My husband and I booked a snorkeling excursion with Namaste and felt like it was only an adequate/average experience. Clearly, Namaste is pretty well reviewed on Yelp, but our experience made us wonder whether something had gone awry with our tour. The information we read on the website made it seem like it would be more of a special, hands-on three hours on AND IN the water. While Jeff was eager and informative about his on-deck timeline presentation about the millions of years of geological history regarding coral reefs, the information about the present day was a little lacking. Additionally, it was a bit surprising to be on an "eco" excursion and to hear Jeff talk about how global climate change doesn't concern him as much as pollution does, especially since climate change is the result of pollution by greenhouse gases. During Jeff's presentation on the boat, there were some details and photos of different corals, but there was no instruction in the water. The pics and description on the site made it seem like the four of us who were "guests" would be led snorkeling around the reef and be presented with observations and sightings of the marine life first-hand--for example, there's a photo onsite of a diver showing/handing a guest a sea cucumber. What actually happened was that Jeff dove into the water before any of the guests and then seemed to be off swimming on his own personal snorkeling adventure during the roughly 40-45 minutes we were snorkeling, although he and his (very friendly) wife, Trish, did swim by to take underwater pics from time to time. And that brings me to another point: We paid extra for a photo package, which ended up being publicly available pics that they posted to Facebook after the trip anyway; no "photo package" was ever provided specifically to us. Additionally, there was no checking in at any time about the comfort level of any guest--nothing asked about swimming abilities, no suggestion of floatation assistance in the fairly choppy water, and no requirement even of life vests at any time during the three hours we were on/in the water. This actually discouraged my husband (a nervous swimmer) from even getting in the water, although neither Jeff nor Trish ever inquired about why one of the only four guests on board didn't want to get in the water or whether there was anything they could do as guides. (The tour description called for strong swimmers but also accommodated "shy swimmers.) Jeff and Trish seemed, in this regard, as being rather amateurish, and the food and drinks provided were lackluster as well (a block of supermarket cheese cut up on the spot, along with shrinkwrapped watermelon and pineapple slices and crackers dumped out on plates set on deck. We aren't super fancy or picky, but we've been on less expensive and equally informative snorkeling excursions elsewhere (St Thomas, Turks and Caicos, etc), and Namaste was a bit adequate by comparison, especially regarding the higher price and the hands-on explorations that was promised via the Namaste website. read more

I'm no Key West expert - prior to my recent trip, the last time I was there was at age five. I was left turning to the world wide web to find decent dining, nightlife, and activities. While lounging around was on the top of my family's list, a snorkeling trip was at the top of mine. I set out to find the right tour operator for us. Yelp led me toward a very well reviewed, giant tour company. As I flipped through their photos, something didn't feel right. Crowds, a party boat, frat boys. Where were the fish? Where was the coral? It seemed that these things were an afterthought for many operators. So I hit Google. And one operator's facebook page caught my eye: Namaste Sailing. Their facebook page was loaded with albums of recent snorkeling trips. In fact, each charter had its own album full of beautiful underwater photos. Seemed like a good sign. I made my way to their official website and found more goodies. Snorkeling, sailing, and a little bit of environmental education. Sounded like the right thing for me. Booking was painless. I called the main number and quickly realized I was talking to Jeff, the co-owner and co-captain of the Namaste, the 30+ foot sailboat he and his wife Trish call home. We settled on a "mixed private" snorkeling trip at $125/person that would last about four hours. Mixed private means other folks are free to sail with us, but no more than eight people total. It was significantly more affordable than a private charter but was still a small operation - a good trade off. Soon it was finally sailing day. We met Trish on a marina just north of Key West. She led us to the Namaste. As we approached the boat, we all assumed it was the small, dodgy-looking boat to our right. Wrong we were. The Namaste, to our left, is a majestic 37' blue water sailing dreamboat. We hopped on and were greeted by Capt. Ron. Capt. Ron is the Namaste's live-aboard cat and he was quite snuggly. Also on board was a very sweet little dog named pollito who was amazingly well-behaved. Then finally we met Jeff who would be our boat driver (after all, Ron is the Captain). Jeff and Trish couldn't have been more welcoming. We soon realized we were sitting aboard their home - they live year-round on the Namaste. After we left the harbor, Trish and Jeff tag-teamed a quick, informative, and passionate presentation about reef ecosystems, what we might see in the water, and how we can minimize our impact on the reef. Both Trish and Jeff are retired teachers and it shows through. This might have been our favorite part of the trip! When we finally arrived at the reef, we tied off to a buoy, donned our snorkeling gear, and jumped in with Trish. She led the way through crystal clear water to the Western Sambo reef. The coral was from 5 to 15 feet below the water. The reef was a beautiful mural of sea fans, fish, corals, and sand. Truly indescribable. While we snorkeled around, Trish followed nearby and snapped photos of the reef, of us, and of us looking at the reef. Once we tired ourselves out, we swam back to the boat and returned to shore. Our guides had cold watermelon and cheese & crackers waiting for us as well as cold drinks. Once we were back on shore, we started checking the Namaste facebook page religiously. We were so eager to see our tour amongst their many photo albums. About three days afterwards, our photos appeared. They were excellent and will make sure we remember the trip for years to come. Trish is quite the photographer! We were encouraged to download the pictures -- at no additional cost. If you want to snorkel while in Key West, you should do yourself (and the reef) a favor and opt for a small and responsible operator like Namaste Sailing. Once you've committed to that goal, going with this outfit is a no-brainer. Jeff and Trish bring such deep passion to their work. If I make it back to Key West, another trip on the Namaste is undoubtedly in my plans. read more

