A Group Travel Guide toThe Florida Keys by Michael Salvarezza & Christopher P. Weaver

The Florida Keys have long been a favorite for divers but as divers travel further around the world, the Keys as a diving destination have receded into the background. Coral reefs the world over have suffered from the ravages of warming waters due to climate change and other man-made impacts, and the reefs of the Keys are no different. Still, the keys offer a multitude of diving opportunities and are worth revisiting. This guide to diving the Florida Keys can be used by dive shops looking to organize a road trip for their customers or dive clubs, but it can also be used by individuals looking to maximize their time in the Keys.

Why are the Florida Keys an Ideal Road Trip?

Besides the ease of access by road or plane, the Keys are in the United States. No travel papers are needed for domestic visitors and US based dive shops can easily organize trips that are tailored for any level of experience or interest. A group of 6-10 divers can be accommodated with a handful of rental vehicles or small vans. Some of the advantages of a trip to the Keys include:

• Coral reefs close to shore with depths ranging from shallow dives (25 feet) to deep walls and ledges (80-100 feet).
• Plenty of hotels and motels to accommodate different budgets
• Great restaurants and food options
• World-class shipwrecks
• Numerous dive shops and dive boats that operate 7 days a week
• Year-round diving with mild winter temperatures
• Great option for completing certification courses

When is the Best Time to Visit the Keys?

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This is a year-round destination. In the summer months, the air temperature can reach into the 90s with higher humidity. In addition, recent summers have seen very warm waters approaching temperatures in the mid-90s. Late summer and early autumn offer terrific conditions, but the threat of tropical weather and hurricanes can be present. In the winter months, cold fronts occasionally approach from the north and drop air temperatures into the 60s and the water temperatures can drop into the high 60s.

What are some of the diving highlights?

The Keys are known for having some of the fishiest reefs. Dive sites off Islamorada in the north and Big Pine Key and Marathon in the middle keys often boast of large schools of snapper, grunts and other reef fish. Some of the reefs have become iconic over the years, such as Molasses Reef near Key Largo, Sombrero Lighthouse Reef near Marathon and Looe Key near Big Pine Key.

There are ample opportunities to explore some of the best shipwrecks in the world throughout the Keys. Some are purposefully sunk as part of Florida’s artificial reef program and others occurred because of tragedy.

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary encompasses the islands of the Keys and ensures protection for the marine environment.

Sample Itinerary with Desired Dive Sites

• Day 1: If flying, fly/meet in Miami. Arrange rental vehicles or shared vans and drive to Key Largo
• Day 2-3: Dive Key Largo’s shipwrecks, including the Spiegel Grove, the Bibb and Duane
• Drive to Islamorada
• Day 4-5: Dive Islamorada’s reefs, including Nurse Shark City and Crocker’s Ledge
• Drive to Marathon
• Day 6-7: Dive Sombrero Lighthouse Reef and the Thunderbolt shipwreck or explore the wreck of the Adolphus Busch and the Looe Key Sanctuary off Big Pine Key.
• Drive to Key West
• Day 8-9: Dive Key West’s reefs and the wreck of the Vandenburg
• Drive back to Miami
• Day 10 Fly home

The itineraries for the Florida Keys can be very malleable: for instance, you could choose to start in Key West and work north or extend days in some places or add other islands.

Logistics

• Ideal group size: 1–10 keeps rental vehicle logistics to a minimum.
• Lead time: Minimal. With plenty of dive shops and dive boats operating throughout the islands, lead time is not much of an issue. Arranging boat space ahead of time ensures access to the desired dive sites, however.
• A wide variety of accommodations are available throughout the Keys.
• Diving schedule: 2-tank mornings are standard. Shallow, 1 or 2-tank afternoon dives are common. Nitrox is widely available.
• Ratios & briefings: Guide-to-diver ratios vary; many operators run ~1:4–6. Some dive boats run unguided dives. Inquire ahead of time and be ready to buddy up if you are using an operator that runs unguided trips. 
• Non divers & snorkelers: Some of the shallow reef dives also accommodate snorkelers on the same trip. In Key Largo, the John Pennekamp State Park is an ideal non-diver and snorkeler excursion as is Looe Key in Big Pine Key.
• Certification: Open Water or higher suits most sites; Advanced/Nitrox recommended for longer profiles and the deeper shipwrecks. It’s best to find out from the dive shop if the wrecks you plan to dive require Deep and/or Wreck certification.
• Medical & forms: Generally not required in advance.
• Dive conditions: Occasional strong currents on certain wrecks (e.g., Speigel Grove, Vandenburg, Duane and Bibb). Visibility between 30-100 feet. Water temperatures range from 68º in the winter to 90º+ in the summer.
• Photography: Use wide angle for shipwrecks and plan for either close focus wide angle or 60mm macro on reefs.
• Tech diving is accommodated on deeper sites and shipwrecks. Make sure you discuss your support needs ahead of time.

