Customer Reviews

Sea Kayaking in the Florida Keys

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As a 14 year Keys resident, I can say that this book is a must if you love the water and are visiting the Keys. It would also be enjoyed by nature-lovers everywhere as the author describes in detail the unusual sub-tropical ecosystem that one will be witness to if kayaking in the Keys. Mr. Wachob's love of his subject is unequalled and it makes for an easy and thoroughly enjoyable "read". As a man who grew up in the Keys and is a kayaking guide, the author's knowledge of where to go to kayak and what to see in the varied Keys waters is invaluable to the Keys visitor or resident. If you didn't want to visit these islands before reading, you will definitely want to afterward. Recommended!!

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As a south Florida resident for many years and a 6-year kayaker, I have found Bruce Wachob's book very useful. It gives excellent directions to launch sites in the last 30 miles of the Florida Keys. His self-taught descriptions of this sub-tropical ecosystem are excellent. His maps are some of the best you will find in this type of book; however, it is wise to always have a high quality nautical map handy. Good nautical maps can be obtained at dive shops and elsewhere throughout the keys. In any case, whenever kayaking in south Florida, pay close and continuous attention to your location. A navigation lapse can cost you miles of paddling and severe anxiety! Wachob's book is a must read for first-time kayakers in the area.

My review is based on reading this book, and then traveling to the Keys where a friend and I followed some of the trip itineraries. I am not from the Keys, and this was my first visit there in 20 years, so good directions were of the utmost importance. The book does make easy work of finding launch sites, especially for those who aren't familiar with the area, but some paddling routes were confusing to follow. The mangroves look very much the same, and it can be difficult to distinguish one small island from the next. My paddling buddy and I took turns navigating and he had the same problem. The book gives the impression that you'll see sharks, fish, rays, etc., even noting that sightings are "common" in some areas. We saw little marine life in our week of paddling, but did see plenty of wading birds. Make no mistake - this is a beautiful paddling destination. And the book is worth reading, but a good nautical map is a must-have. We ended up using the book as a starting point, and planning our own itineries.