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09-28-2014, 08:33 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Highland Park, New Jersey
Trailer: Escape 19 February 2014
Posts: 975
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Snorkeling in the lower 48
I'm thinking about the possibilities of combining a camping trip with snorkeling. I'm not looking for anything fancy -- just somewhere where it would be possible to snorkel off the beach and/or take a boat trip out further. I want the advantages of Hawaii with my camper. Is that far fetched?
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09-28-2014, 09:30 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Felton, California
Trailer: 2018 21' ; 2014 19' (Sold)
Posts: 1,301
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Well, the scuba diving and snorkeling in Monterey Bay (CA) is fantastic; however, the water is a 'little' cold. How about off the Florida Keys?
The Best Places for Shore Snorkeling in the Florida Keys | USA Today
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09-28-2014, 09:54 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Jeromesville, Ohio
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21' pulled with 2014 Silverado Crewcab
Posts: 853
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Cape Hatteras has opportunities. As I recall Pamlico Sound was very shallow (couple of feet). Florida keys has very good snorkeling but my experience was off a boat. May be others better.
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Carl,
"Isn't it amazing how much stuff we get done the day before vacation?"
Zig Ziglar
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09-28-2014, 10:51 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
Posts: 743
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Don't discount freshwater snorkeling. I love snorkeling in some of the local provincial parks where the water is clear and the aquatic vegetation supports a good population of fish and reptiles. You need to find a lake that isn't messed up by boat traffic or swimmers.
No, you won't get as much variety or colour as you get on a reef, but it's still enjoyable.
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Doug
2013 Escape 19 ("The Dog House") , 2018 Ford F150
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09-28-2014, 12:22 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Highland Park, New Jersey
Trailer: Escape 19 February 2014
Posts: 975
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Well, that's a start. I'm not ruling out boat trips, but the idea of being able to just walk into the water and snorkel is very appealing. However, I also want the water to be warm -- I've always gone swimming, no matter how cold the water (try Hull Massachusetts in April) but those days seem to be waning -- now I want warmth.
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09-28-2014, 12:23 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Highland Park, New Jersey
Trailer: Escape 19 February 2014
Posts: 975
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Oh, and the other thing is I'm a little concerned about the mosquitoes in Florida. Otherwise Key West would be the obvious choice.
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09-28-2014, 12:38 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 895
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I was able to go snorkeling off of Key Largo in March of 2012. We stayed in a tent @ John Pennekamp SP, but would have definitely preferred being in our Escape! (I believe that was the last time my wife EVER camped in a tent!) The sites were close together, but, you can actually snorkel right at the campground. I took a boat out so I could snorkel the reef. The mosquitoes were not bad in March.
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Kevin
Thanks to the interstate highway system, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything - Charles Kuralt
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09-28-2014, 01:06 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Highland Park, New Jersey
Trailer: Escape 19 February 2014
Posts: 975
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Kevin, is the water warm in March?
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09-28-2014, 01:48 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 895
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I wore a wetsuit, but it was more to keep warm during the boat ride than to stay warm in the water. The wetsuit also gives you the ability to stay in the water for a longer period of time. I would expect that you would be able to rent a wetsuit at the dive shop @ John Pennekamp SP also.
__________________
Kevin
Thanks to the interstate highway system, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything - Charles Kuralt
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09-28-2014, 01:51 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Marana, Arizona
Trailer: 2018 Airstream Flying Cloud (Escape 19 & 5.0 previously)
Posts: 1,078
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Ruth, you need to figure out how to get your trailer to the Cayman Islands. . Some of the best snorkeling on the planet!
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09-28-2014, 03:54 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Highland Park, New Jersey
Trailer: Escape 19 February 2014
Posts: 975
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Yeah, Cayman Islands sounds good, but at least this first year with the trailer I think our vacations have to be camping ones -- plus Terry is NOT fun on an airplane.
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09-28-2014, 05:02 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruthe
Oh, and the other thing is I'm a little concerned about the mosquitoes in Florida. Otherwise Key West would be the obvious choice.
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I was in Palatka Florida all last week. We were surrounded by water and marshes. My hotel was right on the edge of a swamp. There were no problems with mosquitoes at all. We visited Key West and Marathon Key a couple of years ago and no issue with bugs there either. Now the mountain areas of Montana, Idaho, Alberta and especially Alaska in the spring through fall? MOSQUITO Heaven!
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"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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09-29-2014, 08:54 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Highland Park, New Jersey
Trailer: Escape 19 February 2014
Posts: 975
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Well that is good to know. I think Key West is probably the place.
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09-30-2014, 10:28 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Allendale, New Jersey
Trailer: 19' towed by a 4Runner
Posts: 251
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Bahia Honda State Park in Big Pine Key, FL should fit the bill. Take a look Tripadvisor pics. I camped there 15 years ago. Mosquitos didn't seem to be a problem, but raccoons were a different story. On the way was Everglades NP which was in a league of it's own when it came to Mosquitos on that trip.
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