Yes, you can snorkel in Key West in January, but it is the coolest month of the year in the water. NOAA’s Key West harbour gauge averages 72.5 °F (22.5 °C) in January, and Fury Water Adventures says winter reef water can dip into the mid-60s °F after a cold front. Average highs on land are about 75 to 76 °F and lows about 63 to 66 °F. Boats run all month, and the answer to the cold is a wetsuit: Fury says January and February visitors “may prefer to use the wetsuits we provide.” Book your snorkel day early in your stay, because January cold fronts bring windy days when trips move.
Fury reef snorkel, morning to sunset
If you want the wetsuit offer and the lowest price, Fury runs the trip. Fury’s Reef Snorkeling with Drinks and Sunset Option has morning, afternoon and sunset departures from 241 Front Street, behind Opal Key Resort & Marina, runs three hours and costs from $49 per person for the morning departure (checked November 2026), with 4.5 from 615 reviews on GetYourGuide. Our review compares the three departures.
January water: the coolest month
The long-term monthly means for the Key West gauge put January at the bottom of the year, with February close behind and March the first month back above 75 °F.
| December | January | February | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water, monthly mean | 75.3 °F (24.1 °C) | 72.5 °F (22.5 °C) | 73.8 °F (23.2 °C) |
| Average high | 76.9 to 77.7 °F | 74.7 to 75.8 °F | 76.5 to 77.4 °F |
| Average low | 66.0 to 68.3 °F | 62.9 to 65.5 °F | 64.3 to 67.1 °F |
| Average rain | 2.22 in | 2.01 in | 1.96 in |
Air figures are National Weather Service 1991-2020 normals, shown as the range across the NWS’s two Key West tables; rain is from the NWS Key West table.
A cool January can sit well below the average. In January 2025 the same gauge averaged about 70 °F, and its lowest reading that month was about 65 °F, which matches Fury’s mid-60s for reef water after a front. The gauge is in the harbour, so reef water can differ by a few degrees. Plan for low 70s on a normal day and mid-60s on a bad one. Our water temperature by month page shows how quickly it warms after February.
Air, wind and cold fronts in January
January days are mild, and January nights are the coolest of the year, with average lows in the low to mid 60s °F. It is the dry season, with about 2 inches of rain in the month.
Wind is the bigger factor for a snorkel trip. The National Park Service, describing the weather around the Dry Tortugas west of Key West, says cold fronts push cool, dry air south and bring cooler, windier conditions, and that winter seas are usually rougher than summer seas. At the sheltered Key West harbour gauge, average wind runs about 8 to 10 knots from January to April, against about 5 to 6.5 knots in high summer; the open water past the island is windier.
On a windy day the ride to the reef, about seven miles offshore on the Atlantic side, can be rough, and the crew may shorten the stop or stay in port. Fury says its tours “will not depart in unsafe weather conditions” and that it will try to reschedule you during your stay. No one publishes how often January trips are cancelled. If you get seasick, take medication before you board, as the CDC advises, and sit away from the bow, which moves the most.
Other experiences
Other Key West snorkeling trips to compare
More ways to explore the area. Each listing shows its own cancellation policy.
Wetsuits and what to pack for January
Much of the chill on a January trip can come from wind on wet skin after the swim. Plan for the water and the ride back.
- A wetsuit. Fury provides them in January and February. Danger Charters lists “comfortable wetsuits for the winter months” on its half-day kayak, snorkel and sail trip, and Honest Eco lists “wetsuits during winter” on its kayak, guided snorkel and morning sail. If your listing does not mention one, ask before you book, or pack a 2 to 3 mm neoprene top from home.
- A dry layer. A fleece or windproof jacket in a dry bag, plus a towel. With lows in the 60s °F, an afternoon or sunset trip can come back cool.
- Sun protection. A hat, and reef-safe sunscreen: Fury requires sunscreen without oxybenzone or octinoxate and hands out mineral sunscreen free on its snorkel trips. NOAA recommends a rash guard and long sleeves to cut the sunscreen in the water.
- The basics. Fury asks for photo ID and a major credit card on most trips, and suggests a towel, a refillable water bottle and a snack.
For the full winter picture, including November and December, see our winter snorkeling guide.
Which trips make sense in January
In January, choose the trip that controls your time in cool water.
- A reef trip with wetsuits on board. Fury’s trip above is the budget choice, and its three departure times let you fit the trip around your day. See our cheap snorkeling guide.
- A small boat with winter wetsuits. Danger Charters’ half-day trip sails a schooner limited to 20 guests and snorkels the shallow backcountry of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge, in what its listing calls calm, protected waters. Our catamaran versus small boat guide explains the difference.
- Dolphins first, one swim. Fury’s Dolphin Watch and Snorkel spends part of the trip watching from the deck. See our dolphin snorkel guide.
- If you are staying dry. Fury’s glass-bottom boat shows the reef through the hull. See our glass-bottom boat guide.
The seasonal two-reef sunset trip is a late-January question. Sunset Watersports’ 2 Reef Snorkel With Sunset Cruise on GetYourGuide (from $70 per person, 4.4 from 84 reviews) first showed a bookable date of 31 January 2027 when we checked; its Viator copy starts on 7 March 2027.
Keep a spare day
The simplest protection against a January front is a second chance. Book the snorkel trip for your first or second full day, leave a free day after it, and pick a listing with free cancellation. The reef trips on our best Key West snorkeling tours page show their policy on the listing.
New Year’s Day is one date to check. We found no operator statement about 1 January sailings, so open the booking calendar for that date before you plan around it. For the holiday dates at the end of December, see our December guide. If your dates can move, our February guide and our guide to the best time to snorkel in Key West show how much warmer the water gets from February on.
Frequently asked questions
Can you snorkel in Key West in January?
Yes. Snorkel boats run through January. It is the coolest month in the water, averaging 72.5 °F at the harbour gauge, and some days are too windy to go out, so take a wetsuit and book early in your stay.
What is the ocean temperature in Key West in January?
NOAA’s long-term January mean for the Key West gauge is 72.5 °F (22.5 °C). In January 2025 it averaged about 70 °F, with a low of about 65 °F, and Fury says reef water can dip into the mid-60s after a front.
Do you need a wetsuit to snorkel in Key West in January?
Many people want one. Fury says January and February visitors may prefer the wetsuits it provides, and Danger Charters and Honest Eco list winter wetsuits on some trips. A thin neoprene top from home also helps.
Is January a good month to snorkel in Key West?
It works if you dress for it and keep a spare day. The air is mild and the weather dry, but the water is the coolest of the year and cold fronts bring wind. If you want warmer water, March averages 75.9 °F.
Do snorkel boats run on New Year’s Day in Key West?
No operator we checked publishes a 1 January schedule. Open the booking calendar for the trip you want and check the date before you plan the day.
Pick your morning or afternoon
Reef trips leave Key West most days of the year. Wind decides which reef the captain chooses, so check your date and book with free cancellation where you can.
Check dates and prices