Green Businesses
Choose Businesses That Care for the Keys
The natural beauty of the Florida Keys is part of what makes being here so special. Across the island chain, local businesses are taking steps to conserve natural resources, reduce waste and help protect the waters and ecosystems around them.
You can be part of that effort. Use the listings below to find accommodations, restaurants, marinas, dive operators, fishing guides and other businesses recognized for environmentally responsible practices.
Find Green Businesses in the Florida Keys
Ready to make your trip a little greener? Browse the businesses below and use the filters to find participating places to stay, eat, dock, dive, and fish.
Green Lodging
Rest easy knowing your stay can make a difference. Florida Green Lodging properties are recognized for efforts to conserve resources such as water and energy and reduce waste. Look for the Green Lodging leaf when choosing where to stay in the Keys.
Blue Star Operators
Heading out on or under the water? Choose a Blue Star-certified dive operator or fishing guide. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary’s Blue Star program recognizes operators that help visitors enjoy diving, snorkeling and fishing while following practices that safeguard the Keys’ marine resources.
Clean Marinas
A day on the water starts at the dock. Clean Marina businesses help make environmentally responsible boating part of the Florida Keys experience. Use the listings below to find participating marinas throughout the island chain.
Ocean Friendly Restaurants
Make your next meal a little friendlier to the ocean. Ocean Friendly Restaurants are recognized for making choices designed to reduce waste and support healthier oceans.
Skip the Stuff
Sometimes less really is more. Restaurants and food trucks participating in Skip the Stuff help reduce single-use waste by providing items such as plastic utensils, straws and condiment packets only when customers ask for them.
Visitors can help, too. Simply say “no thanks” to the extras you don’t need.
Plastic Free Key West
Plastic Free Key West celebrates Key West businesses taking action to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, single-use plastics. Participating businesses make voluntary commitments to reduce plastic use through more sustainable choices.
Protect Our Seagrass
Seagrass beds are part of what makes Florida Keys waters so special. They also need a little help from boaters. Propellers can damage shallow seagrass beds, leaving scars behind. Check tide and navigational charts before you head out, and steer clear of shallow areas. A handy local reminder is: “Brown, brown, run aground. Blue, blue, sail on through."
Filters
Keys Boat Tours
Explore Florida Keys' stunning waters with expert-guided boat tours and snorkeling!
Florida Keys Flats Fishing
Flats Guide, led by Captain Barry Hoffman, offers expert fly and light tackle fishing charters in the Florida Keys. With over 33 years of guiding experience, Captain Barry specializes in sight fishing for tarpon, bonefish, snook, and redfish. All charters are catch-and-release, ensuring sustainable fishing practices.
Captain Hook’s Marina and Dive Center
A Blue Star dive shop and marina at mile marker 53 on Vaca Cut, running reef and wreck trips twice a day, plus snorkeling, sunset cruises, boat rentals and a bait and tackle counter. They will also put you on a coral nursery dive with Mote Marine Lab, which is not something most dive shops can offer.
Compass Rose Charters
Key West Florida Fishing provides personalized fishing charters targeting species like tarpon, bonefish, permit, snapper, and grouper.
Longtab Charters
Luxury private charters from Summerland Key — fish, snorkel, dive, sandbars & sunset cruises aboard a 30′ Hydrocat.
Captain's Corner Dive Center and Boat Charters
Dive Key West’s stunning reefs and wrecks with expert guides at Captain’s Corner!
Florida Keys Dive Center
Three-dive adventures, snorkeling & scuba charters from Islamorada with courses & lobstering.
Dive Isla Bella
Explore vibrant Florida Keys reefs with Dive Isla Bella—adventure awaits underwater!
Finz Dive Center
Six divers, one boat, and a NOAA Blue Star operator running everything from a two tank reef dive to a ten hour run out to the Dry Tortugas. The Vandenberg, Joe's Tug, night dives and spearfishing are all on the board, with a divemaster in the water every time.
Off the Charts!
Off the Charts! offers personalized fishing charters, eco-tours, and sandbar excursions aboard a 32' Whitewater center console in Key West. Led by a captain with over 40 years of experience, they provide all necessary gear, safety equipment, and fishing licenses are included.
Tilden's Scuba Center
Tilden's Scuba Center is Marathon's full-service dive shop, sending divers and snorkelers out to the reefs and wrecks of the Middle Keys every day. Aboard the Miss Jackie you can explore a 188-foot wreck, try SNUBA, or earn your first certification, with a full gear shop and air fills waiting back on shore.
Captain Hook's Dive Key West
A NOAA Blue Star dive operator running two trips a day out to the Vandenberg, Sand Key Lighthouse and the reefs off Key West, with a divemaster in the water on every dive. Snorkelers get their own departures and all the gear, and no experience is required.
Lost Reef Adventures
Lost Reef Adventures is a 5-Star PADI dive center in Key West offering daily scuba diving, snorkeling trips, certifications, sunset cruises, and private charters—all backed by 30 years of experience and full-service gear support.
Island Ventures
Explore Key Largo's vibrant reefs with private, expert-led scuba and snorkel tours!
Pirates Cove Watersports
Pirates Cove Watersports, located at Reefhouse Resort & Marina in Key Largo, is a top-rated watersports hub offering jet ski rentals, scuba diving & snorkeling, parasailing, eco-tours, sunset cruises, dolphin swims, fishing charters, and more—all under one roof.