Boat and diving injuries in Key West

Guide to orthopedic and medical care for boating, marina, snorkeling, and diving injuries in Key West. When to seek evaluation and where to go.

Published 2026-05-20

This is a working waterfront, and waterfronts have their own injuries

Key West is not a town that watches the water from a safe distance. The harbor is full of charter boats, dive vessels, sport fishing rigs, and tour catamarans. The docks are busy from sunrise to sunset. People climb in and out of boats, haul gear, handle lines, and help passengers board and disembark from surfaces that move, tilt, and get wet. The work of a maritime town produces a specific catalog of injuries, and most visitors who get hurt on or near the water are surprised to discover that their injuries are orthopedic problems, not medical ones. A fall on a wet deck is a musculoskeletal event. A wrist bracing a sudden drop onto fiberglass is a wrist fracture or sprain waiting for an X-ray. Knowing that distinction before the injury happens can save significant time and confusion afterward.

What boat and marina injuries look like

Injuries from boating and marina activity cluster around a predictable set of body parts. Wrists and ankles take the worst of falls on wet, uneven surfaces. Shoulders strain and separate when a person grabs for a line or railing with too much force, or braces a fall on an outstretched arm. Backs and necks strain from hauling gear, bending over rails, and sitting in fighting chairs for hours. Knees twist on narrow gangways and unstable platforms. Fishing hooks (through thumbs, palms, and occasionally faces) are their own category requiring careful removal and wound care. Most of these injuries involve bone, joint, soft tissue, or some combination, and they are best evaluated by a specialist who works with bone and joint problems rather than a general urgent care clinic.

Diving injuries: two very different categories

Diving injuries in Key West split cleanly into two types, and the distinction matters enormously. The first type is decompression illness, arterial gas embolism, and barotrauma: injuries caused by pressure changes at depth. These are true medical emergencies requiring hyperbaric oxygen treatment, and time from symptom onset to treatment is directly related to outcome. The second type is musculoskeletal: a shoulder strain from a difficult entry, a wrist injury from a surface impact, back strain from handling heavy tank equipment. These are orthopedic problems with orthopedic solutions. Confusing the two types leads either to unnecessary emergency visits for muscle strains, or, far worse, delayed emergency care for pressure-related injuries that require immediate treatment.

Emergency

Emergency: call 911 for these

Call 911 or go to the emergency room for chest pain or difficulty breathing after diving, near-drowning or water submersion, any joint pain, confusion, skin mottling, weakness, or vision changes that develop after a dive (possible decompression illness), major trauma on a boat deck, head injury with loss of consciousness, or uncontrolled bleeding from any cause. Do not attempt to manage decompression illness or arterial gas embolism with rest and fluids. Do not drive someone with suspected decompression illness to a clinic. Call 911 and contact the Divers Alert Network emergency line.

Orthopedic evaluation for non-emergency marine injuries

When emergency signs are absent, most boating and marina injuries are orthopedic problems that benefit from specialist evaluation. Key West Concierge Orthopedics provides evaluation for sprains, falls, shoulder and wrist injuries, back strain, and other musculoskeletal injuries from water and marine activity. On-site X-ray means you do not need a separate imaging facility. For fishing hook injuries, the appropriate destination depends on the specific situation. Superficial hooks may be managed at urgent care, while hooks near joints, deeply embedded, or in the face or hand typically warrant orthopedic or urgent care evaluation. Same-day or walk-in appointments may be available. Call ahead before making the trip.

A note on cruise passengers and day-trippers

Cruise passengers in Key West typically have two to eight hours on the island, enough time for a serious injury but not always enough for a lengthy clinic wait. If you are a cruise passenger with an orthopedic injury sustained during your port call, contact Key West Concierge Orthopedics via keywestortho.com as early as possible to understand current availability. Having that information before you leave the ship is considerably better than improvising on the dock. For emergencies, call 911. The Lower Keys Emergency Room is available for serious injuries regardless of your departure schedule. Key West Healthcare is an independent referral directory and cannot confirm availability at any facility.

Frequently asked questions.

Is a fishing hook injury an emergency in Key West?

Most superficial fishing hook injuries are not emergencies and can be evaluated at urgent care or an orthopedic clinic depending on location. Deeply embedded hooks near joints, nerves, or tendons, or hooks in the face, eye, or hand, warrant prompt evaluation. Call 911 if there is significant bleeding or if the hook is in or near the eye.

Where should I go after a fall on a boat deck in Key West?

For musculoskeletal injuries from a boat fall (wrist, ankle, shoulder, back), Key West Concierge Orthopedics provides orthopedic evaluation with on-site X-ray. For non-orthopedic concerns, urgent care is appropriate. For emergencies including head injury with loss of consciousness or major trauma, call 911.

How do I know if I have decompression illness after diving?

Symptoms of decompression illness include joint pain developing after a dive, skin mottling, confusion, weakness, or vision changes. If any of these occur after diving, call 911 immediately and contact the Divers Alert Network emergency line. Do not wait to see if symptoms improve on their own.