Check-in: Katie and Shelby were amazing during our check-in, and they even had a "Happy Birthday" sign on the door for my niece that was with us! We didn't even mention that it was her birthday, so they must have noticed it on our waiver forms. It was such a nice and unexpected gesture! Getting our gear picked out was super quick and easy (thanks to them helping), and we were on the water before we knew it.
Boating: Bob was our captain, and Katie was the First Mate/Dive Master. Both were incredibly helpful and fun. They kept everyone safe and gave instructions while also cracking jokes and making sure everyone had a great time. The ride out was around 25 minutes. The whole group was around 15-20 people, but it wasn't crowded at all. The Phoenix had plenty of room for all of us and the gear. They had water, sodas, and snacks available. They also had sunscreen, a rinsing station for goggles, and another for rinsing cameras and such.
Snorkeling: The reefs were breathtaking. The water was cold at first (December 24th), but we got used to it pretty quickly. There's a bit of a learning curve to snorkeling, but the biggest advice I can give is "do what you're told!!". A lot of it doesn't come naturally, but once you do what they suggest (mask on, mouthpiece in, flatten your body out, relax & watch the show) it's a lot easier. The first stop was Dry Rocks, home of the "Christ of the Deep" statue. It was pretty cool, but the reef around it was the main attraction. There were fish everywhere! The waves there are a little rough, but it's the nature of the area. The second stop was Horseshoe Reef, and the waters were calmer. There we saw plenty of fish and even some sea turtles! We'll definitely be coming back when we get dive certified. It's even better that they take divers and snorkelers on the same trip, so if you are diving and have people that want to snorkel, book the same trip!
Side note: keep an eye on the water when you come back in, because manatees love the fresh water that's coming from the boat and dock. We saw two just hanging out around The Phoenix! It was the cherry on top for a wonderful experience.