catamaran in marco island

• About the Captain
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• Based right on Marco Island's beautiful beach in front of the Marco Beach Ocean Resort, Club Regency, and Eagle's Nest or from our marina on Marco.
• Our boat is a 30 foot Maine Cat sailing catamaran that is very easy to board even from the beach.
• We can easily accommodate passengers of any age.
• Our boat has a large trampoline area as well as a hard covered shaded area with a table and comfortable seating.
• Perfect for families as the boat has a large cockpit area which is great for keeping little ones confined.
• Great for a quiet, romantic getaway for couples (We have had several marriage proposals on our boat and are proud to have a 100% acceptance rate!).
• Sail to one of the 10,000 islands around Marco Island and Naples where you can get out and do some serious shelling. Customers often return with sand dollars, Florida cones, alphabet cones, tulip shells, and more.
• Regularly see dolphin, manatees, and occasionally sea turtles along the way.
• We happily turn our boat into a pirate ship for the enjoyment of our guests whenever we have any young "swabbies" on board.
• Relax, bask in the sun, or maybe even nap a little along the way.
• Become one of the many happy guests who return year after year to sail with Captain Hugh.
• Read more about us in the Marco Review  e-magazine by going to this link:  http://Cloud.digipage.net/go/marcoreviewsummer2015/#92

koolcat eco tours

Our Eco Tours

Captain your Quest!

One exciting adventure.

A Craigcat® boat rental adventure exploring Marco Island, Florida. The surroundings areas has so much to offer: Beautiful beaches, breath taking sunsets, an abundance of wild life. All this has created a perfectly balanced ecosystem that attracts millions of tourists every year….a haven for any explorer. Us, at KoolCat Eco Tours, we would like to extend an invitation, to take it all in! Adventure to the 10000 islands on board of our New 2021 CraigCat Fleet, a high quality catamaran boat. BEST VALUE CRAIGCAT!

Book a KoolCat Trip!

New 2021 craigcat fleet, best value craigcat tour.

• 2.5 Hour Guided Tour
• Water & Ice
• Dry Storage
• Walkie Talkie
• Wildlife watch

Our Eco Tour

Our 2.5 hour guided eco-tours will cruise the 10000 islands on board our unique Craigcat boats which seat 2 people and you get to drive the boat! (Don’t worry if you have never driven a watercraft before) We’ll make sure to offer comprehensive instructions so you can feel as confident as possible before your new adventure.

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Cross Cruises

Review Highlights

“ We are so thankful for Hugh and his daughter, Valerie, for the amazing trip!! ” in 3 reviews

“ Booked for sunset cruise and enjoyed entire engagement. ” in 2 reviews

“ Saw plenty of dolphin throughout the morning and world-class shelling on one of the 10,000 Islands. ” in 2 reviews

Location & Hours

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410 S Collier Blvd

Marco Island, FL 34145

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Sailing charters, dolphin watching, shelling trips, and sunset cruises on Marco Island …

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Overall rating

Hugh and his first mate - totally top notch. Booked for sunset cruise and enjoyed entire engagement. Booking - very responsive and informative Arrival info - clear and concise Pre departure - all safety items covered and assisted with loading of personal gear and food for excursion Trip - plenty to see. Many great photographs and family memories Post trip - great follow up Need to book again on next trip to area. (Naples, Fort Myers, Marco Island)

See all photos from Paul K. for Cross Cruises

This has been my fourth catamaran shelling cruise experience with Cross cruises throughout the years. The captain is great and the boat is well maintained and immaculate. This time we had our kids with us and we had a wonderful time cruising, spotting dolphins and finding beautiful shells. It was a great experience and I highly recommend it.

Highly recommend! Cross was on time, and offered a relaxing tour of Marco. It was my wife and two you kids. We did end up finishing at the Goodlands Marina and they immediately returned us to our hotel. Would absolutely hire again.

My husband and I had a GREAT time on the sunset cruise. Hugh and his daughter were amazing. Very knowledgeable, great sense of humor, and relaxed. We brought some champagne and snacks on board and really enjoyed the time on the water. Also, the boat is stunning!

