Q: Do you have any advice for choosing between Pennekamp State Park and Biscayne National Park for novice snorkelers? We'll be staying in Miami and want to take a snorkel tour at one of the parks. Thanks a lot.

A: You've done your homework. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo and Biscayne National Park in Homestead are both good choices for snorkeling. Both are home to coral reefs and are mostly water, not land. (In fact, Biscayne is about 95% water.) Both also have concessioners that offer tours out to the reefs and/or islands.

My first time snorkeling was at John Pennekamp, and it was great (other than getting used to the feeling of seaweed and fish touching me). I haven't snorkeled at Biscayne (although I've visited the islands there -- my snorkeling trip was canceled due to bad weather. Darn!). But I would venture to say that the water at John Pennekamp would be calmer, which creates a better environment for snorkeling. Biscayne Bay and the Florida Straits are both loaded with boats, but living in the region, I have seen both bodies of water many times and think that, all things being equal, the Keys' waters are calmer.

You may consider contacting each park via the links above to ask for their take on your question. But with either park, you can't go wrong.

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