Florida Keys Refuge · Man Key
Smaller. Quieter. Half a mile east of its better-known neighbor in the Key West National Wildlife Refuge. Same clear water, same patch reef, fewer boats. Almost always part of a Woman Key charter day.
Why Man Key isn't an afterthought
Most charters that visit Woman Key also stop at Man Key — not because the brochures say to, but because anchoring at Man Key on a windy Woman Key day means smoother water.
Tour boats and DIY captains usually default to Woman Key. Man Key gets less attention — which means more privacy, fewer wakes, quieter water.
The wind direction that exposes Woman Key often leaves Man Key sheltered, and vice versa. Captain Dustin picks the better anchorage by reading the day.
The patch reef structure is similar to Woman Key. Parrotfish, sergeant majors, occasional turtles, sand-dollar-grade clear water on calm days.
A half-day, often paired
Most Man Key visits happen as part of a Woman Key half-day. From our Perry Hotel & Marina dock the run is about 30-40 minutes west. Captain Dustin anchors at whichever island is in the better wind position for the day, then drifts the boat to the second island after a couple of hours.
Both islands are in the open Gulf approach to the Marquesas, so wind direction matters. North wind keeps Man Key calm and Woman Key bumpy. South wind reverses it. Captain Dustin checks the forecast and picks the order — you may not notice the decision, but the calm anchor side will be obvious once you're there.
Same activities as Woman Key — snorkel the patch reef, walk the beach (refuge rules permitting), float in the shallows, eat lunch on the boat. The difference is texture, not activity: Man Key feels more remote because fewer other boats stop here.
Man Key is inside the Key West National Wildlife Refuge. Colonial bird nesting season (March-August) closes portions of shoreline. We anchor only where allowed and follow refuge guidelines — the islands are wild and need to stay that way.
How Six Fins gets you to Man Key
Both formats launch from our Perry Hotel & Marina dock on Stock Island. Man Key is private-charter only.
Half-day, your group only, paired Woman Key + Man Key. Jeanneau NC 895, USCG-licensed captain. From $1,195.
See private charter →Captain picks the day's clearest snorkel stops — Man Key and Woman Key are reliable picks. Plus a couple of patch reef stops on the way out.
See snorkel charter →Man Key FAQ
Send us your date and group size. We'll match it to weather, anchor at the calm-side island first.
Or email info@sixfinscharter.com with your date and group size.