We are so thankful for Hugh and his daughter, Valerie, for the amazing trip!! They were so knowledgeable and welcoming onto their lovely catamaran sailboat. We will definitely be sailing again with this crew! And shoutout to Valerie for capturing the great surprise engagement pics :)

The captains daughter, Valerie, capturing the surprise engagement!

So thankful for the great hospitality!!

What a wonderful sailing trip this was! Family run business on a beautiful catamaran. 2 1/2 hour tour of the southern part of Marco Island. Saw plenty of dolphin throughout the morning and world-class shelling on one of the 10,000 Islands. The captain provided wonderful stories and narratives along the way accompanied by the perfect blend of Jimmy Buffett/reggae music.$60 per person was extremely reasonable. Look forward to bringing more family and friends.

So many beautiful shells and sand dollars off 10,000 islands!

Beautiful and spotless!

We wanted to go for a sunset sail and found these guys last minute. They were fantastic! First, the boat was immaculate, they were very attentive to comfort and safety, and most important, they actually SAILED the boat. In so many of these cruises they put the sails up but keep the engine on. We had a lovely evening breeze and sailed up along the coast of Marco and a gorgeous pink settled over the island. Great conversation and local knowledge. AND, they're MSU spartan fans!

I've taken many cruises with Captain Huge and his sweet family over the years. This time I had my children and grandchildren in town with me. My grandchildren are 3, 2 and 1. He quickly turned his vessel into a pirate ship for my two grandsons, which they LOVED!!!! His sons, Noah and Harrison were absolutely wonderful with all of us...especially the children. The morning of our cruise, they watched the weather VERY closely for us to determine the best time to go out. They were dead-on with the timing. He suggested, since the seas were so choppy that we not go out into the gulf and by the looks of the water....he absolutely made the correct call. We sailed around in the 10,000 islands and then went shelling. He got us as close to shore as he safely could. Then Noah helped us all into the water and Harrison helped get us all to shore and even carried the children himself. He stayed on shore with us, helping us find some of the more rare and beautiful shells. My oldest grandson stayed with him the entire time which was just adorable. That kind of attentiveness can't be faked!!! Those boys are truly that kind. When we got back on board, Captain Huge wanted to try and make sure we saw as much sea life as possible. He took us into a little cove...even though it meant going over his allotted time. I know he can't do this in all instances because he has back to back cruises booked but we certainly appreciated him taking the time for my grandchildren. We ended up seeing so many dolphin and manitee. What beautiful sites to behold. One dolphin came up right beside the boat and swam with us and we could hear him blowing as he came up out of the water. My oldest grandson was going nuts!!!!! I've never seen this many manatee before. Thank you for all your safety precautions. Thank you Captain Huge for treating us like family. Thanks to your dear wife for making all our arrangements. Thanks to your sons for being such outstanding young men. You made this trip so memorable for all of us!!!! You will be seeing me again very soon.

See all photos from Sheri F. for Cross Cruises

Captain did not take safety first approach and used extremely poor judgement when he asked families to tread 6 foot waves with women and children holding bags of shells and belongings trying to board a boat 50 feet off shore, ridiculous. Find a tour that cares just as much about safety as they do collecting payment. Overall experience was not worth the risk.

My fiance and I took a spontaneous trip to Marco Island because we wanted to see the domes of Cape Romano. We needed a boat to get there. Marco Island's Hilton concierge recommended Cross Cruises. For $60 each, we enjoyed and amazing ride to Cape Romano, saw wild dolphins and manatees, and met fun people. Captain Cross plays nice music, provides chilled water bottles, is knowledgeable about the area, and his kids are helpful skippers. Highly recommended adventure. Absolutely beautiful.

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CHARTER INFORMATION:

Please arrive to the marina 10-15 minutes before scheduled departure time to allow time to find parking and prepare for your tour ..

• **Effective January 1, 2022 the collier County commissioners have raised fees and taxes.**Parking is very limited due to poor planning and lack of regulation. Other kayak or tours ending should open up parking. Or maybe it is easier to just take an Uber.
• Parking is now $10 for all vehicles without a local current Collier county beach parking pass. 
• The new fees are a result of  high person capacity tour boats and large commercial rental operations monopolizing parking and dock space.

