New Years in Key West

After our eternal drive on Monday, it was a delight to be in the car as little as possible on Tuesday. Our big adventure for the day was SNUBA diving in the afternoon, so we spent the morning meandering around Key West. Unsurprisingly, lots of folks had the same idea but we did our best to avoid the crowds.

We snagged coffee & smoothies at the Southernmost Point and met some local roosters. The boys declared they had no interest in standing in line for the iconic picture with the dinghy, so we meandered on. We walked by Hemingway's house and onto the calm part of Duvall Street then headed back to the hotel to get ready for our afternoon outing.

When I was in Hawaii a billion years ago, we went SNUBA diving. It's basically shallow SCUBA diving, with the tanks on the surface and hoses connecting you. When I saw it was offered in Key West, I knew it was something we'd all want to do.

We set out on a boat called GOOD TIMES with 4 other tourists and a crew of 4. As we sailed out, I smiled at the array of quirky houseboats in the marina, no doubt part of the original Key West charm.

As we got closer to the dive site, the guides gave us basic instructions and tips. On the ride out I saw a sea turtle which was pretty wonderful and unexpected. The weather was absolutely perfect and the blue green of the ocean was unreal.

Once at the reef, we geared up and jumped in. It was mildly chaotic getting into place and managing the tubes and humans. It was all a learning curve, for sure. But despite the chaos,we immediately saw sea life - a stingray and gorgeous fish I don't know the names for. As we got our bearings, we began to explore a bit at the surface. In between Holden chastising me for not holding the raft exactly as the guide had instructed, Holden said a few times that he was a little nervous. He took a few breaths and didn't let those nerves deter him as he got the hang of it.

The excursion did not go without hiccups. Everett and his 0% body fat got super cold in the water and started coughing. Eventually the guide said it would be best for him to go back on the boat. The captain got him a warm towel and water while we continued on. Meanwhile Holden's weight belt wouldn't stay on, so he couldn't really descend too much, but he still saw a ton.

It was pretty amazing exploring underwater and seeing the coral up close. Every so often I would have a mild moment of panic and not be able to see Holden until I would look up we he gave me the okay sign as he hovered above us, happy as a clam.

As the dive went on, I began to feel a little nauseous. Being under the water that long was definitely a little disorienting, so I surfaced to catch my breath and feel the fresh air. I waved to E to make sure he was doing okay and he gave me a thumbs up. While I was above, Nate and Holden saw an eel swim below and Holden swears he saw a barracuda. The guides were great about pointing out wildlife and getting our attention with tapping sounds. Before getting out, I went down again and saw a puffer fish and more beautiful unnamed fish.

By the time we were all back on the boat, Nate and I were both battling a little nausea, so the ride back was a little more quiet but just as beautiful. Once back in the harbor I began to feel more like myself.

The biggest surprise as we got back to harbor was realizing that one of the houseboats I admired on the way out had suffered some kind of damage and was actively sinking as we passed by. The Coast Guard was on hand as everyone just stood by and watch the inevitable in progress.

Back on shore we waved goodbye to our guides and headed back to the hotel to shower off the saltwater and rest a bit.

Next we headed out to watch the last sunset of 2024. With so many folks on Key West, we decided to head up Highway 1 to catch the sunset in a place that wouldn't be crowded. We pulled into a boat ramp area and got out and talked about our favorite parts of 2024. Once the sun set, we headed to an Italian restaurant Nate found where I had the best lobster ravioli and the boys all enjoyed fantastic pizza.

We headed back to the hotel and bid farewell to 2024 long before midnight, happy & tired and ready for what the New Year has to bring.

Tomorrow, snorkeling and kayaking through a mangrove forest.Okumaya devam et