Fishing

As is the case throughout most of the Keys, a primary activity among many visitors to Key Largo is fishing. Accordingly, there are more than a few charters around willing to take you out and show you their “secret” spots.

Dauntless Charters (mile marker 97.5, 305/304-4551, www.dauntlesscharters.com) is one of the more versatile in Largo, with boats equipped for deep-sea, inshore, and reef/wreck fishing. Albury Fishing Charters (305/453-0675, www.alburyfishingcharters.com) runs half-day, full-day, and night-fishing excursions on the 31-foot Yellowfin that Captain Zane Albury navigates out for tuna, marlin, mahimahi, grouper, snapper, and more.

Scuba Diving

Similarly, there are quite a few outfits offering packages and charters for divers. Sea Dwellers (99850 Overseas Hwy., 305/451-3640) is not only one of the most popular, it’s also one of the best, with a wide range of packages ranging from kid-friendly scuba courses and snorkeling expeditions to two-tank, two-location trips out into John Pennekamp Park. Their dive center has an abundance of gear for rent and for sale, as well as a repair shop and, of course, air fills; stay-dive package deals with the Holiday Inn are also available.

Sea Dwellers has been a Key Largo institution for more than three decades, so their presence is hard to miss, but Rainbow Reef Dive Center (9701 Overseas Hwy., 305/451-5533) is another well-established diving operation; though their landside operation is somewhat small, their fleet of boats is top-notch and the dive masters and staff are incredibly friendly (they even offer complimentary chocolate-chip cookies).