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DIVING & SNORKELING THE FLORIDA KEYS - WAYPOINTS
(last update 9/9/02)
DIVE SITES
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If you're a diver, be patient - it's worth it. |
This page includes complete waypoints so that you can get
there in your own (or rental) boat.
You must be knowledgeable to boat in the Keys. Fines are EXTREME for going
aground - even in sea grass. Also learn how to use mooring buoys and always
approach the moorings on reefs from the Ocean side - never come in from
the back side (on Ocean-Side reefs of course) |
These waypoints MUST be used only
in conjunction with current charts of the area, and cross checked against other
navigational methods such as soundings, navigational aids and bearings. Do not
rely solely upon these waypoints, and don't use them at all unless you are able
to fully navigate yourself. You are responsible for your own navigation. Click
on any thumbnails you see to enlarge them.
GREAT AMERICAN FISH COUNT: These counts help
chronicle the state of the reef fishery. Fish-Identification seminars are held
throughout the Keys prior to the start of the fish count season each summer. The
free 2 hour seminars shows divers how to identify the 100 most common fish
species in the Keys, and introduces divers to the survey method used in the
Great American Fish Count. For more information go to
www.fishcount.org .
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary:
Reef Sites and Moorings
| The legend at right is for the graphic layout of the
moorings at some of the dive sites shown below. - from the National Marine
Sanctuary and Reef Relief. Click on the thumbnail graphics below to enlarge them.
Volunteers from REEF RELIEF have generously placed over 300
mooring buoys around many of the reefs. These are exceptionally convenient
and help save coral from anchor and chain damage. These blue & white buoys
have a large pendant with a loop in the end. Approach the buoy into the
wind/current (the pendant will be streaming directly back toward your bow).
Take one of your own long lines and cleat it around one bow cleat, then
thread the free end through the loop of the pendant when you pick it up.
Cleat the other end of your own line onto the other bow cleat so that you
now have a "bow" of your own line passing through the loop of the pendant.
Using a long line gives you more scope on the buoy to prevent pulling it
loose from its own anchor. The larger your boat or rougher the water the
more scope you should use. If you're pulling the buoy underwater you need
more line. When you leave, all you have to do is free your line from one
cleat and back up while pulling in the rest of line. Always approach the
moorings from Oceanside - never from the backside of a reef. These Buoys are
one of the best things REEF RELIEF ever did on our Reefs!
Dee Von Quirlo, Executive Director
www.reefrelief.org
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SHIPWRECKS:
There are many wrecks throughout the Florida Keys. Waypoints for many of them
are listed on this page. To view a graphic map of the wrecks throughout the
keys, click on the thumbnail below to enlarge.
 Click
on the thumbnail to enlarge
See below for the description and waypoints of some of these wrecks.
CUBA
- for underwater photos on Cuban reefs, go to
http://www.cubanos.org/gallery.html#
LOWER FLORIDA KEYS & TORTUGAS
The Tortugas are a spear fisherman's Mecca. However, the
federal government is (July 2000) in the process of essentially shutting down hundreds of
square miles of this area to any type of fishing whatsoever, and trying to ban all
divers.
Please check with the Marine Sanctuary and fisheries management for all the rules. They are also looking at restricting
the number of ferries and seaplanes that are allowed to bring day tourists to
this area. Stay posted.
Tortugas - Garden Key and
Loggerhead Key. (This is a large area. Go to the Cruising waypoints pages
for approaches.)
For the adventurous - - you can travel to the Tortugas by private
boat, or alternatively by ferry, seaplane or live-aboard dive boat. These
keys are 70 nautical miles from Key West in the middle of nothing but the old Fort
Jefferson. Garden Key light was built before the Loggerhead light, completed in
1825. Later it was incorporated into the structure of Fort Jefferson as it was
built. Loggerhead light was built later in 1858 as the primary navigational
light. Mooring buoys have been placed along the west side of loggerhead,
including the FRENCH WRECK. This steel wreck has depths ranging from the surface
to 25 feet - here you'll find a large Jewfish. The Garden Key light is open to
visitors as part of the Fort Jefferson National Park. The reefs around these
lights and keys are numerous and varied. Some of the best diving and spearfishing is found here (check where you can do this). You can get day
ferries or seaplanes out of Key West to visit. There is a primitive campground
on Garden Key - apply for a permit well in advance from the Park Service.
