Key Largo, “Dive Capital of the World”, offers the best Florida Keys Dive Sites.
All Florida Keys dive sites are within the NOAA National Marine Sanctuary, home to the Florida Reef—the only barrier coral reef in North America and the third-largest in the world.
Key Largo, known as the “Dive Capital of the World,” features some of the top Florida Keys dive sites and is home to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first undersea park in the U.S., covering about 70 nautical square miles of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Florida Keys dive sites offer numerous stunning reef locations filled with marine life, along with many shipwreck dive sites. In the Upper Keys, particularly Key Largo and Islamorada, five notable wrecks exist, including the famous Spiegel Grove.
All Florida Keys dive sites are offshore and accessible only by boat, with no shore diving available. Dive trips run twice daily, in the mornings and afternoons.
The reefs are shallow (25 to 40 feet), making them perfect for beginners and divers who want plenty of ambient light without worrying about bottom time or air consumption. Common sights include nurse sharks, reef sharks, eagle rays, turtles, goliath groupers, barracuda, and many colorful fish. Intermediate-depth dives are available upon request, depending on conditions.
The deep wrecks (Spiegel Grove, Duane, Bibb, and Eagle) are sensational dive spots at 75-100 feet, specially prepared for scuba diving.
From beginner to expert, all scuba divers will find their ideal Florida Keys dive sites. If you are in the Key Largo and Islamorada area you have access to 50 plus different dive sites alone. Here is an overview of just a few of our more regular dive sites, but there are so many more! Scuba-Fun has partnered with dive boat charters all along the Florida Keys to Key West to be able to show you the best variety of dive sites.
Molasses Reef: Most Dived Reef of all Florida Keys Dive Sites
Molasses Reef reigns as one of the Florida Keys’ most popular dive sites. Its classic spur-and-groove system begins near the surface and drops gradually to 55 ft, making it ideal for both snorkelers and certified divers. The calm waters and excellent visibility, thanks to the nearby Gulfstream, create perfect conditions for exploration and underwater photography.
What You’ll See:
Molasses Reef is alive with vibrant coral formations and a constantly changing population of marine life. Tropical fish weave through branching corals, while larger visitors like nurse sharks, eagle rays, southern stingrays, reef sharks, and barracuda make occasional appearances. Every dive offers something new, whether it’s colorful coral gardens, playful reef fish, or passing pelagic species.
Dive Highlights:
- Depths: near-surface to 55 ft, perfect for relaxed or more adventurous dives
- Calm conditions suitable for beginners and experienced divers
- Thriving reef ecosystem with diverse marine life
- Excellent visibility for underwater photography
Plan Your Dive:
Spend a day exploring this iconic reef with Scuba Fun Florida. Molasses Reef’s combination of vibrant coral, abundant marine life, and accessible conditions makes it a must-visit site for every Key Largo scuba diver.
Architecturally Interesting: French Reef
French Reef is one of Key Largo’s most stunning dive sites. With a depth range from shallow to 45 feet, it’s perfect for divers of all levels. The reef features dramatic limestone cliffs, caves, canyons, ledges, tunnels, and swim-throughs, making every dive an adventure.
What You’ll See:
Shallow areas are covered in golden-brown Elkhorn coral, while at 30–40 feet, brain and star coral mounds dominate. Tropical fish like yellowtails, grunts, parrotfish, jacks, porkfish, and damselfish are abundant, and larger fish such as snook and permit are often seen. Moray eels and glassy sweepers are common around caves and tunnels.
Dive Highlights:
- Depths: Shallow to 45 ft, for all experience levels
- Vibrant coral gardens, limestone cliffs, and unique reef structures
- Caves, tunnels, swim-throughs, and abundant marine life
- Usually low current
Plan Your Dive:
Explore this iconic reef with Scuba Fun Florida and discover why French Reef is a must-visit dive site in the Florida Keys.
