Printable planning kit
Family Trip Checklist
For families with children on a Key West water trip.
Family Fit is a planning framework, not a safety rating — this checklist turns it into something you can carry. Confirm age limits, equipment, accessibility and weather procedures directly with the provider.
The theme running through all of it: plan around your least water-confident, lowest-stamina family member rather than your most enthusiastic one.
Before booking
- Told the operator every child's age
- Confirmed minimum ages for the activity
- Reserved or confirmed kid-size gear and life jackets
- Confirmed the boat has shade
- Confirmed whether there's a restroom aboard
- Asked whether a crew member is in the water with guests
- Understood whether you can head in early if needed
- Chose a morning departure
Match the format to your kids
Judge by real pool behavior, not by hoped-for bravery.
- Standing-depth water needed → sandbar charter
- Calm shallows, wildlife over coral → backcountry trip
- Confident deep-water floaters → reef snorkel with an in-water guide
- Kids who need constant action → half-day reef fishing
- Everyone regardless of swim level → sunset catamaran (check the return time against bedtime)
Pack
- Rash guards and hats for every child
- Reef-safe sunscreen, applied before leaving
- Water shoes
- Double the snacks and double the water you planned
- Towels, dry clothes, and a dry bag
- Motion-sickness remedy if anyone is prone
- One quiet distraction for the ride
On the day
- Fed everyone before boarding
- Assigned an adult to watch the water at all times
- Life jackets on non-swimmers, even in shallow water
- Planned the afternoon as recovery time
- Agreed the early-return signal with your partner in advance
Confirm directly with your provider
These depend on the operator and the day. We don't publish them because we can't know them for your booking.
- Minimum ages and any weight or height rules
- Kid-size gear and life jacket availability
- Shade, restroom and freshwater rinse
- Their weather policy and how they'll contact you
Fill this in
- Children's ages given to operator
- Gear sizes confirmed
- Check-in time and location
- Early-return understanding
Key West Compass is an independent publisher, not an activity operator. We publish no prices, availability, forecasts or travel times, and we don't rank or recommend individual operators. Providers control pricing, scheduling, safety and service — verify material details with them directly.