Key Largo is known as “The Scuba Diving Capitol of the World”. Key Largo is the closest island to the Florida mainland and only about an hour drive south of Miami. Whether you are an experienced diver or just learning to dive, Key Largo has something for everyone. There is so much diversity for Scuba Diving in Key Largo Dive Center that you will be sure to find beautiful underwater scenery no matter what your skill level may be.
The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is known as a location of beauty and was the first underwater protected preserve in the United States. The park reaches about 3 miles into the ocean and is about 25 miles long. It was established to protect a portion of the only living coral reef in the United States.
A favorite and most visited site is Molasses Reef. It is an extensive reef system ranging in depths from 10 to more than 70 feet. A variety of corals such as brain and star coral, seafans and sponges can be seen here. Caves and ledges provide homes to lobster, eels, fish, rays and sharks which allow divers to come into close contact. It is an underwater paradise especially for those who love digital photography due to the bright colors provided by the extensive marine life.
One of the most famous underwater sights is Christ of the Abyss. The statue is an 8 1/2 foot, 4,000 pound bronze sculpture that is so tall it is easily viewed from the surface. It is accessible to divers and snorkelers as it lies in about 25 feet of water.
More experienced divers can partake in some of the best wreck diving found anywhere. Spiegel Grove is a dive not to be missed. The USS Spiegel Grove, measuring 510 feet, was the largest vessel ever intentionally sunk. Depths range from 60 to 130 feet. The ship serves as the backbone of the world’s largest artificial reef system and there are more than 130 species of fish that call it home. Many experienced divers come to Key Largo to dive as many wrecks as possible.
With it’s shallow reefs and deep wrecks, Scuba Diving in Key Largo provides world class diving for scuba divers of all ages and skills.