Certifications and Courses

The Keys are an ideal destination for group participants wishing to complete open water skills for certifications and specialty courses. Instructors should pre-arrange the training and the checkout dives in advance. Most dive shops will accommodate outside instructors with proper credentials and insurance.

Dives not to be missed:

These are some of the most iconic and best dives in the Keys. Arrange these sites with the dive shop ahead of time:

Key Largo:

• Spiegel Grove Shipwreck: The 510-foot USS Navy landing ship was once the largest artificial reef ever created; the ship once lay on its side but was righted by a hurricane. Depths range from 70-130 feet and is appropriate for advanced through deep and tech diving.
• USCG Bibb Shipwreck: An advanced dive with depths ranging from 97-120 feet and subject to strong currents.
• USCG Duane Shipwreck: A 327-foot Treasury Class US Coast Guard cutter sunk in 120 feet of water with the crow’s nest reachable in 60 feet of water.
• Christ of the Abyss Statue: A statue of Christ sitting in 24 feet of water and surrounded by a patch reef thriving with life. This is one of the most photographed dive sites in the Keys.

Islamorada:

• Nurse Shark City: A very fishy reef known for large nurse sharks and large schools of fish. The shallow depths (25 feet maximum) make for long bottom times and plenty of photo opportunities.
• Crocker Ledge: a deeper reef dive with depths reaching 80-100 feet.

Marathon:

• Sombrero Light Reef: A tongue and groove reef near to the Sombrero Key Lighthouse. Shallow depths and large numbers of fish make this an ideal dive for all levels.
• Thunderbolt Shipwreck: Originally a WWII cable-laying ship, later used for lightning research (hence the name), and deliberately sunk as an artificial reef. The wreck sits in 120 feet of water but is reachable in 75 feet of water. Teems with fish, including large Goliath Groupers, amberjacks, barracuda, and sponges/corals covering the structure. This wreck is a favorite for advanced divers with wide openings for easy navigation, but it can be a challenging dive with current.

Big Pine Key:

• Looe Key: A marine sanctuary with heathy reefs in shallow water. The trips here usually accommodate large numbers of snorkelers in addition to divers.
• Adolphus Busch Shipwreck: a popular, intentionally sunk cargo freighter (210 ft) is an advanced dive site, known for its intact structure, marine life (goliath groupers, eels, sharks), and challenging conditions like current, requiring AOW certification for exploration. The diver operators in the area don’t often run trips to this site so if you have a group interested in this dive, make arrangements ahead of time.

Key West:

• USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg: At 524 feet long, it was at one time the world’s second largest ship to ever be sunk intentionally. With her profile reaching from 140 feet of water to 40 feet, all skill levels can be accommodated on this dive.
• Cayman Salvager: About 7 miles off Key West she was originally built in 1936 as a mine layer for the U.S. army. She has been down for about 40 years and is abundant with marine life: stingrays lay on the deck, grouper swim around the rudder, and arrow crabs climb around searching for food. This 187 ft shipwreck does not offer wreck penetration but is a great location for underwater photography.

Florida Keys Shipwreck Trail

Within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary lie nine historic shipwrecks that are collectively known as the Shipwreck Trail. Together, the shipwrecks tell important stories from maritime history. Some of the shipwrecks are in shallow water accessible to snorkelers while others are in deep water and suitable for advanced scuba divers. Boat moorings at the shipwrecks facilitate access and dive slates orient visitors. These wrecks are the Benwood, City of Washington, Duane, San Pedro, Adelaide Baker, North America, Eagle, Thunderbolt and the Amesbury. A possible club itinerary could be organized around visiting these shipwrecks.

Non-Diving Add-Ons:

A dive trip to the Keys could also include stops at the following:

• Dry Tortugas National Park
• History of Diving Museum
• Key West Shipwreck Museum
• Mel Fisher Maritime Museum

Summary:

The Florida Keys are a relatively easy location to visit on either an individual holiday or a group organized tour. With numerous dive operators and dive boats, a plethora of interesting dive sites, and a variety of activities for all members of the group, the Keys can be a rewarding location.