Myself, my husband, and three of our friends ventured out with Danger Charters on Halloween of 2020, and boy did we have a blast! Captain Broza met us at the storefront, and eventually escorted us to the boat, which he steered like a boss all day. The boat was large and sparking clean, with plenty of places for everyone to safely sit. On the way out to the nature preserve, Sunshine and Shanon told us the history of the area, and prepared us for our kayaking and snorkeling adventures. We were offered both soft drinks and a cup of sliced fruit, which were delicious and cold. Plus is was a gorgeous day!
While kayaking from the boat to Mule Key, Sunshine -- a self-proclaimed "bird nerd" -- told us all about mangroves and the wide variety of birds who live there. We paddled to a "hurricane hole," which gave us an inside view of the mangroves of Mule Key. Throughout the paddle, we saw cormorants, a white ibis, pelicans, and the highlight: a magnificent frigate sitting in the mangroves! Wow!
After the paddle, we re-boarded the boat and headed over to our snorkel spot. Once we were fitted with our flippers and sanitized masks, and hopped into the water for the snorkel. While in the water, Shanon pointed out several creatures, such as a grouper, a moray eel, lobsters, and a real live conch. I also saw small, purple and yellow fish that were super colorful. The water was positively gorgeous.
After that, we hopped back on board. It was finally time for the "bar" to open, and we enjoyed beer and wine on the way back to Key West. There's plenty of drinks for everyone, too! At that time, Sunshine and Shanon gave everyone a bag of potato chips. It was a perfect end to a perfect experience.
My only advice is to bring additional snacks if you're prone to the hungries, and be patient until your full group arrives to board the boat. Otherwise, just bring your sense of adventure and appetite for great views, company, and wildlife. Bird birds forever!