Florida Keys Paddling Atlas (Paddling Series) Paperback – September 1, 2007

The title conveys perfectly what this slim, lightweight guide is: a collection of practical navigation charts for the recreational paddler. It more than pays for itself compared to the cost of purchasing separate navigation charts to cover its scope, which extends from Key Largo to Key West and beyond. It has just enough text to add some local tips, but most of the useful information is displayed on the charts themselves. It does not, however, go into any depth as a field guide, for which Bill Keogh’s book is superior.Of course, being published in 2007, it is already outdated in some place names and access advice. Also, I found the use of “go-to points”, scattered GPS landmarks whose coordinates appear in an appendix, unnecessary and distracting. Maybe I’m a dinosaur, but I prefer to navigate with visual cues rather than GPS, and there is already more than enough detail in the charts to allow this. What I value more as a visitor is having detailed information on free public put-in sites. It would be nice to have this detailed more clearly on each map. Maybe I’m also a dinosaur who’s colour-blind, but I couldn’t distinguish the colours of the two types of launch site symbols. Lastly, it would be clearer to have a little overlap between the maps or at least refer to adjacent maps by page number rather than having arrows pointing to landmarks which are off the page. None of these are serious faults, just suggestions for a welcome future edition.

This is one of those heavy-paged colorful books that are a joy just to hold and smell! Fifty-two charts illustrate the stunning water world from Key Largo down to Key West and out to the Dry Tortugas. Using colors and symbols, each chart (at a scale of about two inches per mile) details water depths, habitat, markers, fishing and snorkeling spots, put-in locations, hazards, camping areas -- everything you need to know. It's the perfect guide for not only paddlers, but fishermen and boaters too, and also the less adventuresome who want to explore the Florida Keys as they drive US 1 -- poking around hidden spots, wading in the shallows with their cameras. The book is heavily illustrated with relevant and beautiful photographs. Along with Bill Keogh's Paddling Guide, this book is a must for those who want to truly know and experience the Florida Keys.Marsh Muirhead, author of "Key West Explained - a guide for the traveler."

Having recently visited and kayaked a few locations in the Florida Keys, I find that this Atlas has incredible potential for making future expeditions easier. The maps and accompanying info seem to be super detailed. I appreciate the efforts Bill and Mary put into their book. Although the fact that the research was done prior to 2007, the maps are essentially a guide at this point, but extremely helpful in understanding the unique characteristics of each location. This is helpful to someone who may merely be visiting and has no idea what to expect!! There are many useful warnings and helpful hints that also make this guide essential to any tourist (experienced kayakers included) wishing to go out onto the waters of the Florida Keys away from the crowds.

Great look and organization - would be 5 stars except that the descriptions of routes and put-ins are skimpy, oddly organized and the coordinates for GPS waypoints are not easily accessed. I wanted to (and did) take the book in a chart bag on the deck of my kayak but it is not made in a way that it can be left open to the page in use. It's expensive but if you're kayaking in the Keys you'll use it and you'll want to take it along. I'm tempted to cut it apart so I can more easily take the chart in use.

Although published a number of years ago, this book is a must-have for kayaking in the Florida Keys. It's detailed charts give the kind of information that a paddler wants at an affordable price. There's no need to purchase navagation charts, etc. Plus, the authors provide sufficient text to give newcomers to the area a good idea of the local attractions and places to see. My wife and I used it extensively for kayaking in the middle keys and were very pleased with it. The only negative that I found is that the book has a conventional "saddle-stitch binding" which makes it difficult to fold completely back in order to follow a chart while paddling (protecting the book in a waterproof case, of course).

I initially borrowed this atlas from the public library and found it so informative that I had to order a copy to keep permanently. My husband and I just started kayaking several months ago and have found this atlas to be indispensable. Among the many features that we find useful, the two that we appreciate the most are probably the locations of all the free and paid launch sites and the mile marker numbers (essential when looking for any location in the Keys). The book is incredibly detailed and accurate. Thanks to the authors for the time and effort they put into compiling this excellent volume.

30 years old and have been going to the keys since I was a kid and I've never been able to discover the keys hidden beauty till now.I have gone to the keys about 2-3 times a year and always try to find new adventures while I'm there. Until I purchased this book, I never realized what I was missing.IF YOUR GOING TO THE KEYS AND PLAN ON KAYAKING - this is worth the $22. Trust me, Ive spent a lot of time down there trying to discover it on my own. This book opened my eyes!

I have used this dozens of times during my annual kayaking trip to the keys and have enjoyed many of the paddles from Key Largo to Boca Chica. Well worth the purchase. One word of warning, often times, the launch spots no longer exist or require a two person port due to the distance. Look up the Keys Paddling Website, as that seems to be a bit more reliable for launch spots.