Diving & Snorkeling
Offshore Islamorada offers dozens of beautiful and easily accessible scuba diving sites., Ranging from deep wrecks to shallow reefs, suitable for those at all levels of diving experience. Licensed divers are required to show their registration in order to make a dive and both PADI and NAUI certifications are accepted throughout the Florida Keys.
A divers down flag ( 20" by 24" ) is required to be displayed when divers or snorkelers are in the water. The flag needs to be only (12" by 12" ) if on a floating flag buoy. The flag should not be displayed if divers are not in the water.
In open water, vessels must make an effort to stay 300 feet away from divers down flags. If you are within 300 feet you must be at idle speed.
DO NOT diver without a flag. You may think it is safe to snorkel near shorelines without a flag. But it is very dangerous.
Islamorada Mini Season Dive Restrictions
Diving and snorkeling within 300 ft. of residential and or commercial shoreline within any man-made or private canal; Within any public or private marina and or basin is not allowed between mile marker 90.9 and 72.6 during lobster mini season.
Local Weather
Alligator Reef
Alligator Reef, named for the pirate-hunting ship the U.S.S. Alligator, hosts a brilliant array of coral, fish and crab life. The Navy scuttled the damaged warship in 1825, and now she rests about 3.5 nautical miles southeast of Upper Matecumbe Key and 8 to 45 feet of water. Today large schools of Grouper and Barracuda circle the water.
24 50.83 N - 80 36.84 W
24 50.51 N - 80 36.91 W
24 50.81 N - 80 37.63 W
24 51.23 N - 80 37.17 W
Conch Reef
Conch Reef and nearby Little Conch Reef are known for their displays of fan coral. Conch Wall, an area at Conch Reef that drops steeply from about 55 to 100 feet, hosts barrel sponges and a variety of tropical fish. Intermediate to advance divers are the best candidates to swim the currents and depths, from fairly shallow to 100 feet, at Conch Reef through Little Conch is more beginner friendly. El Capitan, another galleon rest nearby.
24 57.48 N - 80 27.47 W
24 57.34 N - 80 27.26 W
24 56.78 N - 80 27.52 W
24 56.96 N - 80 27.73 W
Crocker Reef
Crocker Reef, south of Davis Reef off Windly Key is home to many sponges, sea turtles and sharks. The main formation are around 35-40 feet deep, with a slight wall dropping to nearby 95 feet for 450 lateral feet. Larger fish and black coral live along Crocker Wall.
N 24 54.49 - W 80 31.51
Davis Reef
Davis Reef, slightly south of Little Conch Reef, is a favorite of underwater photographers due to the dense clouds of tropical fish that float through the area. Look for the Buddha statue at the reef's southern end. Lobsters and eels abound and the reef is great for both snorkelers and divers.
24 55.61 N - 80 30.27 W
24 55.41 N - 80 30.05 W
24 55.11 N - 80 30.35 W
24 55.34 N - 80 30.52 W
Hens & Chickens
A mile offshore Plantation Key ( the island directly north of Islamorada) Hens & Chicks Reef boasts large colonies of star coral and the "Coral Graveyard" spurs and grooves of coral that died after a cold winter in 1970. Brick Barge and a World War II casualties rest below the formations, through which grunts, groupers and sheep-head swim. Only 25-35 feet below the sea's surface Hens & Chickens is ideal for novice divers and snorkelers alike and features interesting caves.
24 56.38 N - 80 32.86 W
24 56.21 N - 80 32.63.W
24 55.86 N - 80 32.95 W
24 56.04 N - 80 33.19 W
The Eagle
The Eagle is a popular intermediate to advance dive. It's an artificial reef grown atop the Aaron K a 287 foot freighter that was scuttled in 1985 by Monroe County and the Eagle Tire Company. She rest between 65-120 feet below the surface. The Eagle was named one of the world's 10 best wrecks dives in the November 2004 issue of Scuba Diving Magazine.
Duane Reef
Duane Reef is another deep dive for those who'd like to explore this Coast Guard Cutter, sunk in 1987. The ship rests between 60-100 feet of water.
Pickles Reef
Pickles Reef is names after some kegs that were once found on this reef. These kegs resembled pickle barrels, but they probably contained mortar for construction of buildings in the Lower Keys. This reef isn't marked by buoys or anything else, so it's less frequented by divers. Fish are plentiful here and you'll also have a chance to see the flamingo tongue snail attached to the purple fans, as they look for algae. Depths range from 10 - 90 feet so it's a good area for novice divers and more experienced as well.
Pickles Reef is located about 5 and half miles off the southern part of Key Largo. Visibility is usually 40 -70 feet and the current isn't ever really strong.
Marine Parks & Sanctuaries
Christ of the Abyss
Pennekamp Park
Biscayne National Park
Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary
Fort Jefferson National Monument
Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary
Everglades National Park
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
National Wildlife Refuges
San Pedro Underwater State Park
Indian Key Historical State Park
VESSEL DELIVERY CREW TRAINING VESSEL SALVAGE RENT A CAPTAIN
Poseidon Salvage & Towing
towboatus@aol.com
305-852-6451
| 
