| LOOE
KEY REEF Depth Range: 5-35 feet Experience Level: Novice to Intermediate and Advanced |
One of
the loveliest and most prolific reefs in the Keys. The frigate, H.M.S.
Looe, accidently ran hard aground in 1744; remains of the ship lie
between two fingers of coral near the eastern end of the reef although
only the ballast and anchor remain visible to the trained eye. Totally
unlike any of the reefs in the Keys, containing a variety of corals,
monastera, sea fans and innumerable fish species this makes for an
exceptional diving experience. Looe Key is a designated marine
sanctuary. ***** |
| ADOLPHUS
BUSCH Depth Range: maximum depth 110 feet Experience Level: Advanced |
Located about 5
miles off shore of Cudjoe Key, it is 3 miles west of Looe Key. The
Adolphus Busch was cleaned and prepared for divers with large holes cut
for nice swim through and was sunk December 1998 as an artificial reef.
There are three resident Jewfish living on the wreck and are seen on
many dives. The largest weights in at about 400 pounds. The
ship is 210 feet long and the maximum depth is 110 feet, a very good
dive for nitrox. This dive should be considered an advanced dive
and divers wishing to dive the ship should have an Advanced Open Water
certification or plan to be accompanied by an instructor or divemaster. ***** |
| CONTENT
KEYS Depth Range: 8-15 feet Experience Level: Novice |
Positioned on the
Gulf side southwest of Marathon, this area is sheltered by the Keys and
is a good alternative for shallow diving on a windy day. Rounded starlet
corals grow here and numerous potholes and cracks in the coral rock make
this an ideal home for both lobster and stone crab. ***** |
| SOUTH BEACH
PATCHES Depth Range: 15 feet Experience Level: Novice to Intermediate |
Scores of coral
patches and reefs run along the southern shore of Key West. The most
prominent ones are off the foot of Duval Street, Simonton Street, Casa
Marina Hotel, Bertha Street, main bathing beach and off the airport.
Almost any fish life that you might normally find on the outside reef
can be found here. ***** |
| KEY WEST
HARBOR Depth Range: 30 feet Experience Level: Advanced |
Watch for heavy
commercial boat traffic in this harbor which has been in use since the
middle of the 16th century. At the north end of Simonton Street is a
public boat ramp and dingly landing area that gives access to this
advanced diving area. Interesting artifacts have been found in this
location. ***** |
| SAND KEY Depth Range: Awash to 3-65 feet Experience Level: All Levels Location: 24º27.19 81º52.58 |
Probably the most
popular dive and snorkeling spots in the Lower Keys, it is a simple
ground-up coral and small shell island without vegetation, topped by a
red iron lighthouse bult in 1853 and now on the historical register. The
reef itself consists mostly of rock fingers and gullies with sandy
bottoms between cliff-like structures and extensive areas of staghorn
and elkhorn coral. ***** |
| OUTSIDE
REEFS Depth Range: 40-210 feet Experience Level: Intermediate and Advanced |
For the more
experienced diver, all along the Keys south of the main shallow reefs,
are the Gulf Stream reefs. A prolific gallery of deep-water corals and
fish, these deep dives are different from anything anywhere else in the
Keys. ***** |
| ROCK KEY
AND EASTERN DRY ROCKS Depth Range: 5-35 feet Experience Level: All levels Location: 24º27.21 81º51.60 Rock Key Location: 24º27.50 81º50.44 Dry Rocks |
Two popular dive
spots typical of most reef formations in the area with long fingers of
coral with sand and coral-filled canyons in between. But their real
claim to fame are their 19th century wrecks - providing huge quantities
of ballast and artifacts. ***** |
| WESTERN DRY
ROCKS Depth Range: 5-120 feet Experience Level: Novice to Advanced |
Further away from
popular reefs closer to Key West, this area has not suffered the reef
damage associated with heavy usage. Large quantities of elkhorn and
staghorn coral, numerous crevices and caves, and large marine life make
this well worth a long trip. ***** |
| ALEXANDER'S
WRECK Depth Range: 30 feet Experience Level: Novice to Advanced |
A destroyer escort,
purchased from the Navy and sunk by local commercial salvor Chet
Alexander, is a popular dive spot but only occasionally visited by
commercial dive boats. The wreck is broken in half, with the stern
section lying 150 yards or so north of the bow, whih is awash on most
tides. Despite the fact that part of the hull is clear of the water, the
wreck is difficult to see - a number of captains have hit the jagged
metal tear that juts above the water, ruining props and rudders. This
former navy vessel lies on its side and is home for thousands of fish
and the hull itself is covered with Leavy oysters. ***** |
| THE
AQUANAUT Depth Range: 75 feet Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced |
One of Chet
Alexander's other dive sites is the wreck of the tugboat Aquanaut. This
55' wooden salvage tug sits upright in 75 feet of water on the edge of
the Gulfstream on a flat sandy bottom. The tug is intact and in nearly
perfect condition. The wreck hosts a variety of fish life, when on the
deck of the ship a macro closeup lens is very useful. ***** |
| JOE'S TUG Depth Range: 65 feet Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced |
A small tugboat,
discovered recently by a local diver, sits upright and is an easy swim
through. Open access to the wheel house and aft deck make this an
enjoyable dive. Visibility is usually good due to its location outside
of the reef and offers a great photographic location with a wide variety
of corals and marine life. ***** |
| COTTRELL
REEF (GULF SIDE REEF) Depth Range: 3-15 feet Experience Level: Novice or Intermediate |
An excellent reef
for beginning snorkelers and an alternative dive spot when the weather
is bad on the Atlantic side of the Keys. Covered with gorgonians and
sponges, the ledges and banks of this reef provide a wide variety of
reef fish. ***** |
| THE LAKES Depth Range: 5-30 feet Experience Level: All Levels |
A fascinating
snorkeling area, this shallow area is a series of grassy flats and banks
completely encompassing a shallow lagoon protected by a string of
islands and reefs directly west of Key West. ***** |
| MARQUESAS
KEYS Depth Range: 5-30 feet Experience Level: All Levels |
The only known
atoll in the Atlantic Ocean. The circle of islands is about 3.5 miles
across and 22 miles west of Key West and like most of the lower Keys is
a bird sanctuary and National Wilderness Area. Wrecks in this area
attract large marine life and huge clusters of coral heads can be found
off the entire southern edge of the islands in about 8-12 feet of water.
Several of the islands have long, white, sandy beaches and excellent
anchorages can be found. ***** |
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