All tours only depart from Caxambas Marina

Here is a link https://offthehookadventures.com/directions-find-us, this is a great time to apply sunscreen and use the restroom facilities at the marina, so you are ready when your sail boat arrives to the docks., the catamaran sail boat will be arriving to the marina docks for the charter 5-15 minutes before your scheduled tour start time. when you see the sailing catamaran boat pull into the docks you are welcome to go on down to meet the captain., off the hook adventures’ sailing catamarans provide a comfortable seating arrangement with cushioned bench seating, a soft trampoline deck for lounging and a shaded back deck.  so you can make yourself comfortable when you get on board, our tours start at caxambas park, near the south end of the marco island beach. we have been chartering boat tours from this same location for over 19 years. where your private tour goes depends on your interests, the tour length and weather conditions and the licensed captains discretion. we sail and sightsee the area for wildlife and go by waterfront homes. many of our passengers are very interested in shelling so we stop on island beaches and sandbars such as kice morgan and romano islands., how do i make a reservation, all reservations must be made on our website with a credit card deposit., the remaining balance for your 2 or 4 hour tour will be charged by your captain at the end of your tour., available boat tour times will show when you pick a date for our current boat tours and or limited sunset cruises., if you want our longer 4 hour tour, please reserve 2 consecutive 2 hour times-slots on one boat., add each 2 hour tour reservation deposit to your cart separately for a 4 hour tour and check out once. , if you have a party larger then 6, we can accommodate groups up to 12 with 2 catamarans, p lease reserve both boat 1 and boat 2 during the same time slot. you may want to call or text about availability., how many people are on the private charter, only people and family that you invite, up to 6 passengers maximum (no exceptions 6 max) , are on the private boat tour. we do not add additional people because the tour is private. you are welcome to invite more people up to 6to share your boat tour., all our tours are “private” for up to 6 of only your group per catamaran. we do not charge per person. all our rates are for the whole boat up to 6 passengers whether you have 2 passengers or 6 the price is the same and it is private. we do not add addition passengers because all our tours are private.,  even though our catamarans are large enough to accomodate more people. coast guard charter regulations and insurance allow each of our catamarans to take up to 6 passengers plus the licensed captain.,   what do i wear, depends on the weather: think of what you wear when you go to the beach:, like shorts and tees, swimwear and cover up, towel or wind breaker., you may want to lounge or sunbathe on the trampoline., bring sandals you feel comfortable getting wet along with a hat and sunglasses, on cooler days bring a windbreaker or jacket., * also please try to apply sunscreen before boarding the boat. *, arrive 10-15 minutes early so you are ready when your catamaran arrives., can we swim or bring snorkel gear, yes, we stop at island beach’s  for sea shell collecting. where it is usually perfect for swimming., you can bring your snorkel gear. we do not provide snorkeling gear. you can swim at the island beaches where we stop to shell., marco island is not known for clear water it depends on the weather and sea conditions. most people go to the keys for snorkeling or marco naples for the sandy beaches, but sometimes the water is clear and calm. of course always be careful and aware of your surroundings when swimming., what if it rains.

We do not want to be out in bad weather or rainy conditions either.

We do our best to avoid bad weather conditions at all times. We follow the weather forecast and track the radar.

So if we cancel the tour for bad or rainy we try to reschedule or just refund the reservation deposit.

Do I need to bring food/supplies?

You may bring any food or beverages you wish.

Due to Covid 19 we currently keep it simple and provide complimentary bottled water in a iced cooler. 

we encourage reservations to bring their own cooler.

Can we bring beer or wine?

Yes. You are allowed to bring alcoholic 🍾beverages on the boat. Of course We ask people drink responsibly. 

Do you have kids life jackets?

Yes kids 6 and under are required to wear life jackets. If you have a life jacket that they are used to please bring it. We also sugest for smaller kids buying the bathing suit that has the flotation  inserts. 

We have all sizes of life jackets and provide shell bags.*

Can I bring a fishing pole?

