Crystal blue waters and the warm Gulf Stream have given us an opportunity to explore the underwater world right here in our own back yard. The Florida Keys and Key Largo are today's hottest drive-to Caribbean dive vacation hot spot! Here is a brief description of just a few of our spectacular reefs.
Molasses Reef
32 different sites over a 15-acre area, each unique and varied. This reef is a great location for both diving and snorkeling on the same trip. This is our most visited reef and when you see it, you will know why! The sites we love to visit are Permit Ledges, Fire Coral Caves, Spanish Anchor, Coral Canyons, Logan’s Ledge, Hole in the Wall, Aquarium, Winch Hole, Railroad Wreck, and Eagle Ray Alley, just to name a few!
French Reef
Known for its underwater caves and swim-throughs, the high profile coral ridging makes this reef a spectacular dive! Dive sites most visited are Five Caves, Hour Glass Cave, Christmas Tree Cave, Sand Bottom Cave, 40-Foot Cave, Grouper Hole, Woody’s Ledge, and Turtle Ledges.
Benwood Wreck
A great shallow wreck for all level divers. This was a British-Built steel hull freighter built in 1910 and is 360’ long with a 51’ beam. There is not much left of her now as it has been used for bombing practice by the military over the years because it was a navigational hazard. The bow is still intact, but most of the wreck is now just scattered metal deck platting with the ship’s ribs still visible. This is one of the fishiest dive sites we go to and is also covered with beautiful soft corals. Great for photography!
Snapper Ledge
A very special reef and one of our favorites. It’s a real small ledge that holds some pretty amazing things! Just off the ledge is what we call the fish bowl, a small circular shaped ledge that contains a wall of fish, mostly Grunts, Goatfish, and of course Snapper. This school of fish is so tight and thick you can not see through them at times! You can usually count on seeing a few nurse sharks in the fish bowl, along with green, spotted, and golden tail Moray Eels. Just up the ledge is one of the largest most pristine brain corals we have ever seen! You’ll want your camera!
Pillar Coral
Another small, very unique site we dive. It has been said that we have one of the largest patches of pillar corals in the Caribbean. Pillar Corals are an uncommon stony coral with millions of polyps that open and feed during the day! They are a unique type of digitate coral that grows in an upward cylindrical shape like fingers.
Key Largo Dry Rocks
The location of the world famous Christ of the Abyss Statue which stands nine feet tall. This reef is a very shallow dome-shaped reef which breaks the surface at low tide on the landward side, and slopes to 25 feet on the seaward side. The statue is one of three cast from a mold by an Italian sculptor Guido Galletti. It was originally made for Egidi Cressi, the dive equipment manufacturer and later donated to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in 1966.
