Name: Rock key
Rating: 3.0

Florida

Monroe County

Divers will travel far and wide to find the best diving. But those who live in the United States have plenty of great diving on their doorstep as well, with plentiful access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. From warm-water reefs to temperate seas, here are some of the top places to scuba dive in the United States.

United States

Popular dive spot. Most reef formations are with long fingers of coral, sand and coral-filled canyons in between.

SW of Key West

Key West

Rock key

Popular dive site for scuba and snorkeling.

SW of Key West

Eastern dry rocks

Popular dive site off Key West.

The reef itself consists mostly of rock fingers and gullies with sandy bottoms between cliff-like structures and extensive areas of staghorn and elkhorn coral.



SW of Key West, mooring buoys on S side of key

Sand key

Western dry rocks

The Cayman Salvager now lies one mile southwest of the Nine-Foot Stake. This 187-foot steel-hulled buoy tender was built in 1937 for Coast Guard usage and was later used as a cable layer and for freighting. The US Government seized this vessel because she was carrying Cuban refugees during the 1979 Mariel boatlift. After being seized, she was sitting at the dock awaiting her fate when she sank unexpectedly. In 1985, she was raised and prepared to be sunk again as an artificial reef in 300 feet of water. But while being towed out for re-sinking, she prematurely sunk in just 90 feet of water where she currently resides. She settled on her side but was kindly righted a few months later in 1985 by Hurricane Kate. 

In preparation for her scheduled sinking, the Cayman Salvage had been cleaned and stripped to create a smoother structure to foster pelagic life. Because of the removal of restricting parts, penetration is possible but is considered dangerous. It is recommended that divers who desire to pursue such a mission do so during a return dive and not on the first exploration. 

Bar jacks and schools of silversides frequent this site. Divers have reported that a 200-pound jewfish and a six-foot green moray eel call this vessel home. Note that dangerous aspects of this location are strong currents and the depth. A careful diver will find this artificial reef a great chance for exploration and a unique dive.


This site can only be reached by boat. Any Key West dive operator will take you to it. 


Cayman Salvager

Another shallow spur and groove reef, which is often done in conjunction with Marker 32. The site has a large variety of reef fish and is home to a nurse shark. There are large specimens of Elkhorn, Bolder, Brain and Fan coral. Christmas Tree Worms can sometimes been found growing on these.
The site is also popular for night dives, where lobsters and yellow rays can be seen.

Half hour trip by boat from Key West.

9 Foot Stake

A spur and groove formation of reef including Elkhorn, Fan and Brain coral. Lots of life including Barracuda, Parrotfish and possible nurse sharks. 
Was originally called Marker 1 after the original marker, but is now called Marker 32 after the current buoy.

Half hour boat journey from Key West. Site is buoyed with the number 32.

Marker 32 Reef is also known as Marker 1 Reef, Toppinos Buoy.

Marker 32 Reef

Joe's tug is a small steel tugboat (28m long) that sits upright. You can enter into the wreck easily and access to the wheel house and aft deck.

SSE of Key West

Joe's tug

523 foot WW2 Air Force Missle Range Instrumentation sunk as an artificial reef. She lies upright. There are a couple of radar dishes located on the upper deck but one has appariently broken free.

Off Key West 6 miles

USS Vandenburg

A shallow reef with a good range of fish and coral. Some surge present due to shallow depths. Usual variety of coral including groups of purple fan coral and bolder coral.
Part of the ecological reserve, so nothing can be taken from the site.

By boat from Key West.

Western Sambos

An area of coral heads and some spur and groove formation. Named after cannonballs found at the site and the cut made for a cable to Key West.
Examples of brain, pillar and star coral. Some groups of coral and rock raise around 5 metres. 

By boat from Key West.

Rock key

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Rock key