Yes, you may bring along a fishing pole and tackle to fish from the beaches where we stop to explore and shell., please make sure you have a current florida fishing license., motion or sea sickness, sea sickness is not common on our tours, but if you have concerns please make your captain aware. when the seas are rough we sail in the calm backwater  bays behind the mangrove islands.,   can i show up without reservations, off the hook adventures charters require advanced reservations. please make an online reservation to schedule your charter., we may be able to accommodate same day reservations, however, it is best to reserve online in advance., * you may send a text message for possible daily availability to 239-571-4665., is there a bathroom on the boat, we recommend using the facilities at the marina before your charter., there is a small marine toilet located in the hull of each of our sailing catamarans, but it is not a full bathroom., does the tour go to the “domes home” , we do our best to accommodate based on weather conditions. however, we do not go to the dome homes on our 2 hour tour. if the wind and seas are favorable your captain may be able to sail there but will not have time to stop on an island beach. our longer 4 hour (double boat tour time slots) charters are recommended, which usually allows more time to for a relaxed sail to island hop on beaches toward the “domes home.” most people do not realize how far away the ruins are and therefore it makes the tour just about getting there and getting back instead of enjoying a nice sail and shell with the current weather and wind conditions. , can we celebrate a special occasion aboard off the hook adventures, yes, off the hook adventures is happy to help you celebrate special occasions like birthdays, engagements, and small wedding parties..

We even offer Official and legal small wedding ceremonies by Captain Corey as authorized by the Governor of the sate of Florida for a Notarized wedding license.

Only an additional $50 dollar service charge on your private sailing catamaran  boat tour.

( please leave a voice mail or text message  if interested in this original and authentic boat tour upgrade.)

  *If you have concerns, please address them before making a confirmed online reservation.*

Off the hook adventures reserves the right to cancel any charter reservation for weather issues and safety concerns ., off the hook adventures  will refund 100% of the deposit for any charters that we cancel.  .

Book your boat tour now or call 239.394.1455. Kids under 16 $15 off!

You will drive your own CraigCat® Mini Catamaran!

About the Boats

The 7 Best Beaches To Fish From Near Marco Island, Fl

We started Captain Experiences to make it easy to book fishing and hunting guides around the world. With over 1,500 Damn Good Guides, our platform makes finding and booking a trip seamless. Head here to check out our trips.

If you're looking for some great beach fishing spots in the Marco Island area, you're in luck. With miles of beautiful coastline and a unique ecosystem, there are plenty of opportunities to catch a variety of fish species. Here are seven of the top beaches to fish from in the Marco Island area:

1) Tigertail Beach

Located on the northern end of Marco Island, Tigertail Beach is a popular spot for anglers looking to catch a variety of fish species, including snook, redfish, and trout. The beach features a tidal lagoon and is accessible by foot, with plenty of parking and restroom facilities.

2) South Marco Beach

Situated at the southern tip of the island, South Marco Beach is a great spot for surf fishing. Anglers can expect to catch a variety of species such as pompano, whiting, and snook. The beach is accessible by foot and features amenities like parking, restrooms, and picnic areas.

3) Caxambas Pass

Located on the southern end of Marco Island, Caxambas Pass is a prime location for fishing enthusiasts. The pass provides opportunities to catch tarpon, snook, and redfish. Accessible by boat or by foot, the area offers parking and restroom facilities.

4) Hideaway Beach

This private beach area, accessible to members or by special permission, offers excellent fishing opportunities. Anglers can catch species like pompano, flounder, and snook. It features beautiful, secluded surroundings and is accessible by foot, with limited facilities.

5) Keewaydin Island

Located just north of Marco Island, Keewaydin Island is a hidden gem for surf fishing. The island is only accessible by boat and offers opportunities to catch species such as redfish, snook, and seatrout. While facilities are minimal, the pristine environment makes it worth the trip.

6) Coconut Island

Also known as "Kice Island," this remote beach is accessible only by boat. Coconut Island offers great fishing for species like snook, redfish, and sheepshead. The lack of facilities means you'll need to come prepared, but the uncrowded fishing experience is well worth it.

7) Sand Dollar Spit

This sandbar, located near Tigertail Beach, is another excellent spot for fishing. Anglers can catch a variety of species, including snook, redfish, and tarpon. Accessible by boat or by wading through shallow waters from Tigertail Beach, it offers a unique fishing experience with minimal facilities.

Book Your Next Marco Island Fishing Trip

If you're headed to the Marco Island area with hopes of reeling in a big catch, surf fishing from the beach is a great experience and there are plenty of places to throw a line in. If you're trying to find a local professional fishing guide to improve your chances of catching something, book your trip with one of our many Marco Island fishing charters . To learn more about fishing on and around Marco Island, go read our updated Marco Island fishing guide .

