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The Best Kayak Adventure in Key West

12/10/2015

11 Comments

 
by Deborah Regen

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means I will receive a small commission each time you click on a link or make a purchase. There is no additional cost to you. 


Q & A with Chad Bryant, Founder, Blue Planet Kayak Tours – Key West, Florida, USA
In operation 15 years. “Fun and nature-friendly guided kayak tours in the Florida Keys.”
URL:  http://blue-planet-kayak.com
    Reservations:  www.zerve.com


CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF BLUE PLANET KAYAK TOURS?

Sure.  We’re a local business that both rents kayaks and offers kayak tours to tourists who are visiting Key West.  We have three regularly scheduled tours daily – two during the day and one for sunset/early evening.  These run for 2-1/2 hours each.  We also book private group tours, and those can run longer.  It’s a safe and fun activity for all ages, gets you out on the water, a little fresh air and exercise, and you get to see our beautiful ocean and islands up close.

There’s a lot of information on our website plus some photos and videos.  We use ZERVE online for reservations and ticket purchase.

Key West kayaking, kayaking in the Florida Keysphoto credit: Blue Planet Kayak Tours
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?

I’ve lived in Key West for 35 years.  I have a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and some additional graduate-level studies in this field.

WHO ARE THE GUIDES?

There are four of us, myself and three others.  Since we have 21 tours scheduled per week, no one person can do all of them!

I ASSUME THIS IS YOUR BUSY TIME OF YEAR?

Yes, definitely.  We’re a year-round business, but the winter months and early spring are very busy times.  Tours can fill quickly, so you should go online first and see what’s available.

DO YOU HAVE TO BE AN EXPERIENCED KAYAKER?

No, not at all.  We give everyone some basic instruction and make sure everyone is comfortable in the kayaks before we head out.

WHAT SHOULD ONE WEAR?

I recommend wearing a bathing suit underneath and then a casual shirt and shorts over that.  A hat is a good idea during the day, even in the winter the sun here is stronger than most people are used to.  Sun rays reflect off the water surface too, you know.  You don’t want to get sunburned and ruin your vacation!  Sunglasses and sun-block creams really help.

Searching for Other Florida Outdoor Adventures? Click HERE
Child in kayak, family tours in the Florida Keys, kayaking Florida
Squid in Florida Keys, marine life Florida Keys
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR DAY TOURS AND YOUR EVENING TOUR?

Lots of differences, but they’re all good!  During the day you’ll see birds like pelicans or ospreys searching for their next meal.  Watching a pelican in the sky hover and then dive into the ocean with a big splash is always entertaining.  Sometimes with good luck we’ll see a few dolphins or manatees.  But that’s never guaranteed.  In the water we’ll see a variety of fish, sea urchins, star fish, maybe some juvenile sharks or rays.

By sunset the birds are roosting so they’re not active.  But in the water there are marine creatures that do feed at night, like lobsters, octopus, and squids.  We give everyone a headband with a light so you can see.  During the summer people tend to book the evening tours more because it’s so hot during the day.

What you’ll see on any one tour depends on the time of year. Water levels change. It also depends on the time of day and whether the tide is going in or out.  There are so many variables.  That’s just how nature works.

Kayaking Florida Keys, mangrove forestphoto credit: Blue Planet Kayak Tours
THE MARINE LIFE SOUNDS AMAZING.  I’M SURE EVEN SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO GREW UP IN FLORIDA COULD LEARN A THING OR TWO.

Without a doubt!  There’s always something interesting going on, something new to learn.  Our main goal is to have fun….but we’ll also talk about what you’re seeing as we go along.  For instance, most people have no idea what mangrove trees are or their relationship to the food chain.  Or that a lot of the oxygen we breathe in the air comes from the ocean.  The sea grass plays an important role in all that.  So we’ll talk a little bit about the dynamics of the local habitats, including the coral reefs.  We’ll answer your questions about the sea creatures.  Hopefully you’ll leave with a little better understanding than before you came.

DO YOU GET QUESTIONS ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVATION?

Sometimes, especially if we notice something floating in the water or caught in the mangroves like soda cans or plastic bottles.  That’s why we come prepared with trash bags just in case.  It’s a sad reality that does not speak too well about us humans, does it?  Some of our customers are surprised when they see this, it really opens their eyes.  We can all be better caretakers of our world.

Snorkeling Florida Keys, snorkeling in Key Westphoto credit: Lonely Planet
SO HOW CAN A VISITOR HELP?

Well the single best thing you can do while you’re on vacation here is just be aware.  Clean up after yourself and make sure your friends don’t litter.  Set an example.  If you’re boating, snorkeling, or diving, stay out of the marine restricted areas.  Be really careful around the corals reefs, don’t step on them!  Even a careless bump by your hand or flipper can cause damage that will take years to repair.

I’ll also mention a local organization called Reef Relief because they do great work.  They’re involved in reef protection and research, and they also run a summer camp                                                                     for kids.
  www.reefrelief.org 

WELL THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION, CHAD – I'LL BE SURE TO STOP BY NEXT TIME I'M DOWN THERE IN THE KEYS!

We’ll be happy to see you then.


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11 Comments
Krista link
12/14/2015 04:59:51 pm

These tours sound so fun. :-) I'm especially intrigued by the evening tours. How fun it would be to paddle around under the stars. :-)

Reply
Deborah
12/14/2015 05:41:05 pm

Yes Krista, plus these eve tours leave the marina briefly before sunset, so as your group is paddling out on the water you can see the sun setting into the Gulf of Mexico and the sky colored in pinks, oranges, and blues. How cool is that?

Reply
Krista link
12/14/2015 06:32:42 pm

So very cool!! :-)

Reply
edwina labonte
12/15/2015 07:44:33 am

Looks great

Reply
Deborah Regen link
8/20/2017 04:10:01 pm

Thanks Edwina.

Reply
Ahmed Zobaer link
12/16/2015 02:49:14 am

Wow what a cool adventure! The sunset experienced from a kayak on the ocean is amazing in itself, but the eco tour really gets started when night falls and the head lamps come out.

Reply
Deborah Regen link
8/20/2017 04:14:04 pm

Truly getting close to nature.

Reply
Kevin Wagar link
4/6/2017 08:35:51 pm

Loving the family-friendly aspect of this tour. It is amazing that it this company is taking an eco-centric approach to tourism.

Reply
Deborah Regen link
4/8/2017 01:16:15 pm

I agree Ken. Key West is super fun but also very "touristy." It's refreshing that this local company emphasizes the nature side of the keys. Kids just love it.

Reply
Kristina Fisher link
7/23/2017 04:46:40 pm

Sounds great. We're hoping to visit the Keys later this year and will arrange a trip. Thank you so much for helping pick up trash. I pick up trash at every refuge & park I visit. I always carry trash bags in my car for this reason. I am surprised and disappointed by the amount and types of trash I find. Thank you for helping.

Reply
Deborah Regen link
7/23/2017 05:08:14 pm

Thank you too for caring for our beautiful Florida environment Kristina!

Reply

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