We’re at Newfound Harbor near Little Torch Key.

We had a beautiful day cruising on the Atlantic ocean side in “Hawk Channel” which is the ocean between some reef shallows far out from the Keys and the Keys. There is about 25 ft. of water all along the Keys, then 1 to 5 ft. at the shoals followed by deep ocean of 200 to 600 ft. deep right after the shoals. The shoals offer some minor protection from any big ocean waves when you’re in the channel, but it’s still easy to get big waves there. However, today there were only 2 to 3 ft. waves, so it was a pleasant ride down the keys from Marathon. 2 days ago we were out with Ann in 3 to 5 ft waves and it was a bouncy and splashy ride.
Newfound Harbor is surrounded by keys (including the ultra-swanky Little Palm Island) so it has almost no wave action. There are nice homes all along the waterfront, most with a dock and a boat lift.
We took the dinghy into Little Torch Key where there is a marina dock that we can use. We walked across the highway to a restaurant on the Gulf side. We could dinghy there too and we can also dinghy to Ramrod Key nearby on Hwy. US 1. Little Torch Key has lots of boat canals cut into the Key so that almost every street has houses that all have boat docks in te back with ocean access through the canals. I bought some frozen whole squid at the marina for bait to use for fishing tonight.
We got back to Nonchalance, tied up the dinghy and were eating a late lunch on the aft deck when I spotted this 3 ft. barracuda next to the dinghy.

Later I went snorkeling around the boat. The water was cool, but not too cold to enjoy snorkeling without a wetsuit. The visibility was not that good, maybe only 6 ft. probably due to algae in the water. I did see coral formations, sponges, a few fish and a crab trap with a very large crab in it.

We think we’ll stay anchored here tomorrow and explore the area, or even go out trolling for fish in Nonchalance if the waves are small in the Atlantic.