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

In addition to being the home of Jules' Undersea Lodge, Key Largo Undersea Park is one of the major Dive Training Facilities in South Florida, providing a sheltered deep-lagoon location for all types of basic and advanced underwater instruction.



Key Largo

Key Largo Undersee Park

John Pennekamp is a 4.666666666666667-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Florida, USA East which is accessible from shore based on 3 ratings.

John Pennekamp

It is a very shallow spot marked with a buoy. There are also 3 anker buoys.
Not much to see but a great training dive.

near Grecian Rocks

Cannon Patch

The "Christ of the Abyss" is a 9 foot 4000 pound bronze statue made by an Italian sculptor Guido Galletti. It was placed in Key Largo Dry Rocks in 1966 by the Underwater Society of America.

The Statue sits atop a large concrete base in 25 feet of water.

Near Key Largo Dry Rocks, 6 miles E-NE of South Cut, in the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

Christ of the Abyss is also known as The Christ of the Deep Statue.

Christ of the Abyss

North North Dry Rocks is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in USA, Florida, Keys, Upper Keys which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

North North Dry Rocks

The Benwood was a freighter, built in 1910. She was 360 feet long with a 51 foot beam. It sunk in 1942.

The wreck is located 5 nm offshore. It is marked by 4 buoys (B1 to B4).

The Benwood Wreck

French Reef is located into the Sanctuary Preservation Area.

Bring a light to explore the 4 caves of French Reef:
- Hourglass Cave (near F1)
- Christmas Tree Cave (near F3)
- White Sand Bottom Cave (The largest cave, located at the center of the reef)
- Five Caves (small caves, south end of the reef)


1 mile NE of Molasses Reef tower. It is marked by a black piling and 17 mooring buoys with the "F" letter.

French Reef

Spiegel Grove sunk June 10, 2002. This is the largest ship ever sunk intentionally to be an artificial reef, and probably the most well known.

Vessel size:
 - length: 510 feet
 - type: U.S. Navy Landing Ship Dock
 - tonnage: 6,880 tons

It takes at least two dives to have a look of the wreck. The Spiegel is an excellent Nitrox dive, especially on double tank dives!

In July of 2005, Hurricane Dennis forced the former USS Spiegel Grove onto her keel, right-side-up, which was the position originally intended when she was sunk.  It is an amazing dive.  Great areas for advanced and limited penetration.  This wreck offers something for everyone multiple times.  You could dive it 10 times and not see everything. 



6 Miles off Key Largo. The Spiegel Grove wreck lies near Dixie Shoals into the Marine Sanctuary.

Spiegel Grove is also known as LSD-32.

Spiegel Grove

You don't have to go far from the boat to see a large variety of animals of all sizes. Located in the National Marine Sanctuary, it is a protected reef, so no worries about tangles with spears or hooks; and very large game fish abound! Weekends do bring in a fair amount of divers, but there is enough to see in all directions so crowding can be avoided.

Located less than 20 minutes from the Spiegel Grove wreck.

Molasses Reef

Another area of wreckage at the Elbow. A tug and barge went aground in the 20s, dumping train track and wheels onto the reef. Little remains of the wrecks but the wheels. Huge formations of Elkhorn coral shelter schools of Goatfish, Snappers, and Porkfish. Colorful tropical fish are plentiful.

This site is accessed by one of the many dive charters in Key Largo Florida

Train Wheel Wreck is also known as Elbow Reef, Tug and Barge.

Train Wheel Wreck

If you plan to dive Key Largo, you'll find Mikes Wreck, or the now confirmed Hannah M. Bell, lying on Elbow Reef. Wreck.

Once a mystery ship, this vessel rests near two other popular Florida Keys shipwrecks, the City of Washington and the Tonawanda

The combination of Elbow Reef, along with three interesting wreck dives is why this is one of the best Florida Keys dive trips.

With so many other wrecks nearby, crystal clear water, and an amazing coral reef to explore, this is scuba diving Florida Keys at it's best.

When wreck diving the now confirmed Hannah M. Bell, you'll find her lying between buoy E2 and buoy E3. This position is only a few hundred feet from the Elbow Reef lighthouse which means night diving is possible.

The Hannah M. Bell is also shallow at a maximum depth of 25 feet. This makes this Florida Keys wreck perfect for those interested in Florida Keys snorkeling or for those who want to learn to scuba dive.

Key Largo Undersee Park

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Key Largo Undersee Park