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KEY LARGO REEF DIVES
Key Largo reef dives are accessed by boat approximately 4-7 miles off the coast of Key Largo, FL. Average depths on shallow coral reef dives are 20-35 feet. Water visibility generally exceeds 35 feet and water temperatures range from about 75 degrees in February to 90 degrees in August.
Frequently asked
Key Largo dive planning questions
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What is the best month to dive in the Florida Keys?
There isn’t a specific month better for diving than the others in Key Largo; conditions are generally good year-round. Some divers prefer the summer months. July is the calmest month for wind, which can lead to calmer seas for diving. This time of year also sees the water temperature reach up to 85℉+.
Weather can vary slightly depending on the season. The wet season is between May and October, peaking in August. The summer months are the most humid, also peaking in August. The windier months tend to be from October to May, and the windiest month is November.
Visitors can see the amazing biodiversity on Key Largo’s reefs year round. This can include seeing a variety of corals, fish, turtles, sharks, and rays. Some common species you can see at any time of the year include nurse sharks, eagle rays, Caribbean reef sharks, and loggerhead turtles.
Weather can vary slightly depending on the season. The wet season is between May and October, peaking in August. The summer months are the most humid, also peaking in August. The windier months tend to be from October to May, and the windiest month is November.
Visitors can see the amazing biodiversity on Key Largo’s reefs year round. This can include seeing a variety of corals, fish, turtles, sharks, and rays. Some common species you can see at any time of the year include nurse sharks, eagle rays, Caribbean reef sharks, and loggerhead turtles.
Which Florida key is best for diving?
The Florida Reef Track is over 300 miles long, from Martin County to the Dry Tortugas, including all of the Florida Keys. However, Key Largo is known as “The Dive Capitol of the World” because of its clear water, abundant marine life, and wide variety of dive sites easily accessible to divers. Many common dive sites in Key Largo include the well-known Christ of the Abyss Statue, Molasses Reef, Pickles Reef, and French Reef.
The biodiverse reef found off of Key Largo has a wide variety of coral, fish, turtles, rays, and many other species. Sharks commonly encountered on Key Largo Reefs include nurse sharks, black-tip reef sharks, lemon sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and scalloped hammerheads. You might even spot the world’s rarest sea turtle: the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle.
Famous shipwrecks to dive in Key Largo include the Benwood, City of Washington, USS Spiegel Grove, USCG Duane, and USCG Bibb. The latter three wrecks are for advanced divers as the wrecks sit in 100+ feet of water, but the Benwood and City of Washington wrecks are shallow and available to Open Water Divers.
The biodiverse reef found off of Key Largo has a wide variety of coral, fish, turtles, rays, and many other species. Sharks commonly encountered on Key Largo Reefs include nurse sharks, black-tip reef sharks, lemon sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and scalloped hammerheads. You might even spot the world’s rarest sea turtle: the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle.
Famous shipwrecks to dive in Key Largo include the Benwood, City of Washington, USS Spiegel Grove, USCG Duane, and USCG Bibb. The latter three wrecks are for advanced divers as the wrecks sit in 100+ feet of water, but the Benwood and City of Washington wrecks are shallow and available to Open Water Divers.
Is Key Largo good for scuba diving?
Key Largo is known as “The Dive Capitol of the World” because of its clear water, abundant marine life, and wide variety of dive sites that are easily accessible to divers. Famous reef dive sites in Key Largo include Christ of the Abyss Statue, Molasses Reef, Pickles Reef, French Reef, and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
Right off Key Largos’ shore is the Florida Reef Track, North America’s only coral barrier reef. The track extends from Martin County to the Dry Tortugas. The reef is home to over 700 species of coral, 100 species of sponges, over 4,000 species of fish, 13 species of shark, and thousands of other marine species.
Famous shipwrecks to dive in Key Largo include the Benwood, City of Washington, USS Spiegel Grove, USCG Duane, and USCG Bibb. The latter three wrecks are for advanced divers as the wrecks sit in 100+ feet of water, but the Benwood and City of Washington wrecks are shallow and available to Open Water Divers.
