A Dry-Eyed Visit to a Florida Reef

Visitors to Florida’s Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary, part of the only living barrier reef in the continental U.S., can now view the coral and fish without getting wet.

A company called Aquaworld this month began ferrying passengers from Key Largo to a boat moored six miles offshore. From there, they board a 47-passenger, semi-submersible vessel dubbed the Sub See Explorer, which is lined with underwater windows, for a 30-minute narrated tour of the reef. Among the fish that inhabit the Keys are parrot fish, puffers, sharks and groupers.

There are several daily departures, weather permitting, that allow reef stays of up to five hours. In addition to riding the Sub See, visitors can buy lunch, sunbathe and snorkel off the main boat with free equipment, according to company general manager Bob Neal. The round-trip cost is $55.18 for adults, $28.80 for children 3 to 9, and free for children under 3. Information: (800) 595-2746..

Also from the Keys, seaplane trips again are available to the Dry Tortugas National Park, a favorite with bird-watchers and site of the 19th century Ft. Jefferson. The company that was running the service went out of business in May 1996 after a fatal crash.

Two new companies offer 40-minute, 70-mile flights to the park, with round-trip adult fare beginning at $159. The companies are Seaplanes of Key West, tel. (305) 294-0709, and Key West Air Service, tel. (888) FLY-FORT. The park continues to be reachable by ferry, a trip that takes about three hours. The basic round-trip adult fare is $84.93. Information: (800) 634-0939.