Cottrell Key
- 24 36.74N 081 55.63W NW of Key West at
end of NW Channel. Mooring buoys. Wreck & platform located here. Shallow area.
 click
to enlarge
Western Dry Rocks
24 26.68N 081 55.59W SW of Key
West
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to enlarge
Sand Key 24 27.1N
081 52.58W - (mooring buoys on S side of key) SW of Key West
Both Sombrero at Marathon and Sand Key at Key West were once Islands. Now nothing
remains except the Lights. The original brick Sand Key lighthouse, built in 1827,
was destroyed by a hurricane in 1846. A screwpile design was chosen to replace
the light. Completed in 1852 it's the light that still stands. This is a popular
dive site off Key West. Most of it is 20 to 50 feet deep and the fish are very
diverse on this reef. It's a very popular afternoon "snorkel" spot on
the weekends. Can go ashore under the light. Sand bars.
 click
to enlarge
Stargazer Sculpture -
Approximate 24 27.32N 081 51.97NW(General Location) - SW of
Key West
Between Rock Key and Sand Key, is a large sculptured reef. The artist Ann
Lorraine Labriola created it as a tribute to ancient mariners who navigated by
the stars. It consists of 10 steel pieces of up to six tons each and 168 ft long. It was built
about 1992 and is still growing. From the air, it's a modern/primitive symbol of
movement, almost like a map put there by space aliens.
Rock Key
24 27.26N 081 51.51W SW of Key West
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to enlarge
Easter Dry Rocks
24 27.56N 081 50.77W SW of Key West
click to enlarge
Western Sambo
24 28.81N 081 42.87W SE of Key West
click to enlarge
Pelican Shoal
24 30.01N 081 37.84W SE of Key West
click to enlarge
American Shoal 24 31.568N
081 31.383W
This lighthouse was finished in 1880 and was the last Keys
lighthouse to go up. Most of the diving in this area is on the more dramatic
Looe Key but this shoal is still worth a dive. The waters around the light are
shallow and are scattered with artifacts from numerous groundings. Remember the
sanctuary rules that prevent collecting these.
Newfound Harbor Approach from
East: R50 24
36.736N 081 23.590W
Just inside this R50 buoy is a very nice,
shallow patch reef with a handful of mooring buoys. It's a great snorkeling reef
with lots of fish. Kids really like this one too. Kids seem to like the
shallower reefs with lots of fish because they feel more secure, are closer to
the fish, and don't feel like they're "too high up" on the surface.
This is NOT a diving reef. It's all less than 10 feet deep.
Looe Key REEFS: (Ramrod Key -- lower keys) DIVE SITES;
1-100', 54 Mooring Buoys
Depths 5-30', light to moderate current. 6.7nm SW of
Big Pine Key. Tel: 305-292-0311 for Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary
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Looe Key: R24: 1/8 mi East of Daymark - approach from East - Mooring Buoys
24 32.939N 081 24.031W
Check out the annual Underwater Music Festival in July of each year at
Looe Key.
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"Busch" Wreck - ˝ way between Looe Key and
American Shoals. West of Looe Key.
BUSCH WRECK
210 Ft Island Freighter, "Adolphus Busch Sr."
Sunk Dec 5, 1998. In 100 ft of water with
ship’s towers coming within 40’ of the surface. The ship was featured
in the 1952 movie "Fire Down Below".
24:31.81N 081:27.64W Published WP - not verified |
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MIDDLE FLORIDA KEYS
Sombrero Light
& Reef Dive
Site - mooring buoys, also at edge of reef
24 37.600N 081 06.600W (E. Side of Reef for approach from Marathon)
This lighthouse is about 3 miles outside of Boot Key Harbor at Marathon.
