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!

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

Awesome sandbar trip for our family of six. The boat had everything we needed. It was a great…read moreexcursion on our Florida Keys vacation. We have been to the keys several times and this was a truly memorable experience. Our 14 and 11-year-olds both said that the sandbar trip was the highlight of their whole vacation.

We booked a tour with Captain Jim this weekend. Due to some rough winds he gave us options on our…read moresnorkeling expedition and totally went with our desire for adventure. He took us to the best spot for snorkeling in those conditions. We did a combo tour and when we got to the sandbar he knew the right people to get our boat into a great spot and had all the gear we could want for a fun afternoon!

Outstanding fishing year after year! Captain Kit, Angel Roman and Donny provide World Class…read moreFishing Experiences. We have booked dozens of fishing charters over the years but are so glad that we were introduced a couple of years ago to Captain Kit and the Dirty Boat. Our vote for best fishing in South Florida.

I had an awesome time fishing with Kit and Angel, they continuously worked hard to put me on fish…read moreand walked me through their process and the rationale behind it without being condescending. When we were traveling from spot to spot Angel regaled me with exciting stories of diving and fishing. I'll definitely come back next time I'm in Florida, and will be recommending them to any friends looking for a solid charter in the keys. As an added bonus, Dirty Boat offers split charters, which not only allows you to save some money, but also meet interesting people along the way.

Dan and Richie were fantastic hosts and guides. We had a lot of fun and caught great snapper and…read moretriggerfish for dinner. They recommended a great local spot to have the fish cooked up for us that night and it was delicious!

Did a 3/4 day with them. Was an amazing day. Salt and crew were fanatic and put us on the fish…read more We will be back for sure and highly recommend them.

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 great afternoon with Jennifer today! She showed us around Islamorada and we had a really…read morerelaxing day - she was very attentive to customizing the day for us and super nice to spend a day on the boat with! Plan to contact her again for our next trip down to Islamorad

Captain Jen is the best!! We took a half day and spent a few hours snorkeling and some time at the…read moresand bar. She made sure we had everything we needed for snorkeling. We saw a turkey and 2 dolphin sightings- a smaller family of about 5 and then a whole pod! If you are down in the keys and are looking to get out on the ocean Jen is who to go with!! My family had an amazing time :)

Friendly,accommodating and boat is different from others out on the water. Jack and Sarah were…read moregreat host and would recommend them to anyone who goes down to The Keys!!! Thank you for making my lady's birthday special!!!

Took a trip at the end of October and had the best afternoon with a boat ride and at the sand bar…read more Captain Jack was great, fun and kind. Would def recommend this excursion for anyone that visits the area.