I emailed this company, as told to, to request a refund for the sandbar portion of the boat trip I…read morepaid for, as I never received that service. I booked and paid for a sandbar boat trip and snorkeling excursion. While we did attempt snorkeling, the weather and water conditions were extremely poor--choppy water, stormy weather, and very limited visibility. The conditions were so rough that it made us feel sick, and snorkeling itself was difficult. Some of the people on the boat only went in a few minutes because it was so choppy. We were told both on the phone and in person that we would be going to Alligator Reef, (another woman on the boat said she asked the guy at the counter for the tour if we were going to Alligator Reef and he said yes), but due to the conditions, this was not the experience we were promised. Because of the weather, we were unable to go to the sandbar at all (rain, clouds, choppy water). In hindsight, the trip should not have gone out that day given the conditions, especially since the main destinations could not be accessed safely. WHICH WAS MOST LIKELY WHY WE WERE THE ONLY BOAT OUT ON THE WATER-- DIDN'T SEE ANOTHER BOAT THE ENTIRE TIME. The other thing- people snorkel in Florida because it's warm and clear. This day was raining, choppy, murky and cold! We were offered the option to return the following day by Jerry (Wednesday the 14th) for the sandbar. However, when we came back, the weather was again bad, and your staff advised that you likely would not be going out. This resulted in another wasted trip, and ultimately, we never received the sandbar portion of the experience we paid for. I was then told I could use the sandbar trip on a future visit, but I live in California and do not have plans to return, making that option unrealistic. To be clear, I did not request a refund for the entire excursion (although, I really should)--only for the sandbar portion, since that service was never provided. Even though we purchased the snorkel sand bar trip, they take you out on the boat to snorkel, make you come all the way back in to pick up more people, then go all the way back out again, so half your trip is just chartering people. That wasn't the issue (just putting that in here for others so that they know). It was so cold and choppy and nauseating that there is no way someone should be going to the sandbar! I was hoping we would have been able to resolve this directly and professionally, but the company didn't respond. It was not a fun environment for snorkeling, and clearly the company went out anyways because it's a business and they care more about your money than your experience. It was freezing and nauseating. After speaking to several employees at our hotel, they said that the company should never have taken any of us out that day and that the boating company often promise things and underdeliver and that they don't personally recommend that company to people that come in. I wish I had not booked ahead of time and spoke to someone onsite first. Also we have only one photo on the boat because it was so choppy that people were having trouble standing up to take a photo! I gave 1 star because the two men captaining the boat were fabulous and although they had to take us out by force, they were good at explaining how to snorkel and tried to make the most of it. When asked if we were going to Alligator Reef like promised, they said, "Look out there, it's pouring, it's bad here but it will be way worse out there."

We booked a snorkel + sandbar trip & were not disappointed. This was our first time in the keys, &…read morefirst time snorkeling. Our guides explained all of the how to's, made sure we were comfortable in the water, & kept us hydrated with water & adult beverages! It was a beautiful day despite high winds & we would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a great time!

These guys and gals are so good at what they do! I would spend every day with them if I could, they…read moreare so family-friendly, and pet-friendly, lol, and very knowledgeable! We love every second of our visits!

Captain Dylan and Savanna took good care of us and made it a very enjoyable sandbar trip. The…read morecheck-in process was quick and easy. The boat was in good condition and made for a safe and comfortable ride to the sandbar. The sandbar itself was quite busy with lots of other boats there, but we had a good time relaxing on the sandbar and enjoying the islander girl hospitality. We had a great time.

Captains Aaron and Justin did a great job for our Sunset cruise. Thank you for making our night…read morememorable!

We had a super fun day on the tiny turtle on the Islamorada sand bar over the holiday weekend…read more Responsive charter company, prompt pick up at our hotel, awesome captain and fair prices. Highly recommend!

It's a positive sign that the snorkel operator is doing something right when people take a snorkel…read moretrip two days in a row. One of the participants on our boat did exactly that and she enjoyed herself on both trips. The boat went to different locations on each day, so repeat snorkeler was able to see different parts of the reef. Paradise Island Charters is a small boat that holds only 15 people, and we had 11 on our trip. The sales rep at the dock said the limited capacity allows for a more personal trip with more attention from the crew. This was very much the case as we had a couple of newbies with us and First Mate Al was able to provide them with a lot of assistance (& patience!) Al was very knowledgeable about the fish, the reef, and the overall snorkeling process. She was personable and seemed to enjoy her job very much. She even gave us a few good suggestions for places to dine in Key Largo. Captain Doug was friendly, knowledgeable, and very safety-conscious. He was also an amazing captain. He spotted a family of dolphins and skillfully turned his boat in large circles at just the right speed so that the dolphins could safely frolic in the boat's wake. What an amazing sight! We watched the dolphins jumping for several minutes until they swam off. Thank you Captain Doug for that awesome show! Unfortunately the snorkeling was exciting but not for the best of reasons: numerous jellyfish were floating in the area and we spent a lot of time trying to avoid them. Although the coral and the fish were great to see, the abundance of jellyfish was a big distraction. And some of the snorkelers were stung. If you are comparing snorkeling tour operators, please be aware that Paradise Island Charters does not include the snorkeling equipment in the base price of their tours. They do offer prescription snorkel masks for people who wear glasses. Overall, the trip was really fun and I would recommend this company to other snorkelers. Doug and Al are a key part of their success.