The Most Iconic of all Florida Keys Dive Sites: The “Christ of the Abyss Statue”
Dive one of Key Largo’s most iconic sites: the Christ of the Abyss. This shallow reef features a 9-foot-tall bronze statue, cast in Italy and donated to the Underwater Society of America by Italian industrialist and diving equipment manufacturer Egidi Cressi. It is the third statue of its kind, a replica of the original Christ of the Abyss, which rests off the coast of Genoa, Italy.
The statue stands majestically on a vibrant reef, surrounded by magnificent brain corals, tropical fish, rays, and occasional nurse sharks. Its arms are raised toward the surface, creating a photogenic and memorable underwater landmark for divers of all experience levels. The shallow depth and calm waters make it ideal for underwater photography and relaxed exploration.
Dive Highlights:
- Depth: Shallow reef, suitable for certified divers of all levels
- 9-foot bronze statue, third of its kind, donated by Egidi Cressi. Installed in 1964.
- Vibrant brain coral formations and abundant tropical fish
- Calm waters with excellent visibility, perfect for photography
- Unique combination of history, art, and marine life
Plan Your Dive:
Join Scuba Fun Florida to experience this one-of-a-kind dive. The Christ of the Abyss offers an unforgettable mix of historical significance, stunning reef scenery, and vibrant marine life, making it a must-visit site for every Key Largo scuba diver.
The Benwood, a “Real” Shipwreck on Key Largo’s Doorstep
Explore the historic Benwood wreck, a captivating dive site for novice and intermediate divers. This English-built cargo vessel sank in 1942 and now rests on a level sandy bottom, with its stern at 25 feet and bow extending to 45 feet offshore.
The bow remains the most intact part, with portions of the hull and outer walls still visible. The wreck is an open structure full of nooks and crannies, perfect for exploring and discovering hidden marine life. Divers can encounter moray eels, shrimp, lobsters, and schools of tropical fish, making every dive an adventure.
Dive Highlights:
- Depth: 20–50 feet, ideal for novice to intermediate divers
- Open wreck structure with intact bow and hull sections
- Explore hidden nooks for marine life including eels, shrimp, and lobster
- Sandy bottom makes navigation easy and relaxed
- A historic World War II cargo vessel lost in 1942
Plan Your Dive:
Join Scuba Fun Florida to dive the Benwood wreck and experience a mix of history, adventure, and vibrant marine life. This accessible wreck dive is perfect for first-time wreck divers or those looking to explore a unique Key Largo underwater site.
Wold-Famous USS Spiegel Grove
Dive one of the world’s most famous artificial reefs: the USS Spiegel Grove. Sunk in 2002, this massive vessel became the largest intentionally submerged wreck in the world, creating an underwater sanctuary teeming with marine life.
The wreck stands upright on the seabed, measuring 510 feet long and 84 feet wide, with depths ranging from 65 to 130 feet, making it ideal for advanced to expert divers. Carefully enlarged openings allow exploration of swim-throughs and interior passages, illuminated by natural light.
Swim along this majestic wreck and encounter tropical fish, reef creatures, and pelagic visitors within its towering structure. Its enormous scale, intricate design, and thriving ecosystem provide dramatic vertical relief and unique photo opportunities, making the Spiegel Grove a truly unforgettable dive in the Florida Keys.
Sister-Ships USCG Duane & Bibb
Depth Range: 65-130 feet
Experience Level: Advanced to Expert
Twin 327′ Coast Guard cutters were sunk in 1987 as the first of Key Largo’s artificial reefs. The Duane is in 120 ft of water and sits straight up. She is 327 ft long and is covered with life.
The 30+ years she has sat on the bottom has allowed her to transform into a spectacular habitat for many species. Masses of barracudas hover from her crow’s nest at 60ft, as if they are standing at attention.
As divers get closer to the deck at 90 ft, the vibrant colors of algae, coral, and sponge become evident. Large goliath groupers, turtles, eels, and game fish swim around, making this an exciting deep dive. Bull sharks are often spotted in the distance by divers, adding an extra thrill to the underwater experience.
The Bibb is the sister ship of the Duane, and the structure is the same. The interesting difference is that she lies on her side in 130ft of water. You will reach the hull structure at 60 ft.
