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Florida Keys and Key west scuba diving spots

The South Florida Keys diving and snorkeling is some of the best diving in the the world. As a matter of fact the South Florida Keys and Key west has the best diving and snorkeling in the continental United States and is comparable with that of other Caribbean islands. The nice thing about the Florida Keys and Key west area is its like being in the Caribbean, but you have all the benefits of being in the USA. If you need information on diving and snorkeling in the Florida Keys, you have come to the right place. FLORIDA KEYS

See photos and/or descriptions of hot Florida Keys reefs and wrecks. For those interested in diving the remains of old wrecks, be sure and check out the story on Upper Keys shipwrecks in our history section.

Dive Sites

LOBSTER LEDGE is 300 feet west of Pillar Patch and has a rather unusual north south orientation. At 350 ft. X 50 ft. and a minimal depth of 12 feet, it seems to be a favorite gathering place for the Florida spiny lobster and, strangely enough, a favorite for the lobster hunter. Small and colorful, this reef is also home to quite a few angelfish and a couple of green moray eels. Description courtesy of The Diving Site.

THE STAKE is roughly 400 feet by 75 feet oval shaped patch reef is the best known and most frequented of the Coffins Patch group. It got it’s name from a large piece of iron pipe that juts several feet out of the water at an angle from the reef. The pipe is actually one of several that are the remnants of a lighthouse that marked the reef. During the killer hurricane of 1935 the lighthouse was destroyed. This was the same hurricane that ended Henry Flagler’s railroad. The reef itself has depths that range from 7 to 25 feet. It is very popular for snorkelers and divers who enjoy shallow reefs, and because of its stake, it is relatively easy to locate. Description courtesy of The Diving Site Dive Shop in Marathon.

YELLOW ROCKS is a system of older coral formations is about 4 ½ miles south of Key Colony Beach in about 25 feet of water. Over ½ mile in length, it is one of the largest reef systems in the area. Consequently it is another favorite of the local dive operators. Because it is an older formation, the reef is not prolific with live corals. It is a very popular dive location because of the maze of cracks, undercuts and ledges that are home to thousands of small fish and invertebrates. It also supports a substantial population of resident barracuda and nurse sharks. Description courtesy of The Diving Site.

SOMBRERO LIGHT is approximately 4.5 miles south of Marathon and within view of the historic 7 mile bridge. It is marked by a 142-foot lighthouse that was constructed in the early 1860’s. The reef itself is a classic spur and groove coral configuration that ranges in depth from about two feet to 25 feet. It is home to a wide variety of indigenous corals: Elkhorn, staghorn, star, sheet and brain just to name a few. Along with the corals is almost every kind of tropical reef fish in the book from the very large Jew fish to very small goby. Sombrero’s calling card is the color created by all these tropical fish along with the hard and soft corals in a shallow water setting that allows so much light penetration. Another phenomenon that is seen quite frequently at this reef is the cleaning stations. Neon gobies and juvenile Spanish hogfish love the protection that is offered by the large brain and star corals. The larger fish, such as the grouper and barracude love the vertical relief and sandy channels of the reef. Since the smaller fish are parasite feeders and the larger fish are parasite carriers, Sombrero Reef becomes a bonanza for cleaning stations. It is fascinating to watch this relationship in action. Sombrero is the only main reef area off Marathon that is currently using mooring buoys. Because of the Lighthouse, which can be seen for miles, this is by far the most widely used reef in the area. If it can be avoided during peak times, it will certainly be time in the water well spent.

