Key Largo Diving Areas

TURTLE REEF- 25 feet - Experience Level: Intermediate - Key Largo Marine Sanctuary
Lots of wonderful reef species. Relatively shallow and visibility is usually good. Protected from strong currents .

CARYSFORT REEF - 35-70 feet - Experience Level: Intermediate divers
Because of its distance from the more central dive sites, few divers visit this reef. It is of exceptional interest because of its unusual beauty. Shallow to deep dives are possible here. The shallow upper section of the reef that teems with marine life makes it perfect for snorkeling.

CARYSFORT SOUTH - 20 feet - Experience Level: Intermediate divers
This natural extension of Carysfort Reef displays a double reef structure. Its famous elkhorn coral gardens make this reef a highly attractive location. Just south of the reef lies the remains of the H.M.S. Winchester, a 933 ton British man-of-war that sank in 1695 after running aground on the reef.

THE ELBOW - 12-35 feet - Experience Level: Novice divers
Named for the angular shape of the reef, the coral fingers are extremely well-defined and are separated by level passages of clean sand. Corals and fish abound here, but the wrecks hold the secret to the appeal of this site. A Civil War Wreck, a 752 ton steamer sunk in 1866, has lovely fingers of elkhorn coral situated at depths of 6-18 feet. The remains of two more wrecks, probably a tug and a barge are also scattered in this area.

KEY LARGO DRY ROCKS - Shallow to 25 feet - Experience Level: Novice divers
THE most famous dive in the Key Largo Marine Sanctuary. The Statue of Christ of the Abyss (also known as Christ of the Deep), rests on a concrete base located within a short canyon. This area is also celebrated for its marvelous specimens of brain coral, and the eastern side of the reef displays classic coral fingers which are rich in marine life. Smoky, the celebrated barracuda, is a regular here. This area also includes Grecian Rocks an extremely popular reef among snorkelers.

GRECIAN ROCKS - Depth Range: Shallow to 25 feet - Experience Level: Novice divers
Grecian Rocks is a very popular reef for snorkelers. The grass and sand on the back side provide good anchorage, and the shallow reef buffers the waves so the waters are very calm even on windy days. When snorkeling, It is easy to swim from the boat up to the reefline where you can find a miultitude of coral and brightly colored fish.

THE CHRIST OF THE DEEP STATUE - 25 feet - Experience Level: Novice divers
The Christ Statue was cast in Italy and donated to the Underwater Society of America by Egidi Cressi, an Italian industrialist and diving equipment manufacturer. It is a 9 foot tall bronze duplicate of the Christ of the Abysses statue, which stands in 50 feet of water off Genoa, Italy. Set in a beautiful reef area known for its outstanding brain corals, the figure of Christ stands silhouetted against the blue waters of the ocean, His arms upraised to the surface. This dramatic and memorable picture is one that most diving visitors to the Keys shouldn't miss.

THE BENWOOD - 50 feet offshore, 20 feet inshore - Experience Level: Novice to Intermediate
The Benwood, an English built cargo vessel lost in a tragic chain of events in 1942, rests on a level of sand noticeably lacking in coral growth. Its fractured stern lies directly beneath the marker at a depth of 2 feet, while its bow points offshore at a depth of 45 feet. The bow section looms up out of the sand, in contrast with the rest of the ship which is almost wholly submerged.

FRENCH REEF - Shallow to 100 feet - Experience Level: Novice to Advanced for deeper dives
An exceptionally beautiful site, the ever popular reef is crammed full of caves, canyons, ledges, tunnels and swim-throughs. French Reef is home to innumerable fish species.

BLUE HOLE - 30-70 feet - Experience Level: Intermediate divers
A relatively deep site, slopes gently from a depth of 30 ft. down to the sandy seafloor, depth 70 ft. To find the Blue Hole itself, look for two sand chutes running from the slope of the reef to its base; south of the chutes a type of mound thrusts its way upwards out of a deep canyon. The seafloor is of clean sand, without the well-developed staghorn and elkhorn colonies observed elsewhere.

MOLASSES REEF - Shallow to 40 feet - Experience Level: Novice to Intermediate divers
Reigns as the world's most popular dive site. The reef comprises a classic spur and groove system which begins near the surface and falls of gradually to a depth of 55 ft. It is washed by the Gulf Stream, so visibility is usually excellent. Impressive concentrations of marine flora and fauna cover just about the entire tropical reef spectrum.

BIBB & DUANE - 50-130 feet- Experience Level: Advanced divers
Twin 327' US coast guard cutters were painstakingly sunk in 1987 as part of an artificial reef program sponsored by the Keys Association of Dive Operators. The Duane, more frequently dived because of her depth, lies upright with a slight list to starboard at a depth of about 100 ft. The Bibb, overturned while sinking lies on her starboard side at a depth of 95 ft. Both ships are a equally rewarding dive with a fascinating history.

Diving & Snorkeling Charters
 Other Diving Spots:     Key Largo    Key West   Islamorada   Marathon  Big Pine Key