This place had a magical feel about it that cant be explained unless you see for yourself. Worth it in everyway, walking through the fort gave you a sense of what it was like to be out there back in the civil war times with alot of the original items left behind. Also the snorkling was Great! best i have ever done, you can snorkle around the moat walls and see pieces of what looks like ships still left under water. If you can make it once in your life you will not regret it!

Although it cost well over $300 for the trip to the island for myself and my wife, this was one of the most unique and memorable parts of our trip to Key West. The trip started with leaving port and traveling on a two hour boat ride to Fort Jefferson. We were supplied with breakfast and lunch and, while it was 4 star dining, it was suffice. We were also supplied with snorkling gear and had the better part of the day to explore coral out in the Gulf of Mexico. The Fort itself is an amazing structure, as the ammount of bricks used in building it is astounishing. There is a self-guided tour to get the history of the facilities. We found a number of travelers on our tour were primarily interested in bird watching, as the island is a major migratory path and a number of rare species were seen on the day of our trip. Overall, don't let the cost deter you, as you have to factor in the entire package. You'll be getting about 4 hours on the boat (and we had a number of "sightings" along the way), the chance to snorkel some of the best reefs in the Keys all day, as well as the chance to tour a truely unique facility.

This is such a unique experience that you MUST do it at least once if you are visiting the keys. The fort is very interesting to tour, the surrounding water is great for snorkeling, and the grounds themselves are a perfect pininc place. We took one of the fast boats over for a day trip, but you can get there by plane also.

the boat ride is rough , bring sea sick pills if you get sick easily!!! DONT BRING SMALL CHILDREN!!! it was absolutly amazing. take the fast cat not the sea plane, the plane just drops you off and leaves if you want a tour the cat is the way to go...

Awesome! One of those things in life that I said I "Gotta do" and it was a remarkable trip. The Fort is filled with history and the Snorkling was refreshing. A little Expensive with the sea plane but very worth it! Much wildlife seen from the Air. I actually saw a Marlin or Sailfish chasing down baitfish! Awesome sight!!!! Will Take the kids back when they are older.

Dry Tortugas was a real treat; the staff on at the national park were so interesting to talk to. Very nice people. A faint drawback - a generator droned all the time - the power source for the staff. Wish wind power was available for them in this era of global warming.

This is one of the best trips in the Keys. I would highly recommend it and I plan to go back as soon as I can. We took the Yankee Freedom II ferry on the 70 mile, 2 hr. trip from Key West. The cost was $129.00/person. We paid for four people...it was expensive, but well worth it. Tortuga Jack was a hoot!!! The other staff and crew were very friendly and informative during the trip. Breakfast and lunch were included in the price of the trip. The sandwiches and salads for lunch were very good. The cabin is air conditioned, but I spent most of the time on the bow of the boat looking at the water. The water is the most amazing blue I have ever seen. We saw turtles and dolphins in the water on the way out and on the way back. The snorkeling along the moat wall was awesome. You can see lots of fire coral and fish. However, if you are a good swimmer, I would swim out to the coral heads about 200 yards off the left of the fort. The current is strong and it is quite a swim out and then back. We did it and it was totally amazing out there. The coral heads were huge and there were more fish, rays, and coral there than I have seen anywhere else in the keys. The fort was interesting if you like history. We did not take the guided tour because we really wanted to snorkel first. However, I would go to the top...the view is spectacular! The boat ride is long...two and a half hours both ways. If you get seasick, I would take something before going. I would not recommend taking small children on this trip.

We took the Fast Cat service out of Key West in 2005. Excellent service, wonderful boat ride (June), great lunch provided. Snorkeling is outstanding, and -- one of the best aspects -- easy and family friendly. You can spend the entire day snorkeling around the perimeter of the fort in water that is mostly no more than chest deep. Great for kids and uncertain swimmers. Nice, too, that you can stand up in the water and talk about what you're seeing with your fellow snorkelers. If you're looking for deep water, it's also there (snorkeling and scuba). Easy, no stress, water like a hot tub, and the aquatic life is glorious. Don't wait; do it!

This fort is unbelievable. Have flown out on air boats as well as taken the ferry from Key West on several occasions. The snorkeling (no need to dive) is incredible; fish, turtles, coral, etc. are plentiful and beautiful. I'm a history buff so the fort was a treat and to know that the doctor that treated John Wilkes Booth (Dr. Mudd, as in your name is...) was incarcerated there after the Lincoln assasination is remarkable. Anyway, just go and take everything you need (water,unbrella, etc.) with you, its pretty primative. You'll love it and take lots of pics. Waterman

If you love snorkeling you will love this place. If you love history you will love this place. If you love bird watching, long boat rides, sea turtles, you will love this place. the only complaint i have is the stay was too short. next time i will camp out overnight.