Snorkeling packing guide

What to Bring on a Key West Snorkeling Trip

Updated July 28, 2026

Snorkel boats provide more than first-timers expect and less than overpackers assume. The list below reflects what actually gets used on a half-day reef trip — and the handful of items people consistently wish they'd brought.

One habit to adopt before everything else: put your name on a dry bag and make it the single container for your group's stuff. Boats are small, decks get wet, and consolidated gear is findable gear.

The short answer

The boat typically supplies mask, snorkel, fins and flotation. You bring: reef-safe sunscreen applied before boarding, a rash guard, towel, water, dry bag, motion-sickness remedy taken early, and a warm layer in winter. Leave jewelry, non-waterproof electronics and anything you'd cry about losing at the hotel.

Bring

Reef-safe mineral sunscreen — applied 15+ minutes before boarding; decks are a bad place to start
Rash guard or swim shirt — better than sunscreen for long face-down floating
Towel and a change of dry clothes for the ride home
Water bottle (many boats provide drinks; confirm rather than assume)
Dry bag for phones, wallets, keys
Motion-sickness remedy, taken before departure — they don't work retroactively
Hat and sunglasses with a strap for the boat ride
Swimwear worn under clothes — boat heads are tight changing rooms
Light windbreaker or layer in winter months
Any personal prescription masks or well-fitting kids' masks you own

Leave behind

Rings and jewelry — cold water shrinks fingers and the reef keeps what it catches
Non-waterproof electronics outside a leashed case
Glass anything — most boats prohibit it
Full-size beach bags; space is shared and shelves are small
Spray sunscreens — they mist the deck and your neighbors, and many crews ban them

The sunscreen rule everyone learns the hard way

Snorkelers float face-down with the backs of their legs, neck and ears aimed at the sun, often for the better part of an hour, while the water hides every warning sign. It's the classic Key West first-day burn. A long-sleeve rash guard removes most of the problem; mineral sunscreen on the remainder — backs of knees, ears, part line — handles the rest. Reef-safe matters here: this is a protected reef system, and mineral formulas are the standard ask.

Worth asking the operator before you pack

Are drinks or snacks provided, and can we bring our own cooler?
Is there freshwater rinse aboard?
Do you carry kids' gear sizes, wetsuits or snorkel vests?
Is there dry storage, or should everything fit one dry bag?

Frequently asked questions

Should we buy our own snorkel gear for the trip?

For one or two boat trips, rental gear is fine — crews sanitize between trips and will fit you. Buy your own mask if fit is hard for your face, you snorkel most vacations, or you want a kid's mask you've already pool-tested. Fins are the last thing worth packing space.

Can I bring a camera?

A leashed waterproof case or action camera, yes. An unleashed phone over forty feet of water is a donation. Shoot a little, float a lot — the memory outlasts the clip.