At 142 feet it's the tallest of the Keys Lighthouses. The light was manned from
1858 to 1939 by the US Lighthouse Service, but this service was abolished in
1939. The Coast Guard then took it over. In 1960 the Coast Guardsmen stationed
there got quite a ride when Hurricane Donna stormed through. The light survived
the 20 foot seas and 200 mph winds, but the bottom platform was ripped off. No
one lived there after that and regular trips are made for maintenance - except
as an occasional lookout post. The reef is a very nice spur and groove
formation. Mooring buoys make it very easy to select depths from 15 to 60 feet
on the seaward side of the reef. Snorkeling is excellent - under the shadows of
the lighthouse, inside the structure underwater, are what appear to be thousands
of snapper, grunt and barracuda. A coral archway spans one of the sand chutes
between coral spurs. Good night dive spot.
CLICK HERE for the annual Reef Sweep cleanup done
here in the Summer of each year.
Delta Shoal - SW Edge, Dive/Snorkel/Fish
site
24 37.919 081 05.434
LORAN 14018.0 43439.8
Just to the east of Sombrero Light is this unmarked, unbuoyed
reef. Depths range from about 15-25 feet. It's not as dramatic or prolific as
Sombrero reef, but this one is outside of the "no take" area of
Sombrero. This means you can spearfish and lobster here. It's not as convenient
though because of the lack of mooring buoys, the need to know your exact
location, and need to avoid anchor or rode damage to coral. It's still a nice
spur and groove reef with lots of fish and lobster under the ledges. There
have been many shipwrecks on the outside edge of the reef over the years.4 Kids Shrimp Boat - Off Delta
Shoal: 24 38.135N, 081 04.068W. 55-60' of water. Shrimpboat from early 80's.
Lots of Grouper & Grunt. Metal parts remain scattered on bottom.
Barge Wreck - Off Delta Shoal:
24 38.629N, 081 04.283W. Quickly disintegrating barge wreck. Penetrable in 2000.
about 20 feet of water.
Delta Barrel Wreck: 24
38.268N, 081 05.614W. Possibly the "North America" , 3 masted square rigger
built in 1833 in Maine. Went down in 1842 enroute from New York to Mobile AL. In
15' of water. 115' long ballast mound is al that's left.
East Washerwoman Light/shoal,
South side of light
24 39.902 081 04.332
LORAN: 14023.0 43433.0
Nice shallow reef in 5-15 feet of water. Kids
like this one too. It's just outside of the sister creek entrance to Boot Key
Harbor. No mooring buoys. Lots of yellow tail snapper.
Mystery Galleon - off Marathon. 24 41.213N, 081 02.415W. Possibly a Man of
War from 1640's. A 600 ton ship. Wooden structural components are preserved. Can
swim under the stern to see the structures / deck. Ballast pile. In 8-10 ft of
water - dropping down to 20' around wreck. Visibility can sometimes be poor
here.
Brick Wreck - Off Key Colony: 24 42.388N, 081 01.603W. 8' of water. 90'
Schooner sank in mid 1800's. Wood ribs, bow sprit, keel, ballast pile. Lots of
marine life. Cargo of bricks - possibly bound for Ft Jefferson in Tortugas or Ft
Zachary in Key West.
Grassy Key Wreck: 24 44.311N, 080 57.288W. Possibly an 1850's Man of War
ship. Copper Ship Pins and sheathing. 12 feet.
G47 West Turtle Shoal (Grassy Key) Dive Site 10-15’,
24 42.040N 080 58.052W
R20, Coffins Patch Reef: Oceanside Edge of Reef.
Sloping sea bottom starts in about 15-18 ft and slopes down to 40 ft and
deeper. Sponges & Soft Coral.
24 40.500N 080 57.400W Coffins Patch Reef - SW Mooring
Buoys/Stake - snorkel/dive
24 41.100 080 57.850
S.P.A. area. This is a really nice shallow site at about 10-15 feet - especially
suited to snorkelers. Lots of fish. The ocean side of the reef starts to drop
off deeper than 15-20 feet and has lots of nice fish, including big grouper.
It's a protected "no take" area, so there are plenty of lobster - both spiny
and Spanish. The "stake" sticking out is part of an old shipwreck - lots of
mechanical parts scattered around the shallow reef with lots of fish.
Coffins Patch Reef at Elbow - 1 mi East of Wreck & buoys, snorkel/dive,
7-15 ft.
24 41.540 080 56.846
Coffins Patch Reef - Sand Circle - 24 41.486N, 080
56.581W swimming distance from the Elbow. Easy Dive for new divers and
practice area. Large open area of sand. About 15 feet deep.