Gavin Abbott

Updated on June 17, 2024

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6 Beaches for Budding Swimmers, Surfers and Castle Builders

For families with children, we found half a dozen beaches in the United States and Mexico, each tailored to a particular summer activity.

By Freda Moon

A family beach vacation is an American classic. But depending on their children’s ages and inclinations, some families may be drawn to different kinds of shorelines: those featuring clear, calm water for snorkeling and learning to swim; or, for shell collectors and young naturalists, sandy stretches carpeted with seashells or bordered by tide pools. For castle builders, fine sand is a must, while would-be surfers need tidy waves, ready to ride. Here are six great beaches in the United States and Baja California for family-favorite summer activities.

For castle builders: Mission Beach , San Diego

San Diego’s temperate climate allows for barefoot beach days year-round. For those who’d rather build with sand than lie in it, Mission Beach has another advantage: San Diego Sand Castles and the sand sculptor JT Estrela. Mr. Estrela, a former math teacher, offers lessons in the art of sand castle construction on this family-friendly Southern California beach, where the sand is perfect for castle building: The grains are fine but not too silty, clean below the tide line, free of shells and rocks, and pack hard.

In his two-to-three-hour sessions (starting at $160 for two people, $20 for each additional person), Mr. Estrela works with families to build elaborate five-foot-tall castles. The goal is for participants to “feel like this insider of arcane knowledge,” he said.

While the best sand in the San Diego area is at the offshore city of Coronado in San Diego Bay, Mr. Estrela prefers working with families at Mission Beach. Known for its boardwalk amusement park, Belmont Park ; historic beachfront swimming pool, the Plunge ; and excellent playgrounds, it’s particularly fun for kids. The smell of cotton candy and hot dogs hangs in the air, mingling with shrieks from the Giant Dipper, Belmont’s 1925 wooden roller coaster, squawking sea gulls and salt spray. Its biggest downside is its popularity, which means parking can be a challenge.

For new swimmers: Onekahakaha Beach Park , Hilo, Hawaii

In an archipelago known for spectacular beaches, Onekahakaha Beach Park , on the rugged, volcanic coast of the Big Island, may seem a counterintuitive choice. At Onekahakaha, with its two large, sandy-bottomed ocean pools enclosed by lava rock walls and backed by palm trees and an expansive grassy lawn, the sand is mostly below the surface.

Separated from the Pacific Ocean’s notoriously powerful waves and rip currents, the seawater within the pools is warm and placid, protected and shallow, which makes it excellent for little kids learning to swim, as well as for older kids to snorkel. It’s also home to nonthreatening marine life (no sharks here), including green sea turtles.

Though the water is only about waist-deep on an adult, there are lifeguards, adding to Onekahakaha’s reputation for safety. And without a wide swath of sand between the pools and the shoreline path, the water is accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. There’s also a swing set, picnic tables and proximity to the lush Hilo area.

As long as you’re on the Big Island, the site of several active volcanoes, visit the thermal pools alongside some of its beaches, including Pohoiki Black Sand Beach at Isaac Hale Beach Park , 40 miles south of Onekahakaha. The ocean there may be a bit rough for young swimmers, but it’s a great place to show children a fresh lava flow.

For would-be surfers: Wrightsville Beach , N.C.

Wrightsville Beach is considered by many surf historians to be the home of East Coast surfing and one of the first places outside Polynesia and the Pacific Rim for the sport to catch on .

It also has some of the best beginner’s breaks in the United States , said Sean Griffin, 37, a surfing instructor and the father of a 5-year-old, who started riding the local break when he was 8.

He points out that Wrightsville is the only surfing beach in the state that has clear, blue water. Being able to see one’s hands and feet and the sandy bottom “makes anyone feel more comfortable in the ocean,” he said.

At Surf With Sean , Mr. Griffin offers private 90-minute lessons ($95 to $120) to surfers as young as 3 and into their 80s, as well as surf camps for kids ($425 per week). “There’s no reason they shouldn’t be able to learn or give it a shot,” said Mr. Griffin, who provides all gear in all sizes, including adaptive equipment.

