Yes, you can snorkel in Key West in November, and it is one of the easier winter months to do it. The water at NOAA’s Key West harbour gauge averages 78.3 °F (25.7 °C) in November, warm enough for a full snorkel stop in a swimsuit and rash guard for most people. Average highs are about 81 °F and lows about 70 to 72 °F. November is when the dry season begins, and the Atlantic hurricane season ends on 30 November. Pack a light layer for the ride back, and expect the first cold fronts to bring some windy days.
November is also a good month for a snorkel-and-sunset trip, since the water is still warm in the late afternoon. Fury’s Rum and Reggae Reef Snorkel and Sunset Sail leaves the Fury booth on the pier behind Opal Key Resort & Marina at 4:00 p.m. on the November schedule, runs three hours and costs from $57 per person (checked November 2026), with 4.4 from 399 reviews on Viator. Our review covers the boat and the drinks.
Key West Rum and Reggae: Reef Snorkel Adventure and Sunset Sail
- 4.4/5 (399 reviews)
- About 3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Operated by Fury Water Adventures
Includes Top-of-the-line snorkel gear · Snorkel instruction from the crew · Rum punch, beer, wine and champagne after snorkeling
You'll choose your date and complete the booking on Viator. Free cancellation under Viator's standard terms; the booking page shows the deadline.
November water and air temperature
November is the month the water cools fastest. NOAA’s long-term monthly means for the Key West gauge drop from 83.7 °F in October to 78.3 °F in November and 75.3 °F in December. A trip at the start of the month can feel closer to October than one at the end: on 1 November 2026 the live reading at the gauge was 81.3 °F.
| October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water, monthly mean | 83.7 °F (28.7 °C) | 78.3 °F (25.7 °C) | 75.3 °F (24.1 °C) |
| Average high | 85.2 to 85.8 °F | 80.6 to 81.0 °F | 76.9 to 77.7 °F |
| Average low | 74.6 to 76.8 °F | 69.8 to 72.2 °F | 66.0 to 68.3 °F |
| Average rain | 6.01 in | 3.28 in | 2.22 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.
The gauge is in the harbour, so treat the figures as a guide. Fury Water Adventures, whose reef trips go about seven miles offshore, says its winter reef water can dip into the mid-60s °F; that figure describes the days after a cold front. For the year-round table in °F and °C, see our water temperature by month page.
The end of hurricane season and the start of the dry season
November sits on the line between Key West’s two seasons. The National Park Service, writing about the Dry Tortugas west of Key West, gives the dry season as running from about November to mid-May. Rain falls by almost half from October to November in the NWS normals, from 6.01 to 3.28 inches.
Hurricane season officially runs to 30 November. Its peak is around 10 September, so by November the risk has dropped, but it has not reached zero. If you are booking early November dates, choose listings with free cancellation. Every reef trip on our best Key West snorkeling tours page shows its policy on the listing.
The other thing that starts in November is cold fronts. The NPS notes that fronts push cool, dry air south and bring windier conditions, and that winter seas are usually rougher than summer seas. A front can make the ride out choppy or keep a boat in port. Fury says its tours will not depart in unsafe weather and that it tries to reschedule you during your stay. Nobody publishes how often that happens in November, so put your snorkel day early in the trip and keep one day spare. Our winter snorkeling guide goes into fronts and wind in more detail.
Other experiences
Other Key West snorkeling trips to compare
More ways to explore the area. Each listing shows its own cancellation policy.
What to wear in Key West in November
November is shorts weather on land and swimsuit weather in the water. A short packing list:
- For the swim: a swimsuit and a rash guard. Fury points its wetsuit offer at January and February visitors, so in November a wetsuit is only for people who feel the cold. The rash guard is also sun protection: NOAA recommends long sleeves and a rash guard to cut the sunscreen that goes into the water.
- For the boat: a dry T-shirt or light long-sleeve top, and a towel. Average lows are about 70 °F, and on a sunset trip you come back in the evening with the boat moving into the breeze.
- For the sun: a hat and reef-safe sunscreen. Fury requires sunscreen without oxybenzone or octinoxate on its boats and hands out mineral sunscreen free on its snorkel trips.
- For check-in: photo ID and a major credit card, which Fury asks for on most trips.
Which trips make sense in November
With water in the high 70s, every trip type works, and the choice comes down to your day.
- Sunset trips. November is a good month for them: the water is still warm enough for a late-afternoon swim, and you finish with the sunset sail. Fury’s Rum and Reggae trip above is the main option. Sunset Watersports’ Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling Sunset Cruise (from $80 per person, 4.4 from 575 reviews on GetYourGuide) adds dolphin watching. See our sunset snorkel guide.
- Morning trips. You snorkel first and keep the afternoon free. Sunset Watersports’ Reef Morning Snorkeling with Breakfast and Mimosas leaves at 9:00 a.m. See our morning snorkeling guide.
- Two snorkel stops. If you want more water time while it is still warm, Fury’s Double-Dip Snorkel Tour visits two reef locations chosen by the captain on the day, at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. See our double-dip guide.
- The cheapest reef trip. Fury’s Reef Snorkeling with Drinks and Sunset Option on GetYourGuide has morning, afternoon and sunset departures, and its morning option ties for the lowest price in our listings. See our cheap snorkeling guide.
One trip you cannot book for November: Sunset Watersports’ 2 Reef Snorkel Tour and Sunset Cruise has no Viator dates until 7 March 2027.
Booking November dates
A few November dates have gaps on the schedules we checked, so look at the calendar before you plan a day around one trip.
- Fury’s Rum and Reggae trip showed no departure on 8 November 2026.
- Fury’s Double-Dip and its morning-or-afternoon reef trip on Viator showed no departures on 4 or 8 November.
- Sunset Watersports’ dolphin and sunset trips on GetYourGuide showed nothing bookable until 9 November.
If you plan to add a Dry Tortugas day to your trip, the ferry operator’s pricing lists 11 November 2026 as a national park fee-free day; check at checkout, and see our Dry Tortugas versus Key West comparison for how the two days differ.
For how November compares with the rest of the year, including spring and summer, see our guide to the best time to snorkel in Key West. If your trip runs into December, our December guide covers the holiday dates.
Frequently asked questions
Can you snorkel in Key West in November?
Yes. Snorkel boats run all month, and the water averages 78.3 °F at the Key West harbour gauge. Some days are windy after a cold front, and an operator may move a trip if it is unsafe to go out.
What is the Key West water temperature in November?
NOAA’s long-term November mean for the Key West gauge is 78.3 °F (25.7 °C), between October’s 83.7 °F and December’s 75.3 °F. A single early-November reading can sit higher: the gauge read 81.3 °F on 1 November 2026.
What should I wear in Key West in November?
Shorts and T-shirts by day, with a light layer for the evening; average highs are about 81 °F and lows about 70 to 72 °F. For snorkeling, a swimsuit and rash guard, plus a dry top and towel for the ride back.
Is November a good time to go to Key West?
For snorkeling, yes. The water is still in the high 70s, the dry season is starting, and hurricane season ends on 30 November. The trade-off is the first cold fronts, which bring windier days.
Can you swim in the Florida Keys in November?
Yes. At Key West the water averages 78.3 °F in November, warm enough for most people to swim in a swimsuit. Check the wind before you go, since fronts can make the sea rough.
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