Key Largo is a dream dive destination where well-preserved natural coral reefs lie only a few miles from the shore – shallow reefs for snorkelers and deeper coral-encrusted wrecks for experienced divers. A perfect paradise for both divers and snorkelers.
Which Florida Key is best for scuba diving?
Key Largo dubs itself the “Dive Capital of the World“, and yes, it is home to some of the most renown dive sites in the Florida Keys. It is also where John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is located, the country’s first undersea park. It includes approximately 70 nautical square miles of adjacent Atlantic Ocean waters.
Is Florida Keys good for scuba diving?
The Florida Keys is home to the United States’ only living coral barrier reef, making it an ideal scuba diving destination. From pristine, shallow coral reefs to epic wreck dives, the Keys offers something for every level of diver.
Is diving better in Key Largo or Key West?
When it comes to snorkeling and diving, Key West has some great diving, but the snorkeling and diving around Key Largo surpass the opportunities around the southernmost Key by far. The reefs around both islands are incredibly healthy, beautiful, and mostly easy to access.
Is Key Largo good for scuba diving? – Related Questions
Are there alligators or crocodiles in Key Largo?
If you’ve ever driven down US 1 to the Florida Keys and noticed the sign for Lake Surprise before you reach Key Largo, here’s the surprise: it’s home to American crocodiles!
Do you need a wetsuit to dive in Key Largo?
Water temperature is around 70-75F. Full 3mm wetsuits required for SCUBA diving, Maybe a hood on the colder days.
Why are there no waves in Key Largo?
The Keys has the longest living coral reef in America, running 221 miles from Key Largo FL and continuing southwest to the Dry Tortugas National Park. The coral reefs protection keeps the waves from crashing ashore, which causes erosion. This also means the water inshore of the coral reefs is shallower, and calmer.
Are there alligators in Key Largo?
The answer is yes, there are definitely alligators in the Florida Keys. What is this? The type of alligator present in the swamps, ponds, rivers, and lakes of the Keys is the common American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). People often confuse alligators with crocodiles, but there are both in the Florida Keys.
What year Will Florida Keys be underwater?
Sea level rise projections from the Interagency Sea Level Rise Scenario Tool (published by NASA’s Sea Level Change Team) indicate that Key West could experience between 0.45 and 2.16 meters (1 and 7 feet) of sea level rise by 2100.
Is Key West a good place to scuba dive?
Key West is blessed with abundant coral and marine life which offers snorkelers and divers a world-class experience. On local reefs, the grouper and barracuda prowl the gullies and coral fingers, and the outer ledges drop to more than 18 meters/60 feet.
Is Key West a good place to dive?
The Oceanside of the Key slopes gradually down to about 65 feet in most places. The variety of depths, excellent snorkeling and diving, dry sand bar feature, and marine life like Barracuda, Eagle Rays, Nurse Sharks, and Sea Turtles make Sand Key one of the most popular Key West scuba diving sites.
Is Key Largo the diving capital of the world?
Key Largo, Florida is known as the scuba diving capital of the world. This is because there is a very large amount of dive sites easily accessible to divers. The Florida Keys is located along the 3rd largest barrier reef in the world.
Where is the clearest water in the Florida Keys?
Fort Zachary Taylor Park Beach, Key West
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is a National Historic Landmark that offers some of the clearest blue waters for snorkeling and diving in Key West.
What is Key Largo known for?
Key Largo is the first of the fabulous Florida Keys and is the self-proclaimed Dive Capital of the World. It is home to the world’s largest artificial reef, the 510-foot USS Spiegel Grove, the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and the African Queen. Everglades National Park is just a short trip away from Key Largo.
Why are there no beaches in the Florida Keys?
The Keys don’t have wide sandy beaches because the coral reefs we enjoy as snorkelers and scuba divers prevent the erosion and sand from building up along the shore. So while the beaches aren’t what make the Keys special, there are still some pretty special beaches in the Keys.
Can you swim in Key Largo?
Cannon Beach
It’s one of the most popular beaches in Key Largo, and for a good reason. The beach is beautiful with its white sand and turquoise waters. It’s perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling.
Are there alligators in Key Largo?
The answer is yes, there are definitely alligators in the Florida Keys. What is this? The type of alligator present in the swamps, ponds, rivers, and lakes of the Keys is the common American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). People often confuse alligators with crocodiles, but there are both in the Florida Keys.