The Islamorada sandbar is a wide, shallow flat in Florida Bay, just off Holiday Isle. Boats anchor up at slack tide, people get in the water, music plays, the day goes by. From the dock at Breezy Palms marina at Mile Marker 80, the run is about 20 minutes. You can only get there by boat.
Out of Breezy Palms at Mile Marker 80, you head north into Florida Bay. The course is well-marked and the run takes about 20 minutes in any of the rental fleet. We give you the route on the chart during the dock orientation, point out the no-wake zones, and mark the cut you'll take through the channel.
You can also do it from a few other marinas in the upper Keys, but Breezy Palms is one of the closer launch points. The route stays in protected bay water the whole way, so the ride is calm even when the offshore reef is choppy.
The sandbar is a shallow flat, so the water depth at any given spot depends on the tide. At low tide, the firm bottom is ankle to knee deep across a wide area. You can stand, wade, and walk hundreds of feet. At high tide, that same flat is chest-deep or deeper and you're floating instead of standing.
Most groups want the standing-depth experience, so they aim for low or mid-tide. Tide tables for the Islamorada area are published by NOAA Tides and Currents. Check the day before you go and plan your departure time around it. We'll tell you the call at the dock.
Weekends and major holidays are when the sandbar is most social. Boats raft up stem to stern, music plays from a dozen sound systems, kids and dogs and floats are everywhere. If that's what you want, Saturday at low tide is the move.
If you want the same shallow water without the crowd, go on a Tuesday or Wednesday at the same tide. A handful of boats, the same warm shallow flat, no waiting. Families, older groups, and anyone who wants to actually hear the conversation tend to prefer weekdays.
Spring break, Memorial Day weekend, the Fourth of July, and the weekend before Labor Day are peak intensity. Plan for it or plan around it.
The boat comes with the anchor, line, and life jackets. You don't need to bring those.
Deck boats are the sandbar specialists. They have flat decks, comfortable seating, and a swim ladder that makes getting in and out of the water easy. Our 22-foot, 24-foot, and 25-foot Hurricane deck boats hold 10 to 12 guests and are the most popular for sandbar groups.
If you're 4 to 6 people, a 21-foot Sea Fox center console works well and runs a little faster. Center consoles are tighter on space but more nimble. The 26-foot Sea Fox is the largest in the fleet and handles 10 people with room to spare on a windy day.
See the full fleet for specs and live availability on each boat.
Pick a boat that fits the group, leave from Breezy Palms, anchor up at low tide. Half-day rentals get you out and back without rushing.
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