Dry Tortugas National Park is a 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands. It lays almost 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West and is accessible only by the ferry, private charter boat or seaplane. The park is known the world over as the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, picturesque blue waters, superlative coral reefs and marine life, the vast assortment of bird life that frequents the area and its legends of pirates and sunken gold. Fort Jefferson, one of the largest coastal forts every built, is a central feature and is the least visited US National Park. Its remoteness makes it hard to get to, but it is very worth your while!
Don’t forget, most charters (by land or air) supply you with mask, snorkel, and fins! At the Dry Tortugas you will experience some of the best snorkeling. You’ll see a unique ecosystem of aquatic plants and the marine creatures that depend on them. Lots of brightly colored tropical fish, sea turtles, rays, starfish, and conch cohabitate in perfect harmony.
Visit the Dry Tortugas Website!While on Garden Key, you can take time to see Fort Jefferson and learn a bit about the islands’ history. Sailors have been visiting the Dry Tortugas for centuries, yet they are largely unaffected by man’s passage.
