Yes, these jet ski's should NOT have been there by no means. But getting rid of these tours is obsurd! Coming from some one who has not only lived on a boat, owned a boat and a jet ski, and also been on many watercraft tours, I know what I am talking about. Banning them from going through the mouring feilds by Christmas tree island, Flemming key, Boca Chica and many more is even more ridicilous. First of all, they are ALL illegally moured (excluding the 'city mouring' feild) Second of all if you can take the waves caused by the tropics many rain, thunder and wind storms or anything else caused by mother nature, then why is a jet ski wake any different? How about this: get your boat legal and then you can start crying. Next, no one under any means should be diving, snorkeling or swimming in the ocean WITHOUT a dive flag! So put one up people! Each guide is instructed by each owner to give an ellaborate 'safety speach' on "staying away from other boats at all times (at least 100 yards), all jet propelled watercrafts are to yeild to EVERY boat under any circumstances, 300 ft from dive flags (which are SUPPOSED to be visible from the highest part of the vessel)...so on, and so forth." Whether or not these guides take the initiative to do so is on the owners and managers running these places. So how about blaming the ones that are actually the problem and not every jet ski company in general?! What SHOULD happen is this: new employees for these types of jobs should ONLY be hired under STRICT rules. ALL employees should actually have a good attitude and discipline. Enough with just hiring people to "fill the spot" because NOT EVERYONE can do this job. THAT'S the problem these days! Employers are only "just getting by" with what they have. It seems like in order to get into a job like this you have to "know somebody" and no matter how much these people who have been "bubba'd in" mess up, they are never punished because "it's so-and-so's cousin or friend or whatever!" So come one watersports companies!!! How about actually hiring some one who WANTS the job and not just "filling the spot" with some punk kid from the Jersey shore! Not only that but how about the fishing boat that are anchored in the middle of a channel! What about them?! Oh that's right, the only problem out in our STILL BEAUTIFUL waters of the Florida Keys is JET SKI'S! Yeah, right. How about educating yourselves before you go and bash some one's job! Let's get rid of these PUNK tour guides and replace them with some one with some good ole' fashioned RESPECT!

it is heartbreaking to see how the quality of our near-shore waters has been so compromised and degraded by these jet ski tours. the ones at the reach and casa marina leave about every two hours. those hotels are also complicit in this degradation. hey guys, sometimes a quick buck isn't a good buck. it seems like there is no leadership to remedy this mess. why should a select few profit financially at the expense of our beautiful environment while the rest of us just sit back and wonder what the heck is going on. maybe if the jet ski tours kept a mile or so just off shore would help. those swimming,snorkeling, paddle-boarding, or kayaking off shore higgs beach and white street pier area would best be advised to stay close to shore because the jet skis have taken over. they come so close to the key west marine aqua park buoys that it is shocking. maybe reef relief will be able to provide some much needed leadership and action on this serious quality of life issue. if not them, then who?

The article states that the refuges staff regularly educates operators, but the article does not state when was the last time each of the 3 organizations were taught. It might be nice if a follow up article did a little background work.

They're an accident waiting to happen. The City and/or State MUST cap the number of licenses these operators get — much as they do Pedicabs and taxis. These waverunner tours have exploded in number the past few years to the point where you are taking your life in your hands if you dare to dive or snorkel anywhere within a mile from shore. They're noisy, obnoxious and the "leaders" of these tours are hacks with zero knowledge or respect. Create a zone for them to crash into eachother in. Get them off the nearshore coastline. ENOUGH. The Watermen (and Women) of this island need to take it back.

A fine of $300? Really. That is laughable. The fine is so insignificant that the Hell's Angels of Waterworld are laughing as they write the check. Law abiding recreational fishermen are hassled and subjected to shake downs by these same law enforcement on a continual basis while the jetski mafia run their cattle tours right through tarpon and permit alley like meth filled kamikaze pilots. These tourist machines will certainly not change their ways over a $300 fine. Hell, their owners spend that much on breakfast fare. Watch out mista snappa, Jetski gonna getcha!