Depending on your plans while visiting Key Largo, there are various safety guidelines you are advised to follow to insure your well-being and that of others.

If you plan to do any diving or snorkeling, be sure the boat you are on is equipped with the required red and white "Diver Down" flags. Many areas around the islands are shallow, so regulate boat speed wisely, especially in harbors and channels. The waters are patrolled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and regular boat checks are conducted to insure compliance and water safety.

Bicycling the 17-mile long bridge that connects the Florida mainland to Key Largo is a unique experience on the Overseas Heritage Trail that parralels the highway. Have plenty of drinking water and sunscreen on hand, as the sun is intense, and burning occurs at a faster rate than in lesser latitudes.

Summer and Autumn are the Florida Keys' hurricane season and, with only one way in and one way out of Key Largo, calmness and caution are indispensible in the event of your untimely presence, should a storm erupt. At the same time, Key Largo authorities are well prepared to advise and assist in such an event. Hospital and ambulatory services are high quality.

The crime rate is low on the islands (maybe because the bad guys have nowhere to go), though most crimes are perpetrated against tourists. The usual precautions, such as locking your car doors, keeping valuables out of sight, and awareness of your surroundings, contribute to tourist safety.