Coffins Patch Pillar Coral: 24 40.950N, 080 58.319W.
Lots of Pillar Coral in
15' of water.
Coffins Patch 3 Bag Reef wreck: 24 41.255N, 080 56.020 -
10-15 ft. Concrete Bags from shipwreck in mid 1800's. Rises about 6' from bottom.
Beacon Remains off Coffins Patch: 24 41.574N, 080 56.332W.
Adelaide Baker Wreck Site 1: 24 42.140N, 080 53.560W. 25' of water where ship
initially grounded. A 3 masted Barque of 153' length, built in 1863 in Bangor
Maine. Sank in 1889.
Adelaide Baker Wreck Site 2: 24 42.175N, 080 53.670W. A 3 masted Barque of 153'
length, built in 1863 in Bangor Maine. Sank in 1889. This is the site of the
main mast and rigging.
Duck Key Shrimp Boat: 24 41.837N, 080 51.129W. 150' of water - old shrimp
boat. Deep dive for experienced divers only. Caution advised.
El Sueco De Arizon Wreck: Duck Key area: 24 46.636N, 080 53.367W. Small
merchant ship from 1733 Hurricane casualty in 8' of water. Currents may be swift
here and visibility poor.
Spanish Galleon "IGNACIO" (Grassy Key), DIVE SITE
18', No Buoys. Not much left.
LORAN: 14039.5 43395.2
The Arena: 24 39.040N, 081 01.784W. 15-20' reef
dive. Nurse Sharks & Herman the BIG Green Moray. Hand fed by local shops.
The hole is a circular ridge at about 15 ft depth. The outer perimeter goes to
25-30 ft while the inside is only about 20 ft. Lots of fish.
Samantha Reef: 24 39.494N 081 00.316W. Nurse Sharks frequent this area. Reef
close to drop-off so clears out quicker than more inshore reefs. Not as
developed a reef as nearby Delta or Sombrero, but a nice reef in 20-25 feet of
water.
Thunderbolt Wreck - 24 39.433N 080 57.808W
(mooring can is about 10-15’ below surface - you have to find it, then have a
swimmer jump in to take a line from the boat and pass through the underwater
pendant). Sunk on March 3, 1986. The 188 ft long ship sits upright in 120
feet of water. The main deck is at 100 feet and the superstructure encountered
at 80' or so. It's a very popular local shipwreck.
Currents can be VERY strong. A floating line is usually tied to your mooring
line which streams back behind the boat. This allows the divers to pull
themselves forward to the mooring buoy, then pull themselves down to the deck of
the ship.
NOTE TO SPEARFISHERMAN: Note that the rules for spearfishing change at
about the Long Key Bridge. You have to be more than about 3 miles out in these
northern keys (listed below) to spearfish. Get a copy of the rules.
Tennessee Reef Drop Off: 24 44.814N, 080 45.948W. Dropoff between Tennessee
Reef and R18 Daymark.
Tennessee Reef: 24 45.845N, 080 45.401W
Long Key Bridge Rubble: 24 43.681N, 080 49.754W. 20-25 feet of water with
rubble from Long Key Viaduct Bridge.
La Almiranta Wreck - Channel 5 area: 24 48.619N, 080 45.932W. Also called the
"Cannonball Wreck". 12' in turbid water. From the 1733 fleet that went down in a
hurricane. 500 Ton ship that carried 60 Cannon. Massive warship.
El Lerri Wreck: Off Matecumbe: 24 50.753N, 080 42.867W . From 1733 Armada
went down in Hurricane. English built merchant ship. 100' x 30'. Ballast stones
only - no other parts left.
Matecumbe Gardens: 24 47.885N, 080 41.352W. 25-30'. Soft Corals & Sponges on
a flat sand bottom.
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KEYS OCEANSIDE: Upper Florida Keys
Christ of the Abyss at Key Largo Dry Rocks
(listed further down on this page)
Reefs in the Upper Keys are generally better developed than the mid &
lower Keys reefs. This is substantially because the outflow of the
everglades waters (polluted with Sugar Industry runoff) affects mid & lower
keys much more so than Upper - because of the geography. |
Most of the Upper Keys Reef is within the John Pennekamp
State Park. You can rent boats here or go on snorkel, dive or glass bottom boat
trips. There is a PADI 5 star dive shop on site at the park visitors center &
marina.