Right off Key Largos’ shore is the Florida Reef Track, North America’s only coral barrier reef. The track extends from Martin County to the Dry Tortugas. The reef is home to over 700 species of coral, 100 species of sponges, over 4,000 species of fish, 13 species of shark, and thousands of other marine species.
Famous shipwrecks to dive in Key Largo include the Benwood, City of Washington, USS Spiegel Grove, USCG Duane, and USCG Bibb. The latter three wrecks are for advanced divers as the wrecks sit in 100+ feet of water, but the Benwood and City of Washington wrecks are shallow and available to Open Water Divers.
Do I need a wetsuit in the Florida Keys?
The water temperature in the winter can get as low as 70℉, and in the summer months can get up to 87℉. In the winter a 3mm-5mm wetsuit is recommended. Depending on the day, a wetsuit is not always necessary in the summer, but sometimes a spring suit is recommended. This also depends on what water temperature you are used to diving in.
Most dive shops in Key Largo will allow you to rent a wetsuit before diving. Visitors can always ask the dive staff what the current water temperature is and what they recommend wearing.
Most dive shops in Key Largo will allow you to rent a wetsuit before diving. Visitors can always ask the dive staff what the current water temperature is and what they recommend wearing.
Where is underwater Jesus in Key Largo?
The famous Christ of the Abyss Statue is found in the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo. This statue was submerged in 1965 in the first underwater park in the US. The original Christ of the Abyss is found in the Mediterranean Sea and was put there as a memorial for all those who had lost their lives at sea. Another Christ of the Abyss was submerged years later off the coast of St. George’s, Grenada. The statue in Key Largo is the third, and last, made in the original mold.
This 9-foot bronze statue of Christ sits in 25 feet of water surrounded by a coral reef. The Christ of the Abyss portrays Jesus in a long robe with his arms outstretched toward the ocean’s surface. The entire statue weighs about 4000lbs!
Shortly after being placed in the water, the category 3 hurricane, Besty, came through the Keys. Amazingly, the Christ Statue was unaffected by the hurricane. It was then dedicated a year later, at Harry Harris Park in Tavernier, by John Pennekamp.
This 9-foot bronze statue of Christ sits in 25 feet of water surrounded by a coral reef. The Christ of the Abyss portrays Jesus in a long robe with his arms outstretched toward the ocean’s surface. The entire statue weighs about 4000lbs!
Shortly after being placed in the water, the category 3 hurricane, Besty, came through the Keys. Amazingly, the Christ Statue was unaffected by the hurricane. It was then dedicated a year later, at Harry Harris Park in Tavernier, by John Pennekamp.
How deep is the Jesus statue in Key Largo?
The Christ of the Abyss is a 9-foot bronze statue of Christ that sits in 25 feet of water surrounded by a coral reef. It portrays Jesus in a long robe with his arms outstretched toward the ocean’s surface. The entire statue weighs about 4000 lbs!
The famous underwater statue is in the John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo. This statue was submerged in 1965 in the first underwater park in the US. The original Christ of the Abyss is found in the Mediterranean Sea and was put there as a memorial for all those who had lost their lives at sea. Another Christ of the Abyss was submerged years later off the coast of St. George’s, Grenada. The statue in Key Largo is the third, and last, made in the original mold.
Shortly after being placed in the water, the category 3 hurricane, Besty, came through the Keys. Amazingly, the Christ Statue was unaffected by the hurricane. It was then dedicated a year later, at Harry Harris Park in Tavernier, by John Pennecamp.
The famous underwater statue is in the John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo. This statue was submerged in 1965 in the first underwater park in the US. The original Christ of the Abyss is found in the Mediterranean Sea and was put there as a memorial for all those who had lost their lives at sea. Another Christ of the Abyss was submerged years later off the coast of St. George’s, Grenada. The statue in Key Largo is the third, and last, made in the original mold.
Shortly after being placed in the water, the category 3 hurricane, Besty, came through the Keys. Amazingly, the Christ Statue was unaffected by the hurricane. It was then dedicated a year later, at Harry Harris Park in Tavernier, by John Pennecamp.
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