I was very impressed with my Namaste snorkeling experience. The captain provided an entertaining and educational talk about the fish we saw on our trip. He actually made his own textbooks from which he taught the group. I appreciated how much more thoughtful and interesting this trip was in comparison with other tours I've taken. It makes a big difference to be able to enjoy nature in an intimate and relaxed environment. read more

Namaste Sailing Charters - Captain Ron - Snorkeling Near Me - Key Wes, Florida

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My partner and I went sailing and kayaking with Captain Justin and Beth. They were both very knowledgeable, pleasant and fun to be around. Justin knew just where to go to see lots of flora and fauna in the mangroves - a nursery for all kinds of fish and sea birds. We saw barracudas, parrotfish, and nurse sharks plus lots more. We also saw conch, egret, ibis, frigates, osprey, night heron, and of course cormorants. Great day! We had fresh fruit, hummus, cheese, crackers and a wide selection of ice cold drinks. Fantastic trip! read more

Namaste Sailing Charters - Captain Justin. - Snorkeling Near Me - Key Wes, Florida

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Stellar day! Even in less-than-desirable weather conditions, Captain Justin made it happen, shifting the itinerary that morning to find the best snorkeling reef. He and first mate Tamara brought the boat all the way around to the opposite side of the island to pick us up and take us to a great and picturesque small key with a nice reef out in the gulf. Note that, if they had not done this, we would have wound up in 6' seas and quite probably unable to snorkel. Instead, we saw sea life I've never seen in any part of the many places around the world I've snorkeled in the past, including a majestic Eagle Ray and the biggest Tarpon I've ever imagined existing. Lots of colorful little schools of fish too, as you would expect from tropical snorkeling trips. Decent and colorful coral of several varieties as well. The best part of this company is that they only take 2 to 6 guests on the boat at a time. You also get a super knowledgable chat (with photos) about coral, fish, sailing, and the geography and history of the area you are sailing in. My girlfriend is fairly new to this sport and they were utterly kind and patient without being patronizing whatsoever. After snorkeling, They took us for a nice sail (wind only) in Key West harbor....peaceful and awesome. Justin endured and answered my 100 or so questions about the craft of sailing with gusto. Great to watch a pro at work! There were plenty of cold beverages and waters, and a nice snack of fruits and cheeses were included, and although we brought our own gear, the gear they offer their guests was not the cheap stuff. THANK YOU Justin and Tamara for a great experience....feels like we made new friends today! read more

I had the most amazing experience with Jeff and Trish. Their knowledge and passion show, and though I'm biased because I share a passion for the ocean and reefs, I still can't help but think it would rub off on anyone who went on this excursion. I loved that it was educational vs purely recreational. It was relaxing, beautiful, and we saw plenty of fish of many beautiful varieties. It was also so worth the extra money to be essentially out in the reef alone and able to identify and discuss what we were seeing with such knowledgeable guides. I highly recommend this for people who love the reefs, and anyone open to being a conscientious, respectful reef visitor. One thing to note - if you are flexible you'll likely have a better experience. The weather is unpredictable and Jeff had a great sense about the best time to go out. He was right - and predicted with greater accuracy when the storms would roll in than my weather app. By being flexible we had amazing water and visibility. read more

My mother and I spent a marvelous few hours with Trish and Jeff on a snorkeling trip. They are the ultimate ecologists, replanting the coral, and we learned so much from them. We felt nurtured and inspired by the entire experience. Thank you Jeff and Trish for an unforgettable experience and your dedication to our planet and people. read more

We just drove down to the Key West without thinking to check the weather first. I came across this company on yelp and decided to call because of really good reviews. I called him to ask to go snorkeling and he was honest and said that the water will be too rough the next few days due to a storm which finally rolled in, and we wouldn't be able to see much sea life. As sad as I am that we won't get t snorkel, this man's honesty deserves a 5 stars. Especially since a few other places said "oh yeah! We'll take you!" Just to make some $. read more

