Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Key West
Ready to check out the best sites in Key West for scuba diving, snorkeling, shore diving, free diving or other ocean activities? Zentacle has 8 dive sites, snorkel spots, beaches, and more. Discover hand-curated maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you.
No matter what you're looking for, you can find a diverse range of the best ocean activities in Key West to suit your needs.
#1 - Eastern dry rocks
USA, Florida, Keys, Lower Keys
Popular dive site for scuba and snorkeling.
SW of Key West
#2 - Rock key
USA, Florida, Keys, Lower Keys
Popular dive spot. Most reef formations are with long fingers of coral, sand and coral-filled canyons in between.
SW of Key West
#3 - USS Vandenburg
USA, Florida, Keys, Lower Keys
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
#4 - Cayman Salvager
USA, Florida, Keys, Lower Keys
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.
#5 - 9 Foot Stake
USA, Florida, Keys, Lower Keys
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.
#6 - Sand key
USA, Florida, Keys, Lower Keys
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
#7 - Marker 32 Reef
USA, Florida, Keys, Lower Keys
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.