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Scuba Diving Key Largo
Florida Keys Coral Reefs

Scuba diving Key Largo means having a tremendous selection of Key Largo diving sites and snorkel spots to choose from.

Some Key Largo dive sites are more commercial, some are shallower, some further out, and some are prettier.

However, you'll find that all are worth investigating when on diving holidays in the Florida Keys.

Several of the following Key Largo diving spots are very good for Florida Keys snorkeling.

You'll also find that others listed below provide a good mix and can accommodate the different levels of scuba diving certification.

This means there's something for everyone on a diving trip and more than enough to satisfy even the avid scuba diver's appetite.

Gray Angelfish


Gray Angelfish
US National Archives, Photo Flip Schulke


Name
Turtle Reef (Turtle Rocks)
Location
Northern Key Largo reef situated at the north section of Key Largo Existing Management Area, (formerly Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary) and Biscayne National Park
GPS Co-ordinates
25 16.54N 080 12.493W
Markers
T1 - T4 mooring buoys
Level
Novice - Intermediate
Depth
25'
Visibility
Good
Reef Site Description
When scuba diving Key Largo, Turtle Reef aka Turtle Rocks is a good dive site to visit. The diving at Turtle Reef is on the east side, and you'll also want to explore the ballast and timber which is about all that remains of the Thirova. This is also a good coral reef for underwater photography
Snorkel Site
Good snorkel site

Marine Life
Hawksbill, loggerhead and green sea turtles plus coral resembling turtle are also found when scuba diving in Key Largo at Turtle Reef. Either the turtles or the coral reef's shape are responsible for it's name. Moray eels, eagle eels and nurse shark frequent the caves





Name
White Bank Dry Rocks (White Bank Gardens/White Bank North and South)
Location
4 miles east of Rodriguez Key, and 2 miles north of Molasses Reef
GPS Co-ordinates
25 02.33N 080 22.28W
Level
Novice
Depth
3 - 25'
Visibility
Poor depending upon weather conditions
Reef Site Description
When diving Key Largo, and you want to wind down after a day further out, White Bank Dry Rocks is a good place to explore. It's also excellent for those who just want to spend time snorkeling in the Florida Keys with the family, plus it's a popular scuba dive training site. This is also called White Banks North and South because of the 2 shallow patch reefs which are joined by a sandy channel
Snorkel Site
This is near shore with low current and is protected from the wind so it makes a perfect Florida Keys snorkeling site

Marine Life
Numerous tropical fish including angelfish, damselfish, parrotfish, and colorful varieties of coral including elkhorn, staghorn, brain, star







Snorkeling Off Florida Keys
US National Archives, Photo Flip Schulke






Name
Little Conch Reef
Location
6 miles east of Windley Key
GPS Co-ordinates
24 56.52N 080 28.5W
Level
Novice
Depth
12 - 15'
Visibility
Good
Reef Site Description
When scuba diving Key Largo, Little Conch Reef is fun to explore. This is in shallow water and is quite long as it extends almost a mile. Little Conch Reef is also a good place to check out a piece of marine history which was wrecked here. Ballast and timber are about all that remain of the 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet's El Infante
Snorkel Site
Very colorful and good photography Florida Keys snorkel site

Marine Life
Pillar and staghorn coral, large sea fans, tropical fish, barrel sponges, loggerhead sea turtles, spiny lobster





Name
Crocker Reef (Davey Crocker Reef)
Location
Southeast of Plantation Key and just south of Conch Reef
GPS Co-ordinates
24 54.46N 080 31.66W
Level
Novice to Intermediate
Depth
15 - 95'
Visibility
Good
Reef Site Description
Crocker Reef is a ledge and patch coral reef not SPA protected, so when diving in Key Largo, you'll need to be aware of fishermen in the area. Several wrecks from the 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet are located at the north end of Crocker Reef. This coral reef is a drop off of Cheeca Rocks and there are twin walls just north that descend 60 - 80 feet where larger game fish are found. The reef has a number of large valleys plus 20 high coral ridges are found just southeast of the reef. The south end of the reef has the 400' long wall which is good for drift diving when the current is strong
Snorkel Site
This is a popular snorkeling in the Florida Keys site that also provides good underwater photography opportunities

Marine Life
Crocker Reef is known for it's very friendly fish, especially the numerous grunts, schoolmasters and eels. Jacks, nurse and hammerhead sharks, eagle rays, sea turtles, green moray eels, wrasses, grouper, staghorn, finger coral, fire coral, black coral, sea fans and other gorgonians, sponges





Colorful Coral


Colorful Coral Are a Main Dive Attraction
Courtesy of epa.gov






Name
Tollgate Rocks
Location
Offshore only a few minutes from Lower Matecumbe Key
GPS Co-ordinates
24 50.186N 080 43.691W
Level
Novice
Depth
10 - 18'
Visibility
Good
Reef Site Description
When scuba diving Key Largo, Tollgate Rocks is another good wind down or snorkeling in the Keys site to explore. This inshore patch reef has numerous coral heads that rise to the surface with spots of grass in between
Snorkel Site
Good snorkel site and close to shore

Marine Life
Tollgate Rocks has colorful coral, and numerous species of tropical fish including damselfish, angelfish





Name
Victory Reef
Location
South of Crocker Reef
Level
Novice - Advanced
Depth
40 - 90'
Visibility
Good
Reef Site Description
When Key Largo scuba diving, Victory Reef will give you a chance to explore a bit deeper than at some of the other coral reefs. It has deeper spur and groove formations and a natural "V" shape which provides different scuba diving adventures. For example, if you swim northeast you'll drop off the wall, and if you swim southwest you'll have a 50 - 60 foot dive. Victory Reef has sand channels with ledges, caves and since it's deeper, you'll have a chance to see larger game fish and pelagic species
Snorkel Site
This area is snorkeled but it's deeper than other snorkeling Florida Keys sites

Marine Life
Nurse and reef shark, green moray eels, sea turtles, damselfish, grunt, sergeant major, blue chromis, blue tang, porkfish, goatfish, hogfish, wrasse





These Key Largo dive sites are worth including in your dive trip plans. You'll also find that these coral reefs offer a chance to go wreck diving on several interesting wrecks including the Thiorva and the El Infante plus you'll discover an abundance of coral, game and tropical fish.

Scuba diving Key Largo definitely means having your cake and eating it too. Everything else seems to pale in comparison after spending time Florida Keys snorkeling or diving here.






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Local Weather Zip Codes

Key Largo - 33037
Marathon - 33050
Key West - 33040