There’s more to the area’s kid appeal than its waves. Mr. Griffin points to Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier , at the center of the beach, where his son “loves seeing all the salty fisherman pulling in fish,” and the big, modern playground at Wrightsville Beach Park .

For tide pool explorers: Carkeek Park , Seattle

Naomi Tomky — a lifelong Seattleite, author of “ The Pacific Northwest Seafood Cookbook ” and mother of two daughters, 6 and 8 — recommends Carkeek Park in Seattle for an immersive experience in Puget Sound marine life. At low tide, Ms. Tomky said, the narrow beach “just goes out for ages,” exposing tide pools filled with starfish, sea snails, anemones and “many, many crabs, from the size of your fingernail to the size of your hand.”

Unlike tide-pooling elsewhere on the West Coast, where the powerful Pacific Ocean requires caution because of dangerous sneaker waves , Puget Sound is rich with life but calm enough for Ms. Tomky to let her daughters explore on their own.

Just 30 minutes from downtown Seattle, Carkeek is part of the Seattle Aquarium’s Beach Naturalist Program , which sends naturalists to various shorelines around the area.

Along with the below-the-tide-line intrigue, Carkeek is also known for an annual spectacle: spawning salmon. In the fall, it’s possible to stand over the park’s Piper’s Creek and watch the fish — a sacred Indigenous symbol of the Pacific Northwest — on the run.

“It’s one of the coolest things you can see,” said Ms. Tomky, “to understand how these fish share the city with us as they swim back into their former home.”

For shell hunters: Tigertail Beach , Marco Island, Fla.

Sanibel Island, a barrier island just off Fort Myers, Fla., is one of the most famous shelling destinations on the planet. That popularity comes with a downside: It’s often picked over by enthusiasts who hit the shoreline at dawn. The island is also still recovering from Hurricane Ian, which badly damaged its infrastructure in 2022.

As an alternative, the shelling guide Evan Kuperman (a.k.a. Captain Evan) recommends Tigertail Beach on Marco Island, about an hour south.

Mr. Kuperman, a Florida master naturalist , operates Sand Dollar Shelling Tours . His tours ($125 per adult, $90 per child, and families of up to six people for $650) take guests by boat to places like the Ten Thousand Islands , a mangrove mud flat habitat and National Wildlife Refuge.

For visitors unable to join one of his trips, Mr. Kuperman said that Tigertail, a publicly accessible beach ($8 parking fee), offers exceptional shelling.

Marco Island is more built up than Sanibel, but Tigertail, at the island’s north end, is a county-owned park with a lagoon and a position facing the Gulf of Mexico that lends itself to accumulating seashells, including rare and striking ones, like the spiny ornamented lace murex and reddish brown banded tulip .

But everyone is hoping for a junonia, or Juno’s volute, a sea snail that has to travel far in churning waters to reach the beach intact. “You don’t find it,” said Mr. Kuperman, “it finds you.”

For young snorkelers: Playa el Chileno , Los Cabos, Mexico

About halfway between bustling Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, Playa el Chileno is no longer an undeveloped local secret. Now backed by the sprawling Auberge resort Chileno Bay Resort & Residences , the beach remains public and comparatively tranquil. Awarded the Blue Flag certification for meeting stringent environmental standards, Chileno is exceptionally well maintained.

While catamaran snorkeling tours come and go from Chileno Bay, it’s also possible to reach the reef from the shore, which makes it good for inexperienced snorkelers who might find it intimidating to leap into deep water without easing their way in. High Tide Sea Expeditions offers snorkeling excursions via kayak that start at nearby Playa Santa Maria, hug the coast and arrive at Chileno by water. For younger kids and anyone who prefers more time in the water, there’s a guided two-hour tour that visits both beaches by car ($95 to $130 per person, including equipment).

Among the roughly 50 species of fish that snorkelers might encounter along Chileno’s rocky outcroppings and coral reef, there are large tuna, sea turtles, puffer fish, Panamic green moray eels, Cortez angelfish and blacknosed butterflyfish — among many other colorful creatures. The coral here is less vibrant than some places, but the number and variety of fish are thrilling.

Freda Moon, a frequent contributor to the Travel section, lives on a boat in San Francisco Bay with her husband and two kids. Her upcoming National Geographic book with the coauthor Ashley Harrell, “100 Beaches of a Lifetime,” will be published next year.

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