THE THUNDERBOLT is located about five and one half miles off Key Colony in 120 feet of water, sitting majestically upright on the ocean floor. She was built by the U.S. Army in 1942 as a cable layer and was named the U.S.S. Randolph. After the war she was sold to Florida Power and Light Co. who converted the vessel to do lightning research, hence her final name. She was outfitted with millions of dollars worth of sophisticated electronics equipment and sent to sea during severe thunderstorms in an effort to attract lightning strikes. The object of her missions was to study and possibly harness some of nature’s tremendous energy. After her service with F.P.L. she was sold to a company who intended to use her for long rang geological survey work. The company however, fell on hard times and the ship was allowed to fall into a state of disrepair and eventually sank at her dock on Miami River. She was raised by a salvage company and sold to the Florida Keys Artificial Reef Association who cleaned her up, made her diver friendly and then towed to her present position where she was allowed to go to her final resting place in March of 1986. The R/V Thunderbolt is 188 feet in length, 37 feet in bean and has a top to bottom relief of 45 feet. Maximum depth at the propellers is 119 feet and the top of the super structure is at 74 feet. The ship sits up right, which makes it very diver friendly, a fact reinforced by her excellent 11 year diving history.

THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD CUTTER DUANE lies upright on a sandy bottom in 120 feet of water one mile south of Molasses Reef off Key Largo. After being decommissioned on August 1, 1985 as the oldest active U.S. military vessel, the Duane was donated to the Keys Association of Dive Operators for use as an artifical reef. On November 27, 1987, she was towed to Molasses Reef, her hatches opened, her holds pumped full of water, and down she wnet to begin her final assignment. On a clear day the outline of the Duane's intact hull can be seen from above. The mast and crow's nest protruding high above on the hull, can be seen at 60 feet. At 70 feet, just forward of the amidships, is the navigating bridge. The superstructure deck is at 90 feet and the main deck lies at 100 feet. The hull structure, completely intact with the original rudders, screws, railings, ladders and ports makes an impressive display. The following fish and invertebrates may be observed at the site: large pelagic fish, barracuda, yellowtail snapper, angelfish, wrasse, damselfish, spotted blenny, butterfly fish, trumpetfish, grunts, winged mollusk, and an occassional sea turtle. Diver Level: Advanced Openwater Maximum Depth: 110 feet Location: 24-52.184N, 80-34.217W Mooring buoys submerged.

THE BENWOOD WRECK ranges in depth from 35 to 50 feet. The vessel was a 285’ freighter that accidentally rammed the reef while running without lights during WWII. Her hull now lies in a barren section of the reef line. Huge Grouper are permanent residents of this wreck, which makes this a perfect backdrop for photography. Description courtesy of Atlantis Dive Center.

MOLASSES REEF ranges in depth from 25 to 40 feet and is one of the most famous reefs in the Florida Keys. Molasses is a maze of coral channels and canyons that are populated with a wide diversity of marine life. Large pelagic life such as turtles and eagle rays are frequently sited here. Visibility is superior on this reef as it is "rinsed" by the currents of the nearby gulfstream. Florida Keys Description courtesy of Atlantis Dive Center.

CARYSFORT REEF ranges in depth from 25 to 75 feet. It is the northernmost reef system in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. It is a fascinating coral formation. Elkhorn and Staghorn corals give way to Brain and Sheet coral as the reef descends to a sandy bottom. Snorkelers may swim to the lighthouse tower over the shallow area of Elkhorn gardens. This is one of the best developed reef systems in the Keys. Description courtesy of Atlantis Dive Center.

JOE'S TUG - a 75 foot steel hulled tugboat in depths of 55 to 65 feet resting in coral. It was sunk as an artificial reef in 1984. The wreck also has a large jewfish (right) and moray eel in residence that eagerly await divers for their daily handouts of ballyhoo and squid. KEY WEST Picture and description courtesy of Southpoint Divers.

THE CAYMAN SALVAGER - a 180 foot steel hulled buoy tender sunk as an artificial reef in 1985. Originally resting on her side, it was later righted by hurricane force wave action, and it is in 65 to 90 feet of water on a sandy bottom. The superstructure has been removed and the open holds provide refuge for baitfish and grunts. There is a resident 200 pound jewfish as well as a friendly six-foot green moray eel. KEY WEST Picture and description courtesy of Southpoint Divers.