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Scuba Diving - Florida Keys Wreck SitesWhen it comes to scuba diving on living coral reefs, the United States has nothing to offer ... except for the Florida Keys which is the only place in the continental United States to have coral reef formations in shallow coastal waters. Most of the sport fish species found in Florida waters plus many other marine animals spend a part of their lives around the coral reefs. Most of the popular dive sites are just a short boat ride from the islands and dozens of professional dive operators are available to transfer you to your favorite spot. An integral part of scuba diving in the Florida Keys, and especially in the Key Largo area, are numerous diveable wrecks that have created artificial reef habitats. Here is a brief introduction to just four of the wreck sites you can visit while scuba diving in the Florida Keys: Spiegel Grove - This 510-foot retired US Navy ship was scuttled in 2002 to form the backbone of a new reef ecosystem six miles offshore from Key Largo. The ship is much larger than any natural reef structure in the Keys. At the time of its sinking, the Spiegel Grove was the largest vessel ever intentionally sunk to create a new marine reef, and it is one of the largest ships ever scuttled for that purpose. Benwood - This shallow site lies off the coast from Key Largo and is probably the oldest diving wreck site in the Florida Keys. The site dates to 1942 when, by one account, she was involved in a collision while evading a German U boat off the coast of Florida. Other accounts claim the ship was the victim of friendly fire. The site of the sinking was a hazard to shipping and the wreck was subsequently demolished. It is now home to a wide variety of marine life. The Benwood site will bring you face to face with moray eels, grunts, glassy sweepers, pork fish, lobsters, Sergeant Majors, Goatfish, and Christmas Tree worms. The dive is a relatively shallow one, ranging from 25-50 feet and great for both novice and advanced divers. Cayman Salvage Master - This wreck site is located about 7 miles to the south east of Key West at a depth of around 100 feet. After a colorful history dating from her launch in 1937, the vessel ended her days as a confiscated Cuban refugee smuggling ship. She sank in 1985 when the tow rope broke as she was being taken to her final location further out to sea. She came to rest on the port side but later on in 1985, Hurricane Katrina shifted the vessel into its current upright position. The site is a favorite with huge Jewfish and moray eels that reside in the open hatches of the wreck. Duane - This 329 foot US Coast Guard Cutter was scuttled in 1987 and is located off the shore from Key Largo. This is a site limited to advanced divers with wreck diving experience as the wreck lies in 120 feet of water and there are strong currents. The ship sits upright on a sandy bottom and on clear days the outline is visible from far above. Many decks and cabins were left open to allow divers room to explore. The Duane site is home to grunts, sponges, chubbs, jacks and numerous tropical fish. As the site is closer to the Gulf Stream than most wrecks some of the large fish species such as barracuda, amberjack, and cobia are often spotted around the wreck. In addition to these four Florida Keys wrecks, there are other sites where old vessels have been scuttled to create artificial reef habitats. Each site offers a different experience and a unique look into the delights of the Florida Keys underwater coastal eco system.
Key Largo Wreck Dive Sites - an introduction to all the wreck dive sites around Key Largo Florida keys Scuba Diving - a planning guide for your Florida Keys scuba diving vacation |
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