Captain Doug & First Mate Micaela (sp?) were great! We haven't snorkeled in years, since we…read morecertified for scuba and had a great time! Great snorkeling locations, like Seagrass Reef, which bring the sea floor up to you. Nice boat and snacks and they were super accommodating to our tardiness

We had a wonderful experience and thoroughly enjoyed our sunset adventure! Our amazing crew…read moreincluded Sarah, Heather, and Captain Morgan. They were very friendly and took time to visit with all of the guests to ensure folks had what they needed. They also helped take pictures so we had great sunset photos with our loved ones. The vibe was fun and easy with an exceptionally well curated play list of songs, in my opinion. We highly recommend booking with island Girls Excursions!

Just went for a 4hr morning snorkel trip with my wife Wow…read morewhat a great experience The girls are the owners with help from there dad What a great family business Will definitely go back

This is the charter you want. Stew is the best. Professional, knowledgeable and patient. Could not…read morehave asked for a better experience!

We had a great time with captain stewy, very knowledgeable, comfortable boat. Highly recommend!read more

We booked the snorkel and sandbar tour, and unfortunately, it was a very disappointing experience…read morefrom start to finish. The night before our tour, a member of our group came down with food poisoning. I called to see if we could reschedule for another day. I was told that wasn't possible because it was a same-day cancellation, which, while disappointing, I understood. However, when we arrived for the tour, we were informed that we would not be snorkeling at the reef as advertised because of the sea and wind conditions. Instead, we were taken to a trench to snorkel. This was nothing like the experience we had booked. The snorkeling was underwhelming at best. We basically saw a few small fish, a stingray, and mostly brown coral. When it came time to visit the sandbar, our guide told us the conditions were too rough and advised against going. Rather than taking us to an alternate sandbar or another snorkeling location, we remained at the same trench for nearly four hours. We specifically chose this tour because some members of our group wanted to snorkel while others were looking forward to relaxing at the sandbar. Since neither part of the advertised experience was delivered as expected, the entire trip was a letdown. Afterward, we requested a partial refund since the snorkel and sandbar tour costs significantly more than a snorkeling-only trip. Our request was denied because they claimed we "chose" not to go to the sandbar. That's not an accurate representation of what happened. We followed the captain's recommendation that it wasn't safe or enjoyable to go due to the conditions. What frustrates me most is the inconsistency. They wouldn't allow us to reschedule when we had a legitimate reason, yet they still ran a tour that couldn't provide the experience we paid for because the conditions weren't suitable. If the weather prevented them from delivering the advertised tour, they should have offered customers the option to reschedule or receive a partial refund. Overall, this felt like the company prioritized collecting payment over providing the experience they advertised or making things right when they couldn't. I would not recommend booking with them.

We had a great experience with Seahorse water adventures! It's our first time to ride jet ski, so…read moreglad that we chose the Seahorse! Called Nick to book the reservation, very helpful and accommodating. We had to change the initial book time, he said no problem when schedule allowed. A little difficult to find though, there is no sign at this address. When driving to this location using google or apple map, look for Blackfin Resort and Marina. Drive to the front and then you can see direction to the marina (straight road leading to the marina behind the hotel-resort), where you can see their sign. Check my pictures for directions. After done paper works, Nick and instructor Steve taught us how to operate jet ski, gave some tips about riding on this area. Then we followed Steve to our tour, he provided clear instructions, and very patient to us. After the initial learning curve, we started picking up the speed and got to a comfortable level. The jet ski is so much fun, especially at this open water area, waves are clam which is quite helpful for first timer. Time goes by super fast. Overall, it's a pleasant experience, felt money very well spent, compare to other operators in the area. I would strongly recommend them, they also offer boat, charter fishing experience. I will come back and visit them next time in the area for sure!

They don't serve food on the tiki boat, but you can bring your own. My wife and I usually have…read moresomething to eat at Snook's, before we get onboard. It's a nice and peaceful little cruise that takes you around the sheltered bay side waters, where you can enjoy the sunset and maybe even see a dolphin or two.

We just landed after a 90 minute cruise with Captain Jim. It was so worth it and an amazing time -…read morehe knows Buttonwood Bay, the birds, the iguanas, the manatee's & dolphins. We saw hound fish, barracudas and more. Learned that this whole bay is 3-5 feet - and today it was SO clear! Jim's co-captain, Mako was so well behaved and frankly I'm kinda sorry the cruise is done - till next time!