CLICK HERE
for more information on the State Park,
contact phone numbers, and graphic layout of the visitor center.
(There are also numerous other dive shops in the area. Go to the
DIVING
page for info.
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Tollgate Rocks: 24 50.186N, 080 43.691W . Inshore Patch Reef in 10-15' water.
5 minutes from Caloosa Cove marina on Lower Matecumbe.
Alligator Light & Reef:
24 51.10N 080 37.10W
Alligator Reef is named after the USS Alligator, a 12 cannon
schooner built to curtail piracy and slavery. After a short service it ran
aground here in 1822 and was exploded by the crew to keep it from pirates. A
mooring buoy close to the lighthouse in about 10 feet of water marks the ballast
pile and scattered artifacts from the wreck. A few hundred yards to the north
there are four more buoys on the main reef. Depths range from around 20 to 50
feet.
click to enlarge
Cheeca Rocks:
24 54.13N 080 36.94W
a.k.a. Cheeca Gardens. 12-15', light to moderate current
Close to Cheeca Lodge Resort its a large inshore patch reef. Lots of colors and
tropicals.
click to enlarge
Little Conch Reef
24 56.52N 080 28.5W
12-15', none to moderate current
Good photography - diversity, colors. Spanish ship El Infante lies here.
Pillars, fans, tropicals.
Conch Reef
24 57.38N 080 27.39W
The inner portion of this reef (shoreward of marker #12, approx) is a S.P.A.
area with buoys. Depths Range from 17' to 5' shallows.
The outer portion of this reef is marked a RESEARCH ONLY area and entry is
restricted. This is the home of the Aquarius Underwater Habitat on the wall of
the reef in about 50-60 feet of water.
click to enlarge
Pickles Reef
24 59.26N 080 24.84W
Pillar Coral, purple sea fans, falmingo tongue cowries, queen conch. 25ft or
so. Pickle Barrel Wreck.
click to enlarge
USCG Cutters Bibb & Duane
Bibb - Position Approximate: 25 00.18N
080 22.62W In 110' of water. Large yellow
marker & mooring buoy. Two more mooring buoys on bow under 15' of water. Upright
on bottom. Strong currents. Crow's nest at 50' and deck at 90'. Bow anchors at
45 degrees off bow.
Duane - Position from FKNMS "Shipwreck Trail" -
24 59.388 080 22.888W USCG cutter on starboard side with
gunwales about 95'. Sank in 1985 as recreational diving site. 327' long. Buoyed
bow & stern. 125' max depth.
click to enlarge
Molasses Reef - Great Site. 25 00.626N 080 22.339W.
Nice canyons, big fish including eagle rays.
click to enlarge
Turtle Shoal -
25 01.54N 080 23.68W
Coral Heads with grass in between. 2' at shallowest. 16-18' at perimeter.
click to enlarge
Three Sisters -
Molasses Reef Channel: 25 01.54N 080 23.68W
Moorings at each end of the 3 daymarks - Molasses Reef Channel. Coral Heads
with grass in between. 2' at shallowest. 16-18' at perimeter.
click to enlarge
French Reef 25 02.072N
080 20.975W
shallow to 100', variable often strong current.
Outstanding diving. One good trench runs north from northernmost seaward buoy.
Limestone caves. Hourglass cave on S. end. Christmas tree cave. White sand
bottom cave.
click to enlarge
White Bank Dry Rocks
25 02.33N 080 22.28W
click to enlarge
Benwood Wreck
25 03.07N 080 19.59W
GPS from FKNMS Shipwreck trail publication.
20-50', no to strong current
Outer reef a mile and a half from French Reef - a Norwegian freighter sank in
1942 from a collision. Broken into pieces. Nice dive. Stern in 25' and bow in
45' pointing directly offshore. Sank in 1942. Hit the south side of the wreck
for maroay eels, lobster and glassy sweepers. Moorings available.
click to enlarge
WRECK OF THE SPIEGEL GROVE -
25 04.00N 080 18.65W Off
Dixie Shoal - 10
mooring buoys. A 510 Foot Naval Ship, 84 foot beam (Landing Ship Dock -
LSD). Sank on May 17th 2002 off the upper Keys (originally upside down,
but righted to starboard side on June 10th) - about a mile & 1/2 from the Benwood. This is the largest ship ever intentionally sunken for recreational
diving. She lies on her Starboard side in 130' of water, with the gunwales
coming to within about 50' of the surface.