I will start this review off by saying: it was noted that the water we experienced during our trip was extraordinarily clear. While the water is always beautiful and blue, visibility can vary based on weather conditions. I have had the opportunity to snorkel all over the world - Thailand, Mexico, Dubai, Caribbean...and I never in a million years would have believed the best experience I would ever have would be in the U.S.! The Keys provide a lot of opportunity for underwater experiences and I would not trust or want to experience it with anyone else besides Trish, Jeff, and Justin of Namaste Tours. I felt like family with them and I was so comfortable. The education and conservation aspect: Jeff, Trish, and Justin are very passionate about the ocean and the life within it. Jeff spent 15 minutes of the trip out to the reef describing how coral lives, how its benefited the world for millions of years, and how it has changed in the Florida Keys. I loved that the tour started off this way as it allowed you to get even more passionate about the journey you were about to experience. They spent time explaining the fish we would see - MANY parrotfish and exotic fish. The reef - As mentioned, the sealife we saw was ASTOUNDING. I have never seen a better variety and population of life. We had the opportunity to see angelfish, parrotfish, trunkfish, barracuda, and probably hundreds of other types of fish. We had the opportunity to swim among a school of Blue Tangs (for those who are not familiar with fish - Dory is a Blue Tang!) Not only did we see a variety of fish and beautiful coral - we swam with a sea turtle! Now this is not common per the crew - nonetheless, the turtle swam with us for about 5 minutes. At one point he was probably 2 feet under me and near me and was just unbothered by us as we were not being obnoxious and attempting not to disturb him in his home, (nor were we in a group of 50 people :) ) He came to the surface as we were near him and was showing off. We also had the opportunity to see a Nurse shark who was beautiful. The ride: We rode in a boat common in the Northeastern part of the US that is commonly used for lobster catching. The boat was lovely and offered a nice row of comfortable seats in the back. Getting in and out of the boat was pretty easy. On the way back to the marina, we stopped near Boca Chica to have some snacks and water. It was beautiful. Clear blue and turquoise water surrounded by mangroves. I cannot even describe how perfect it was. The experience: Jeff, Trish, and Justin were beyond words. The private experience they offer for an affordable price is the deal of a lifetime. We had one-on-one attention the entire time. They paid attention to our safety and our experience and were in he water with us experiencing the reef. They pointed out items to us and made sure we were having a good time. The crackers, cheese, and fresh fruit they offer after snorkeling were perfect and delicious and could not have been eaten in a better place (Boca Chica is phenomenal) I really cannot say enough about this experience. We booked the 1 stop AM tour and it was absolutely worth the money. In fact, the experience was so great I would have paid more! When you are deciding on a snorkeling tour, a reef experience, or a kayaking experience (though we did not do this in AM tour) if you don't go with this group you are missing out. The private attention and attention on conservation means so much to me. read more

Regrettably, Namaste moved off Key West and runs a small operation off Stock Island. The trip was very expensive. What we thought was going to be a small Eco-tour was really a kayak in the mangroves. I fairness we were going to snorkel, but conditions were bad and we spent a lonnnngggg time pulling the kayaks by bat to our spot. They are both wonderfully nice and knowledgeable, but for the price and what we saw...well sorry to say skip it read more

We had an absolutely superb trip with Namaste. Both captains are very knowledgeable and full of enthusiasm and are fantastic with children. My two (age 10 & 11) would have spent all holiday with them if it had been possible. As it is their first snorkelling trip has awakened a passion and they talk a great deal about going back and seeing and learning more. It was wonderful not to be with hoards of other people - I wonder just how much one can see if there are 50 slightly merry snorkelers in the water! It is expensive but they don't hurry you and it is worth it. Thank you for a great day. read more

This was by far the best snorkeling experience my wife and I have ever had. The trip started with Jeff and Trish providing a history of the reef and then showing us some pictures of the fish we were going to be seeing. Knowing what we were looking at added to the experience. Once we got to the reef (which was about a 45 minute boat ride) we realized we were the only boat there. That's right - just the 4 of us snorkeling on the entire reef. This was so much better than any other trip as we didn't have to worry about anyone else accidentally kicking or running into us. We stayed on the reef for about 45 minutes (I think) and then headed back to shore. On the way back we were provided with fresh fruit and cheese and crackers. We paid a little more for this trip than we would have paid for one of the "cattle boats" (as Jeff likes to refer to them) but absolutely worth every penny. I would highly recommend Namaste to anyone else looking for a great snorkeling experience. read more