I’m a land lubber. Born and raised in CO. I took just enough swimming lessons as a kid to make sure I could save my own life if I ever fell into some water. Water activities are not my favorite especially when they involve putting my face in the water. I first snorkeled in high school in Belize, then on our honeymoon in Cancun. It was amazing but it just stressed me out. This Easter we got snorkeling gear from the Easter bunny and we were just a short drive from Key Largo so we set off for a day trip to snorkel at John Pennekamp state park.
This was the kids’ first time snorkeling so I was very careful not to let my apprehension show to the kids. We found a spot on the beach donned our gear and started wading out into the water. I stuck my face in and set out floating across the water. I actually did pretty good this time and actually found myself relaxing and enjoying the experience. The water was not very deep at all and the sea life was not spectacular. But, it was still amazingly full of creatures given how many people use this beach. Poor Dacen still wasn’t feeling very good so he did not stay at it for very long. Brielle stayed really close to me and freaked out a couple times (once she thought she saw a jelly fish, the other time she saw a crab). But she kept snorkeling and getting a little more brave each time we went on a little circuit of the area. Caden was a natural. He loved it immediately and other than a short break for lunch he snorkeled the whole day.
The snorkeling itself is much better in Belize and Cancun. However, this day of snorkeling was way better than my other experiences. Every few minutes I’d lift my eyes from the ocean floor to look at my kids floating in the water around me and pointing to different creatures…THAT was amazing!! It was the same feeling I got when the kids learned how to ride a bike and to ski…watching them pedal, ski or snorkel away on their own is just an epic feeling!
Beach fashion
Let's snorkel
Snorkeling in mangroves
Dacen not feeling well
Tree chair