Catamaran

With so many boats and tours in Key West, it’s nice to find one that’s putting its money where its mouth is and being as green as possible in every way. Honest Eco Tours has one of the coolest boats in Key West, a catamaran called the Squid, which is fully electric and one of the most environmentally sustainable boats in the Keys. Besides being a green choice, the snorkeling and dolphin tours on the Squid are great! There’s lots of shady areas and sunny spots, it’s very stable, and is really wonderful for families.

If you’re sorting out the different snorkeling and wildlife tour options in Key West, Honest Eco’s Squid needs to be at the top of your list. The company and the boat itself really add to the experience. If you have any questions about going on a tour with Honest Eco, about boating in the Keys or need a different sort of recommendation, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan an amazing time in the Florida Keys.

Why Choose the Squid with Honest Eco?

What sets apart the experience of going out on the Squid with Honest Eco is how specifically family friendly it is. Yes, it’s great for adults traveling without kids too, but the set up of the boat itself makes for one of the best experiences on the water with children. The Squid has very easy access both in and out of the water, which when paired with the ample shade and sun options on board, it’s wonderful.

Another great aspect of going out on the Squid with Honest Eco Tours is how shallow the draft of the boat is, so it’s able to go to some of the coolest spots in the Key West National Wildlife Refuge. We’ve gone out with Honest Eco a few times and doing the sponge gardens on the Squid was one of my favorite experiences. It was a really unique snorkel and the wildlife was perfect for getting in the water with younger kids.

One more thing that I really like about going out on the Squid with Honest Eco from Key West is how stable the boat is. While most catamarans are quite stable in comparison to single hull boats, the Squid stays quite level for being as tall as it is. I know, not a huge deal, but if you get seasick easily, this is a good option for you.

Book snorkeling on the Squid here!

Tips for a Great Snorkeling Tour with Honest Eco KW

There are multiple options each day for getting out on the water with Honest Eco Tour via the Squid. I always prefer morning trips because it’s not too crazy hot yet and I like our afternoons to be our relaxed time of day. When it comes to wildlife, it tends to be more active when the water is cooler, and it peak summer in the Keys, the super shallow areas can become extremely warm.

One summer we were out and the water temperature was 104 degrees F. That wasn’t great because it felt like swimming in a hot tub, but when we went out again the next morning the temps had dropped about 5 degrees which made all the difference in our enjoyment. Conversely, the first time we ever went out with Honest Eco it was a very cold, clear December day and they provided us with wetsuits for snorkeling because the water was so chilly.

Gear for Snorkeling Tours with Honest Eco on the Squid

Like with any boat tour from Key West, you need to be ready with the reef-safe sunblock, your swimwear, and your underwater camera. The reef-safe sunblock is always important when you’re doing water activities in Key West or anywhere, as the chemicals that go into traditional sunblock products have been proven to have a very damaging impact on marine ecosystems. For an underwater camera, I actually just have a very good underwater case for my cell phone (Google Pixel) and am able to dive up to 30 feet with it (rated for deeper). We also bring a GoPro with us because it’s easy to let the kids use when we’re snorkeling.

Also, don’t forget your water and maybe some snacks. Unless you’re doing a tour that specifically calls out that there is food and drink provided, you’ll want to have a little something at the ready. Honest Eco tends to provide fruit and water, and on some tours they’ve got a bigger spread, but it never hurts to be prepared.

Parking for Honest Eco Tours Key West

Honest Eco does their tours (the Squid or Blue Q) from the Historic Seaport (Key West Bight Marina). This is on the north side of Key West where you’ll also depart for tours with Sebago, Key West Eco or the Yankee Freedom out to Dry Tortugas National Park. There is a paid parking lot just off the Historic Seaport where you can pay for all day parking, or if you’re staying in Key West proper (anywhere on the island) you can easily walk to the departure point for the Squid / Blue Q. And there are plenty of taxi services in town too.