Awesome Snorkeling with a Marine Biologist at MarineLab Key Largo

We are very experienced snorkelers and love spending time under the water, but every now and then it’s good to get a refresher on what we’re seeing and even learn some of the science of underwater life. On Key Largo you’ll find the MarineLab which leads all sorts of educational programs, but also does marine biologist-led snorkel tours, which are amazing. I often feel like I could lead snorkeling expeditions because I know a lot about marine life, but spending the morning with a marine biologist and really digging into the ins and outs of some of the smaller creatures of the Florida Keys was fascinating, even for me and all my experience.

We’ve got a lot of information to share about how YOU can visit the MarineLab and do a marine biologist snorkel experience. It’s a great value and is one of the best educational tours I’ve ever done. If you have any questions about visiting the MarineLab or need recommendations for snorkeling in Key Largo, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a great trip through the Florida Keys!

Why Snorkel with a Marine Biologist at MarineLab

If you’ve been to the Florida Keys before or done a snorkeling trip on a catamaran somewhere, you’ve probably had a very standard experience: you get on the boat and have a safety talk, you hear a little info about where you’ll be snorkeling, and then you get some information about how to be safe in the water. You leave the harbor and the music cranks up, and then eventually you hear that favorite phrase of snorkel boat captains, “Pools open!” and everyone jumps in. I love doing this and it is always one of my favorite activities in the Keys, but it’s not usually a learning experience. And that’s why I was so excited to do a marine biologist-led snorkel at MarineLab on Key Largo.

Now, there are two ways that MarineLab will do a marine biologist snorkel tour, either directly in the lagoon AT MarineLab or on the other side of the lab on Key Largo Sound. The lagoon is interesting because it’s a fully protected space without waves or wind, and is a great location for learning in a low-stress environment. This is also where MarineLab has the Jules Undersea Lodge that divers can stay in, which is actually fascinating to snorkel around and even look inside.

While snorkeling in this lagoon might not seem thrilling, it’s full of fish and fascinating things to learn about. As you go around with the marine biologist, you have the opportunity to ask questions, be shown all kinds of things you might normally overlook, and be guided around to unique underwater life. It’s pretty cool, and this is the same sort of activity that you’ll do if you’re doing the marine biologist snorkel on the Key Largo Sound side.

The other really interesting side of doing a MarinaLab snorkel is the hands-on learning with sea creatures. Since the Lab is directly on the water, the marine biologists on staff are able to collect small creatures to talk about the many species and what they do for their habitats. We were able to handle snails, sea stars, sponges and more. Another fun activity was seine net fishing for plankton to look at under a microscope. I’ve always known that plankton are just there, drifting with the current, but I had never actually looked at what it was up close. Under a microscope you can see all kinds of creatures, from baby jellyfish to isopods and so much more. I learned more doing MarineLab’s marine biologist snorkel tour than I have in the last 10 snorkeling catamarans I’ve done. So awesome for learning.

Book marine biologist-led snorkeling at MarineLab here!

Tips for a Great MarineLab Snorkeling Experience

Even though I am a very experienced snorkeler and love free diving and exploring in the open water, having the opportunity to actually learn about what I was seeing was really refreshing. One of the most unique things about visiting the MarineLab is getting to see and hear firsthand how the different creatures and underwater habitats interact with each other, and that brings us to our first big tip: ASK QUESTIONS! Seriously, you have a marine biologist’s captive attention and they are a specialist in THE REASON YOU’RE HERE. 100% take advantage of this amazing resource to both increase your own knowledge and understanding and to grow the curiosity in yourself or your group.

Another thing to make your MarineLab experience the best it can be is to be open to whatever experience your guide is bringing to you. You may be snorkeling in Largo Sound or you may be in the lagoon. Both are remarkable places filled with unique fish and things to learn. On first glance the sheltered lagoon might not seem all that interesting, but it is, so be open to whatever environment and wildlife comes your way.

If you’re visiting the MarinaLab on Key Largo with kids, it’s a great idea to let them lead the conversation and let their interests shape how the experience plays out. Marine biologists really do seem to be kids at heart and they all really do remember the joy and interest they had at an early age, and that shows in how everyone interacts with people. It’s really delightful and encouraging, and I say this as a grown up who still feels that way too. Mixing education and vacation activities is such a good way to grow interest because you’re associating learning and exploring with a fun time in a new place. Lean into the uniqueness of the scientist interaction with the tour.

Being Prepared for MarineLab

Of course you need to bring your curiosity, but you should also bring your underwater camera. Something unique about getting to do a marine biologist led snorkeling tour is that they are able to find interesting things underwater that you might not normally see or pay attention to. Sea squirts, seahorses and nudibranchs all are really cool to get to see and bring able to photograph them is special. You don’t need a fancy camera or a GoPro to get good snorkeling photos. Just a good underwater phone case is fine.

Note: a phone pouch is a joke for getting underwater photos. Get an actual underwater case for your phone, ideally rated to 5 meters.

When you arrive, be dressed in your swim gear and ready to hit the water. There are changing rooms, but it’s nice to be able to just begin your experience right away. I like to use a shorty wetsuit for some snorkeling because it allows me to stay in the water longer, and also to float more peacefully, thus not disturbing things underwater. MarineLab provides shorty wetsuits for the colder months as a standard, but you can bring your own anytime too. Bring a towel to dry off when you’re done. You may air dry while you’re looking at sea creatures on the dock and using microscopes, but it’s nice to have a towel at the ready.

You do NOT need to bring your own fins, mask or snorkel when you’re doing a marine biologist led tour, as everything is provided. I do like to travel with my own gear because my mask fits my face just right, but the crew at MarineLab will make sure that when you use their gear you’re well suited. Also, if you’re using sunblock be sure that it’s reef-safe sunscreen. They have some there if you don’t have the reef safe stuff.

Parking for MarineLab Key Largo

Getting to the MarineLab is easy, as it’s at the start of Key Largo and you’re actually able to turn onto Transylvania Ave from either direction of the Overseas Highway. There are some stops on Key Largo, like the Wild Bird Sanctuary, that require going past and then making a U-turn to enter, but MarineLab is easy. Parking, however, can be tricky. Parking at MarineLab is limited, so be sure to pay attention to the parking restriction signs before you head in to start your tour. If you cannot find parking, check in at the desk and ask for a recommendation. They usually have a few secret spots that visitors can use.