Coastal Sites: Snorkel and Dive Sites in the Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are the closest you can get to the Caribbean without a passport. Colorful fish, sea turtles, unique plant life and various types of coral formations make the area popular for diving and snorkeling. That crystal-clear water is just an added bonus.

A protected coral reef region, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is the fourth largest in the world (and the only one in the continental U.S.). It extends for about 221 miles from south of Miami at Key Biscayne to the Dry Tortugas. Basically, if you’re in the Keys, you’re in the reef region. Within the reef system, there are multitudes of different spots to visit from wherever you are renting a private boat dock.

Whether you book a snorkeling trip with a private company or you head out on your own from where you are renting a private boat slip, you can explore mangroves, seagrass beds, shipwrecks, artificial reefs and a wide variety of marine life. Let's explore five reef regions to add to your snorkel/dive bucket list. 

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Photo: OutlierForLife/Flickr/CC

This unique underwater park in Key Largo is the first of its kind. It’s about 70 nautical square miles in size. From Cannon Beach, you can snorkel or swim out to a shipwreck, but the best way to see what’s under the sea is to take an offshore reef tour. There are several boat tours available at the park. The Christ of the Abyss underwater statue, put in place in 1965, is one of the most famous aspects of the park. The top of it is at the 10-foot depth, so it is visible to snorkelers. Divers, of course, will get the best views. It’s near North Dry Rocks Reef, so you do need to take a tour boat to get there.

Hens and Chickens Reef

Hens and Chickens Reef, just off of Key Largo, gets its name from its aerial appearance of that of a mama chicken with her little chicks in tow. It’s a great spot for beginning snorkelers and divers to see purple coral, sea fans, blue tang, angelfish and brain coral. There are mooring buoys and the water ranges from five to 35 feet in depth. Additionally, there’s a 35-foot lighted tower and four boundary buoys that mark off the area.

If you’re not comfortable finding your own way out in the water, leave your boat at the private dock rental and book a charter trip. Captain Slates Scuba Adventures is an excellent charter company to try. They offer daytime snorkel and dive trips as well as PADI sport and professional level dive training and certification. They also do night dives. Other dive/snorkel sites include Davis Reef, Conch Reef and the Eagle Wreck near Alligator Reef Light.

Sombrero Reef

Sombrero Reef and Lighthouse is just off of Marathon Key. It encompasses about 30 acres of water between two and 30 feet deep. Sea turtles, parrotfish and all sorts of interesting coral can be seen.

Spirit Snorkeling of Marathon takes snorkelers to Sombrero Reef and Lighthouse or to Pirate’s Cove. It’s usually dependent on the water conditions, so if it’s too rough in one area, they’ll head out to a different one. The boat is a 34-foot Coral Island Power Catamaran with shade, swim platforms and all necessary snorkel gear. Part of Captain Pip’s Marina & Hideaway, they’re located at the big blue chair just before the 7 Mile Bridge.

Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary
 

Photo: Pixabay

Big Pine Key’s Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, about 5.5 nautical miles south of Ramrod Key, is great for beginning and experienced divers and snorkelers. It’s named for the HMS Looe, which sank in 1744 while towing a captured ship. Above water, there are mooring buoys. Below water, there are more than 50 species of coral and 150 species of fish such as parrotfish, barracuda, jacks, angelfish and butterflyfish as well as star, brain and staghorn corals.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

The 54-acre Fort Zach is all the way at the end of the road (A1A) in Key West. Named for President Zachary Taylor, it has a nice sand beach, picnic tables, a café and trees for shade. It’s a really nice spot for kids and beginning snorkelers as the water is quite shallow and gentle. There are also nature trails and a Civil War fort to explore. If you’re there when the cruise ships are leaving port, you can often see dolphins jumping in the bow wake. This is a really magical experience after a day of snorkeling, sunning or beach lounging.

Please remember to protect the coral reef by practicing eco-friendly boating habits while out and about. And don’t forget that Diver Down flag. Happy boating!