Covering over 100 miles, the depths and shallows of the Florida Keys are home to the third-largest barrier reef system on earth. Boasting sufficient diversity to coax divers back year after year, the region is home to hundreds of marine species, from sharks and turtles to parrotfish and graceful rays, offering something for everyone.
Paul Simonson is a Florida-certified public accountant who enjoys scuba diving in his spare time and is a certified PADI divemaster. This article will provide an overview of some of the best dive sites in Florida Keys, sharing the stunning array of marine life that can be found there.
Christ of the Abyss
One of the most recognized and requested dive sites in Florida’s Upper Keys, Christ of the Abyss is a statue standing 10 feet tall. Cast in bronze, the statue sits at a comfortable 25-foot depth. A must-see for any scuba diver visiting the Florida Keys, the statue was donated to the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park by the renowned scuba diver Egidi Cressi. Also referred to as Christ of the Deep, the statue depicts Jesus wearing robes and standing on a pedestal, reaching up to the heavens.
Looe Key
Ranging from 7 to 30 feet in depth, Looe Key is a predominantly shallow dive site that is brimming with life, from tiny tropical fish to colossal rays. The Key is situated southwest of Bahia Honda State Park, six miles from Ramrod Key. Entirely submerged, Looe Key boasts an abundance of marine species along with excellent visibility, which can extend more than 90 feet. Looe Key is world-famous for its colorful corals, including elkhorn, star, staghorn, fire, and brain corals, having supported coral growth for the last 7,000 years. The site is also a sanctuary for more than 150 fish species, including parrotfish, angel fish, yellow tail, barracuda, moray eel, and sergeant majors.
Sombrero Reef
From the surface, this popular dive site is distinguished by its historic lighthouse, which stands 140 feet high. Located 3.5 nautical miles from Boot Quay, beneath the waves, Sombrero Reef is a dreamland of color, hosting an array of coral including fire, elkhorn, pillar, starlet, sea fans, and more. Species frequently spotted here include damselfish, princess and rainbow parrotfish, spotlight, and angelfish. A designated SPA area, Sombrero Reef is one of Marathon’s most popular scuba diving and snorkeling destinations, offering the opportunity to swim with eagle rays, stingrays, and turtles as well as nurse and reef sharks.
Molasses Reef
Lying right at the heart of Key Largo diving, Molasses Reef incorporates 30 separate sites, its many moorings offering easy access to the reef’s characteristic clear teal waters. Many large marine creatures frequent the site, including spotted eagle rays, sea turtles, and reef sharks. Situated within a specifically protected region of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, this beautiful reef is renowned for its living coral and tropical fish, presenting opportunities to get face-to-face with the mighty goliath grouper, a physically imposing yet harmless, critically endangered marine species.
USCGC Duane
Forming part of the world-renowned Shipwreck Trail, the US Coast Guard Cutter Duane was sunk deliberately alongside the USCGC Bibb in 1987, culminating in the creation of one of Key Largo’s most-visited dive sites. Lying 1 mile south of Molasses Reef, for wreck divers visiting the Florida Keys, the USCGC Duane is an unmissable site. Standing upright at depths of around 120 feet, the USCGC Duane lies in open water. Here, strong waters are inevitable, bringing with them a myriad of marine life and excellent viability. The wreck is home to numerous pelagic species including barracudas, bull sharks, and whale sharks.