Scuba Diving in Florida Keys

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Why Dive the Florida Keys?

The Florida Keys offer the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States. However, what really puts the Keys on the map for advanced divers is its incredible “Wreck Trek”—a series of massive, intentionally sunk ships that have become thriving artificial reefs.

The Diving Experience

The diving here caters to two distinct extremes:

• The Reefs: Sites like John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo offer extremely shallow (10m/30ft), warm, and easy diving perfect for families and newly certified Open Water divers.
• The Wrecks: For Advanced and Tech divers, the Keys are a playground. The Spiegel Grove, the USS Vandenberg, and the USCG Duane sit in deeper water and often experience strong currents. These are challenging, deeply rewarding dives.

Marine Life Highlights

The artificial reefs attract massive schools of barracuda, Goliath groupers (which can weigh over 300kg), and various reef sharks. The shallow reefs are home to nurse sharks, stingrays, and typical Caribbean reef fish.

Above the Surface

The Keys stretch over 100 miles, connected by the spectacular Overseas Highway. The vibe gets progressively more eccentric as you drive south, culminating in the wonderfully weird Key West. Expect excellent seafood, tiki bars, and a heavily maritime-focused culture.

Explore More

Looking for more information? Check out our other destinations or browse all our guides.