6,880 Ton ship. Draft is 19 feet, speed was 22.5 knots. Launched Nov. 10 1955
and commissioned June 8, 1956. Decommissioned Oct 2, 1989. Thanks to Dick
Drake, Capt Spencer Slate and Stephen Frink - three of the original group
to come up with the Spiegel Grove idea.
For pictures & more info go to
http://www.spiegelgrove.com
Kevin Flatley served on the ship
in the 80's and has a site that gives the history of the boat from 1954 to
now. Go to
http://www.geocities.com/flatleyk/lsd-32.htm
Grecian Rocks 25 06.639N 08018.241W
click to enlarge
Key Largo Dry Rocks (Christ of the
Abyss Statue)
25 07.361N 080 17.843W
This is a "must see" site because of the Christ of the
Abyss Statue placed in about 20' of water on this reef. This reef is home to
Captain Slate's "trained barracuda" which takes the fish from the
divemaster's mouth (don't try this one at home - or on the reef for that
matter!) Statue lies between mooring buoys D4-D5.
click to enlarge
Horseshoe Reef, and North
North Dry Rocks
Horseshoe Reef:
25 08.362N 080 17.641W
North North Dry Rocks: 25 08.221N 080 17.435W
click to enlarge
Elbow Reef
25 08.61N 080 15.44W
R6 Marker. City of Washington Shipwreck lies here.
click to enlarge
Carysfort Light & Reef
25 13.300N 080 12.700W
Carysfort Reef is off the northern end of Key Largo on a broad,
shallow reef with Elkhorn and Staghorn corals. It's named for a 28 gun frigate
called HMS Carysford, which went aground here in 1770 prior to the Lighthouse.
The Carysfort light was built in Pennsylvania and fully assembled at the
factory, dismantled, shipped to Florida and re-assembled on the reef. Moorings
are provided on both the exposed seaward side and the leeward side of the reef.
The leeward buoys are good for snorkelers since the water is usually more flat
and depth is about 5 feet. At the outer buoys the depth starts around 20' and
gradually increases to about 70 as you "fly" down the spurs of coral.
This reef has a unique double spur and groove formation. The second one is
mostly fossil coral ridges and sand channels, and are older and deeper than the
living formations.
Carysfort is not as dived upon as the other reefs because it's a lot further out
from the Dive shops of Key Largo. This makes it a great spot for cruisers on
their own boats.
Carysfort Reef - South. Just South of the Light
listed above. 25 12.482N 080 13.162W
Carysfort - S Carysfort
click to enlarge
Carysfort North
25 14.91N 080 12.14W
click to enlarge
Carysfort Trench
P.A. (position approximate) 25 14.48N 080 12.79W
click to enlarge
Turtle Reef & Rocks -
25 16.54N 080 12.493W
Diving is on the east side of Turtle reef & west side of
Turtle rocks. Average depths of
around 25', usually good visibility. Good photography.
click to enlarge
Northeast Patch
25 18.553N 080 12.028W
Mooring buoys on both the east and west sides of this patch reef.
Most remote part of Upper Keys FKNMS & Pennekamp reefs.
click to enlarge
Miami Area: For information on Miami area diving & wrecks, visit
some of the Miami area Dive Charter boats:
www.h2oscuba.com
www.rjdiving.com
www.keydivers.com
Miami-Dade county has sunk more than 30 ships over the years for divers
(including tanks and jet fighters).
Miami area Shipwrecks The Tortuga sits in 110 feet of water on a Sandy
bottom, with lots of marine life.
Sheri Lyn is a 235 foot steel freighter located near the Orion in 90 feet of
water. It was broken in two by Hurricane Andrew.
- plus many more not covered here - visit the dive shops listed above.
The Orion wreck, off Key Biscayne
118 foot tug in 95 feet of water USE YOUR BROWSER BACK BUTTON TO RETURN TO THE PREVIOUS PAGE
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