Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida's snorkelling paradise

Just 110 kilometres from Key West, in the very south of Florida, seven small islands extend the archipelago of the Keys: the Dry Tortugas. This astonishing name is a combination of two names, one Spanish, the other English.

In the early 16th century, the Spaniard Juan Ponce de León, considered to be the first European to explore Florida, "discovered" this string of islets inhabited mainly by turtles. Logically, he named them Las Tortugas ("the turtles" in Spanish). The adjective Dry was added later: there was not a trace of drinking water on any of these islands, to the great misfortune of the castaways!

Many ships have been lost in the waters off the Dry Tortugas: the first lighthouse was built in 1826, and has now been replaced by a modern 25-metre-high structure.

Because of their position in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, these insignificant islets assumed strategic importance for the United States, and became an advanced post for the US Navy. In 1846, construction began on Fort Jefferson, the impressive brick defensive structure that still guards the island of Garden Key.

The fort later became a prison, then a quarantine station in a remote location, before being classified as a historic monument. Finally, in 1992, the Dry Tortugas National Park was created, reputed to be the most inaccessible of the American national parks!

The Dry Tortugas are well worth a visit. The national park is regularly linked to the port of Key West by the Yankee Freedom ferry, which is used for organised day trips to the islets. It's also possible to get there by hire boat or, more expensively, by seaplane!

The heart of the Dry Tortugas National Park is located on Garden Key, in the grounds of Fort Jefferson, which is particularly well maintained and houses the information centre.

Here too is the only authorised camping site on the islets: very basic (toilets only), places are limited and must be booked 9 to 12 months in advance. The lucky few will have the chance to admire an unparalleled starry sky, in total darkness! As a bonus, campers are allowed to bring a kayak to explore this mini archipelago.

During the day, make the most of the beautiful sandy beaches for a swim, without forgetting your mask and snorkel: the Dry Tortugas National Park, whose land surface represents just 1% of its area, is best explored under the sea! Tropical fish and amazingly shaped coral are easy to explore in the shallow waters around the islands.