[baak]

Crystal clear is a bit of an overstatement for the water in South Florida. Did you know Miami Beach closes for a day or two every year because the level of fecal matter in the water is too high? It's still kind of murky in South Florida, though The Keys are a bit better. You are a boat ride away from the Bahamas though, and there you'll find very clear water.

Definitely true on the Spanish. More than twice as many people speak Spanish at home than English. (though a lot of the Spanish speakers are bilingual, it's the dominant language in the county)

http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/...

[chaostheory]

Good point, I forgot about that about Miami. Well with a speed boat it doesn't take long to get to those crystal clear parts... And it's pretty easy to get access to one. Speaking of pollution, I forgot to tell people about "sea lice". Microscopic jelly fish that burrow into your skin to give you a horrible rash... Do not wear a wet suit in the ocean and if you do rinse off and shower like crazy right away. Hmm when I think about it same goes for anything you wear. The difference is that the spread is much less with a bathing suit. I forget why but the rash never seems to hit the bare parts of your body.

[Woost]

It's because the organisms get trapped between your clothes and skin, and they only cause a problem in large numbers. Bare skin doesn't trap enough to do anything, usually. Also, when you rinse off, rinse off with saltwater. Fresh water kills them, which causes them to sting you.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabather's_eruption