Do you dream of seeing a shark in real life? Key West is one of the best places to go.
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The good news: Key West is home to reef, sandbar, lemon, mako, and nurse sharks, which aren’t usually aggressive. The bad news: tiger, bull, hammerhead, and even intrepid Great Whites like Penny (who is being tracked for scientific purposes) also grace the area. And they can get a little chompy throughout the Sunshine State.
Still, reports of shark bites and attacks in Florida haven’t prevented Key West guides from offering eco-tourism shark tours, spear-fishing adventures, shark-feeding tours, and more. And while shark bites have occurred in Key West, rates are low compared to other areas of Florida, like New Smyrna and Daytona Beach.
In short, Key West is one of the safest places for you to see a shark in the wild, whether you want to see them from a boat or snorkel amongst them. Here’s how to do it.
How to see sharks in Key West
Key West Shark and Wildlife Catamaran Tour
- Meeting point: Front Street, Key West
- Starting at: $99 per person
If you aren’t eager to get in the water with sharks and want a more mellow adventure, this is the tour for you. It’s family-friendly and comes with snacks and soft drinks. After boarding an eco-friendly catamaran, you venture out a few miles from shore to shallow waters.
Once out in the shallows, you’ll have the chance to see dolphins, stingrays, barracudas, and even native birds. From there, expert guides use bait to lure in the area’s resident sharks, including nurse and lemon sharks.
Key West Extreme Adventures Shark Feeding Tour (or book via TripAdvisor)
- Meeting point: Pier B (near Opal Key Resort)
- Starting at: $89 per person
Join the ‘Key West Shark Whisperers’ aboard the Tiger Cat catamaran for a two-hour shark-viewing experience. Along the way, you’ll also get the chance to spot other marine life, including dolphins, stingrays, turtles, and more. The main selling point here is that you have a 99% chance of seeing sharks, according to the tour group—plus, a 90% chance of seeing dolphins.
Keys Shark Diving
- Meeting point: Marathon, Florida
- Starting at: $95 per person
This excursion takes place on a Northern Bay Downeast boat rather than a catamaran, giving you a more intimate chance to view lemon, bull, blacktip, and hammerhead sharks. You can get an up-close look at sharks vying for the bait set out, and even have a chance to feel their power on the bait line.
2-Hour Private Eco-Tour (or book on GetYourGuide)
- Meeting point: Robbie’s Marina, Islamorada
- Starting at: $950 for private groups up to six
Looking for a chance to see sharks, along with other marine life? This two-hour tour gives you the opportunity to see sharks, dolphins, and tropical fish—plus other unique sightings around the mangroves of Islamorada, like manatees and even saltwater crocodiles.
Keys Shark Cage Adventures (or book on TripAdvisor)
- Meeting point: Keys Fisheries Marina (Marathon, Florida)
- Starting at: $225 per person
Ready to take on one of the world’s scariest marine adventures? Book a trip with Keys Shark Cage Adventure. You can get off the boat and into a large, protected cage where you can see sharks in their native habitat. Or, if you’d rather stay on the vessel, you can book one of their other tours, such as the shark and sting ray viewing sunset tour.
Florida Keys Diving Center – Scuba or Snorkel with Sharks
- Meeting point: Islamorada (follow up for more details)
- Starting at: $60 for snorkel tours
For the truly fearless, you can book a scuba or snorkel tour with Florida Keys Diving Center. You’ll head out to shallow waters where you’ll learn about sharks and their marine habitats. You might even see one, if you’re lucky.
As far as I can tell, this is the only swim-with-the-sharks experience offered in Key West. However, if you’re staying at a hotel or rental in the area, you can always ask the concierge or your host for more information on how to book a similar experience.
