John Pennekamp State Park

As the nation’s first underwater park, John Pennekamp allows visitors to experience a Jacques Cousteau-like world within a short drive from downtown Miami. The park is largely underwater, located within the confines of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Shark, turtle, stingray – all were spotted recently on a hot, lazy Saturday afternoon in the waters off Pennekamp. It is possibly the most stunning snorkeling this side of the Bahamas, and a lot less expensive. Located an hour south on U.S. 1 from Miami (toward Key West), the park is located at Mile Marker 102.5. But the park’s treasures are accessible to people who don’t swim, snorkel or scuba.

The park’s most popular activity is the glass bottom boat tour, which allows visitors to see the marine life from a distance in the comfort of a boat. The Spirit of Pennkamp, a 65-foot, high-speed catamaran glides through the water, over sunken vessels and shallow reefs. Glass panels in the floor allow visitors to see a fraction of the Florida Reef Tract, a 221-mile coral path that parallels the Florida Keys from Key Biscayne in Miami to the Dry Tortugas, west of Key West. Of course, most visitors want to see the fish, and the reef never disappoints; colorful parrotfish, menacing-looking barracudas and enormous grouper are almost always spotted during the tour. The boat departs three times daily, at 9:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. Tickets for the boat tour are $22 for adults and $15 for children, reservations are recommended. For more information, call 305-431-6300.

The more adventurous can snorkel or scuba; experience is not needed for snorkeling. The same company that runs the boat tours also organizes snorkel and scuba experiences within the park; reservations are essential as the boats fill up fast. For the snorkeling tour, adult rates are $28.95, children under 18 are $23.95. Masks and fins can be rented for $2 each, and the $2 snorkel is yours to keep. Departures at 9:00, noon, and 3:00. A brief tutorial on how to snorkel is held during each boat trip. And don’t worry about the sharks; most are nurse sharks, which tend to stay on the bottom of the ocean floor and only eath things much smaller than humans.

Dive tours are a little more expensive -- $45 per person, not including equipment – and dive courses are available.

For those who prefer to stay on land, there are two beaches (manmade) and a few nature trails within the park. Camping is available, but book early, as the sites are popular. There is also a small snack bar in the park.

Entrance fees are $6 per double-occupant vehicle; $.50 for each additional person. The park is open from 9 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year. For more information, contact the park: P.O. Box 487, Key Largo, Florida 33037. Phone: 305-451-1202