Comprising over 1,700 islands that stretch beyond 190 miles from Soldier Key to the Dry Tortugas, the Florida Keys archipelago lies just to the south of Miami. This chain of islands is categorized into five distinct regions: Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine, the Lower Keys, and Key West.
Renowned as a premier scuba diving destination in North America, the Florida Keys offer an exceptional experience for divers visiting the southern tip of Florida. Even brief visits to the Keys can be rewarding for scuba enthusiasts. From the northern gateway of Key Largo, through Marathon in the heart of the Keys, to the southernmost point of Key West, the region boasts superb diving spots. Key Largo, in particular, is a haven for divers, with a plethora of dive shops and outlets providing diving gear and equipment.
The Florida Keys cater to divers of all proficiency levels, with a wide array of diving locations. Many beginner-friendly coral reefs teem with marine life, including popular spots like Molasses Reef and French Reef. With depths ranging from 30 to 50 feet, these reefs are ideal for novice divers and for those interested in night diving adventures.
There’s even wreck diving in shallow dive sites like the Benwood wreck where the resident marine life will not disappoint any diver. For more advanced divers, there are some spectacular deep dives featuring large wrecks like the Duane, a former coast guard ship that sits upright, and the Spiegel Grove which is one of the most popular spot for divers in the Keys.
One of the main reasons that many scuba divers from North America and other parts of the world come to the Florida Keys is for their open water certification dives as well as advanced training. Additionally, the cost of diving in the Keys is lower than in many of the Caribbean destinations like the Bahamas and Cayman Islands.
For those who are not ready to try scuba diving, there are some decent sites to snorkel in the Keys including one of the best in the U.S. at Looe Key. The marine life that can be seen here has convinced quite a few snorkelers to finally pursue scuba diving certifications.
In addition to scuba and snorkeling, the Florida Keys has enough other activities to keep non-divers busy. The area is home to quaint roadside shopping, water sports (jet skiing, fishing, paddle boarding, kayaking and more), fine dining, beaches (in select area) and even places to swim with dolphins. For the adventurous, there is the “funky” scene at Key West.
Best Spots for Scuba Diving in the Florida Keys
The Florida Keys has some of the best places to scuba dive throughout North America. Following are several of our favorite locations in the Keys.
- Christ of the Abyss / John Pennekamp
- Stargazer Reef Sculpture
- USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg
- USCG Duane
- USS Spiegel Grove
John Pennekamp / Christ of the Abyss
One of the places that should be on the top of your list to dive is the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is the nation’s first underwater preserve. Located near Key Largo, the visibility here is almost perfect, making it a favorite dive destination for beginner and advanced divers alike.
The statue of Christ of the Abyss is an eerily magnificent site to dive. Located 25 feet beneath the surface, the statue is prominent and distinct. Divers also love this site because it features canyons and trenches to be explored as well as a large variety of eagle rays and sea turtles.
Stargazer Reef Sculpture
The Stargazer Sculpture is one of the most unusual dive locations in the Florida Keys. Located in the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, the Stargazer consists of approximately five nautical miles of sculpted reef. Just five miles off Key West, this reef includes a series of replicated star constellations once used for sea navigation. If you enjoy diving in waters with colorful marine life and coral, then this is the place to visit.
USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenbert
One of the most famous dive sites in all of the Florida Keys is the USNS General Hoyt S. Vanderberg which is a 520-foot former military troop transport ship. This vessel is one of the largest artificial reefs in the keys and located off Key West. Sunk at a depth of 140 feet, much of the superstructure of the ship is only 40 to 50 feet below the surface.
The waters surrounding the Vandernberg is calmer than some of the other area wrecks and with the relatively shallow depths, it is an ideal spot for divers at all skill levels.
USCG Duane
One of the most interesting shipwrecks in the Florida Keys is the USCG Duane. The Duane is a 327-foot former coast guard cutter that sits at a depth of 120 feet. The navigation bridge is at a depth of 70 feet which is the most shallow point of the entire wreck. The Duane is a magnet for marine life and with crystal-clear waters, it’s one of the most beautiful spots to dive in the Keys.
