Scuba diving

Key Largo - Home of the Only Living Coral Reef in North America

Florida is known as one of the top scuba diving locations due to its geography with more than 1,000 miles of coast surrounding the state on its three sides. Home of various sea habitats, the Florida peninsula bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the west and the Atlantic to the east attracts thousands divers a year due to the North America's only living reef running just offshore from South Florida down to Key Largo, an underwater heaven with huge abundance of marine life. For divers, the Sunshine State has it all.

10. 9. 2014

Established on November 16, 1990, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is one of 14 marine protected areas that make up the National Marine Sanctuary System currently protects 2,900 square nautical miles of coastal and ocean waters around the Florida Keys. Within the boundaries of the sanctuary lie spectacular, unique, and nationally significant marine world, from the world’s third largest barrier reef, extensive seagrass beds, mangrove-fringed islands, and thousands marine species.

Since the creation of the sanctuary, Florida Keys had to think differently about their ocean – which sustains them as a community. One of only a handful of Key Largo dive center operators, the Keys Diver, bear exactly that in mind and the Blue Star certification is a proof enough (Editor's Note: Blue Star is a program established by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to reduce the impact of divers and snorkelers on the coral reef ecosystem of the Florida Keys).

Keys Diver - 40 ft boat designed and built for snorkeling

Keys Diver II - 40 ft scuba diving boat

The owner of the shop, Rob Mitchell isn’t just the owner of the shop. He is a captain, Scuba instructor, and he sits on the National Sanctuary Advisory Board. Together with his wife Lynn and rest of the crew, they make sure you are in good hands right off the start. With 30 years of experience behind the Keys Diver operation, Rob and the co. will take you to beautiful shallow as well as deep sites whatever your level of diving might be.

Few Snorkel & Diving Tips at Key Largo:

CHRIST OF THE ABYSS

The statue of Christ of the Abyss (also known as Christ of the Deep) is nestled in a small canyon of coral life in approximately 28 feet of water on the outside of Keys Diver reef line.

NORTH DRY ROCKS & HORSESHOE REEF

If you’re looking to snorkel Key Largo reefs, look no further, these reefs are top choices - easy to navigate with a spur-and-groove coral formation. Huge coral and many shallow swim-through offer plenty to explore; you can’t help but wonder what you might see, peering into deep crevices.

MOLASSES REEF

Molasses Reef offers both, a shallow 30 ft as well as 90 ft deep dive. The spot reigns as the world’s most popular dive site and the reef is a classic spur and groove system with large coral structures. The marine life ranges in size here – and you never know what you’ll see here.

SPIEGEL GROVE

Sunk June 10, 2002, the Spiegel Grove is largest vessel intentionally sunk to make an artificial reef. After more than three years resting on its starboard side, waves from Hurricane Dennis pushed the 510-foot U.S. Navy ship Spiegel Grove into an upright position at 130 ft depth, before the hurricane brushed the Florida Keys July 9, 2005 leaving no significant lasting damage.

The Spiegel Grove

fluorescent coral

Plenty to discover, don't you think? If you have your own scuba license and your own gear the dive rates start at 70 bucks, Keys Diver offer Open as well as Advanced Water Certifications, dive trips including night and fluorescent dives, sunset snorkel and even private boat trips. Call them or email them to find out more at 305-451-1177 or info@KeysDiver.com. You can even book you trip online via their website.