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Florida Keys Dive Sites |
| Diving in the Florida Keys
provides a wide variety of
scenery and sea life and it
would take years to see
everything. Each reef area
offers a different experience
and a different view for divers.
In addition to the many reefs
and ledges, the wrecks are also
very popular dive sites. As with
any living reef area, corals are
living creatures. Divers should
make every effort to help keep
our waters pristine. |
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| The Benwood -
Photos |
| Divers looking
for a great shallow
wreck dive are
always happy to dive
on the Benwood, sunk
in a collision with
a tanker in 1942.
This natural wreck
is home to marine
life ranging from
schools of tiny fish
to the larger
grouper and
barracuda that hang
around during the
day. At night time,
the hard corals that
encrust the wreck
look like flowers in
bloom and schools of
Stoplight Parrotfish
come in for their
evening rest. |
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| Carysfort Reef &
Carysfort South -
Photos |
| Off the beaten
path and not often
visited by dive
boats, these
beautiful reefs are
well preserved and
are a rare treat for
divers. The area
close to the
Carysfort Light is
shallow and perfect
for snorkelers.
Elkhorn and Staghorn
coral are found at
different depths on
the reef which
ranges from 25 to 75
feet. |
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| The Christ of the Deep
Statue -
Photos |
| The Christ
Statue is well known
by visitors to the
Key Largo National
Marine Sanctuary. It
was dedicated on
June 29, 1966 by
John Pennekamp.
Accessible to divers
and snorkelers, the
nine foot tall
bronze statue is
located on the east
side of the Dry
Rocks reef. |
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| The Duane -
Photos |
| The USCG Cutter,
the Duane was sunk
as an artificial
reef on November 27,
1987. The wreck
rests in about 130'
of water, but the
mast and crow's nest
are easily
accessible at around
60 feet. The
superstructure is
around 90 feet and
the main deck
another 10 feet
below that. The
wreck has become
home to a variety of
sea life and shining
a light on almost
any surface reveals
bursts of color from
the encrusting
creatures that cover
it. |
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| The Elbow -
Photos |
| On it's own,
Elbow Reef is an
excellent dive site.
Shaped like an elbow
it is also home to
several wrecks that
are good shallow
water dives. Most
notably and very
popular with divers
and snorkelers is
the City of
Washington wreck.
Although the wreck
is broken up, it
provides nice photo
opportunities and
you can be sure to
see Moray Eels
hiding under the
debris. |
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| French Reef -
Photos |
| French Reef is a
series of tunnels
and caves that is
sure to provide
divers with a
lasting memory of
the Florida Keys.
Almost every type of
sea life common to
the Keys can be seen
when diving on one
of the caves that
make up the reef.
Some of the caves
have easy swim-throughs.
French Reef is an
excellent spot to
see healthy Elkhorn
coral and a pass
through Christmas
Tree Cave reveals
hundreds of
Christmas Tree Worms
in every color
imaginable. Fishing
and lobstering are
not allowed on
French Reef as it
has been designated
a Sanctuary
Preservation Area. |
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| Molasses Reef -
Photos |
| If you ask
anyone what their
favorite Florida
Keys dive site is,
the answer is almost
always Molasses
Reef. Molasses is a
collection of reefs
ranging from 10-100
feet although the
most popular diving
areas are probably
at the 40-50 foot
range. Some of the
more well-known
areas are the Winch
Hole and the Hole in
the Wall. For a
different view, you
can also drift dive
just along the
drop-off area and
over the spur and
groove formations
that offer lots of
room for
exploration. |
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| Snapper Ledge -
Photos |
| When you enter
the water at Snapper
Ledge, you wonder
where the reef is.
Thousands of
Yellowtail Snapper
hover over and
around the ledge,
totally hiding it
from view until you
swim through the
wall of snapper. The
huge brain coral at
Snapper Ledge is a
very busy cleaning
station and a
patient diver will
spot tiny wrasse
darting in and out
of the mouths of
visiting grouper and
snapper. Nurse
sharks cruise the
ledge and are often
found napping under
one of the many
overhangs. |
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| Spiegel Grove -
Photos |
| The 510-foot
Spiegel Grove was
intentionally sunk
to make an
artificial reef. Put
in place on June 10,
2002, the ship ended
up on her starboard
side and stayed
there until July 9,
2005 when a distant
hurricane managed to
set her upright. It
would take many
dives to see the
entire wreck and
there are plenty of
areas to explore
without deep
penetration. The
Spiegel Grove is
typically an
advanced dive. The
current is extremely
heavy at times and
can be different at
the surface than it
is on the wreck. |
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Island Ventures
103900 Overseas Highway -
MM 103.9, Key Largo, Florida
GPS
N 25°08.630 W
080°23.910
Tel:
305-451-4957
 Toll Free: 1-866-293-5006
Fax:
305-453-0121 |
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Email:
Dive@IslandVenture.com |
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