This site is perfect for advanced divers as it sits outside of the reef’s protection, but there are strong currents which any diver needs to be aware of.
USS Spiegal Grove
The USS Spiegel Grove is a former US Navy Landing Ship Dock that was sunk in 2002 to create an artificial reef in Key Largo, much like the Duane and Bibb ships. The Spiegel Grove is 510 feet in length and 84 feet wide making it the largest of the shipwrecks accessible to scuba divers in the Florida Keys. This wreck sits at a depth of 134 feet near Dixie Shoals and the depth at the highest point of the ship is about 60 to 65 feet depending on the tide level.
As one descends on the Spiegel Grove, they will see just how large this ship is. Lots of divers in the area have dived the Spiegel Grove before and are only happy to dive it again to explore the different compartments accessible in the wreck. This ship is also unique as it has a large crane in the stern area since it was used as a landing ship dock. For enthusiasts interested in the beauty of shipwrecks themselves, this will be considered a great dive.
The only downside to this dive is the amount of marine life on the wreck. Barracuda, large angelfish, and other fish can be spotted on the Spiegel Grove but not nearly as many as on the Duane. This is why some divers may still prefer the Duane over the Spiegel Grove if marine life is their primary interest in scuba diving. But the Spiegel Grove is still a relatively new dive site compared to the Duane so in time, the amount of marine life will increase at this site making it even better in the future.
Both the Spiegel Grove and the Duane are highly recommended dives for all scuba divers with a minimum of advance certification when diving in the Key Largo area.
Wreck Diving in the Florida Keys
Wreck diving in the Florida Keys offers a diverse range of sites, each with its own unique history and marine life. Some of the most famous wreck dives include the USS Spiegel Grove, a retired Navy ship that was intentionally sunk to create an artificial reef and is now one of the most infamous dive sites along the Florida Keys Shipwreck Trail. Another notable wreck is the USNS Vandenberg, a 523-foot former missile-tracking ship that lies off Key West and provides a thrilling dive experience.
Divers can explore a series of historic shipwrecks along the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary’s Shipwreck Trail, where wrecks are scattered along the coral reefs and sandy shallows. For those looking to log multiple wreck dives, the Wreck Trek in the Florida Keys allows divers to visit and log dives on various fascinating shipwrecks over one trip or several visits.
The Eagle wreck, another popular dive site, lies within national marine sanctuary boundaries and is known for its large game fish. Lastly, the USS Duane is a thrilling dive site for spotting big game fish like grouper and amberjack, located at the edge of the Gulfstream.
These sites offer a range of experiences for divers, from exploring artificial reefs teeming with marine life to experiencing the history of sunken vessels up close.
Great Places Stay in the Florida Keys
Lodging and accommodations are plentiful in the communities along the Keys and range from simple roadside motels to high end resorts. A number of hotels and resorts have special packages just for scuba divers in conjunction with one of the local dive operators.
Some of more popular luxury resorts in the Florida Keys include:
- Hawks Cay Resort
- Key Largo Marriott Beach Resort
- Cheeca Lodge & Spa
- Playa Largo Resort & Spa
- The Pier House Resort & Spa
- The Casa Marina Resort Key West
In addition to the luxury accommodations directly on the Florida Keys, there are also relatively inexpensive accommodation options in Florida City which is the closest community back in the Florida mainland, about 20 minutes from Key Largo.
If you thinking about staying at any of these amazing hotels, we would appreciate if you can use our links when making the reservations. Endless Summer is an affiliate with Marriott, Hilton and Expedia.com and receives a small commission for each stay that was referred by our website.
Other things to do in the Florida Keys
There are so many different resources in the Florida Keys for scuba divers as well as other water sports and other amazing as things to do when visiting this tropical paradise. Here are some of our favorites:
- Glass bottom boat tours
- Jet ski, kayak and paddleboard rentals
- Sunset cruises
- Museums and other tours
- Shopping and dining
To learn more about the many other things to do in the Florida Keys, please visit our post “Things to do in the Florida Keys and Key West”.