Dive Sites

Florida Keys Dive Center

Reefs

Snapper Ledge

Snapper Ledge (15-30 ft.): A long ledge comprised of various sites. Turtles, rays, and (obviously) substantial schools of snapper. Great site for a little bit of everything.

Pickle’s Reef

Pickle’s Reef (10-25 ft.): Ideal for macro photographers because of the many small critters. Very pretty reef that includes cement barrels from a civil war wreck.

Molasses Reef

Molasses Reef (15 – 35 ft.):The best known and most popular site in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Noted for lots of fish, many star coral heads, regal stands of Elkhorn coral, The “Winch Hole,” and a Galleon anchor.

French Reef

French Reef (30 – 80 ft.): Known for its varying structure including multiple swim-throughs. Large coral heads play host to large pelagic fish.

Conch Reef

Conch Reef (50-110 ft.): The home of a number of sites. Conch Wall is noted for huge barrel sponges and large marine life.

Sharks Awareness Dive

Once a week or by request we do our shark awareness dive. This dive is to educate about and experience sharks. Here in the Keys its mostly nurse sharks, but occasionally bulls, reefs or hammers will come in. Shallow patch reef in 25 ft of water. Be ready to hang with a bunch of nurses!

Morada

Dive Site: Morada

Depth: 20 ft

Site Type: Reef

Shallow reef known for its purple sea fans.

Rocky Top

Dive Site: Rocky Top

Depth: 20-30

Site Type: Reef

A shallow patch reef beaming with life.

Crater

Dive Site: Crater

Depth: 35-60

Site Type: reef

A nice ledge with a big “Crater” like sand hole in the middle.

The Drop

Dive Site: The Drop

Depth: 50-90

Site Type: reef

A nice wall that drops from 50 to 90 feet. Keep an eye out for rays.

Aquarium

Dive Site: Aquarium

Depth: 25

Site Type: reef

Unique site that has actually two separate reef patches. Known for lobster hang outs.

Davey Crocker

Dive Site: Davey Crocker

Depth: 20

Site Type: reef

One of the most highest populations of fish life in our area. Schools fish, nurse sharks, eels and turtles. This is a must dive.

Hammerhead

Dive Site: Hammerhead

Depth: 60

Site Type: reef

60 ft ledge known for shark activity (Not Guaranteed). But lots of other critters if the sharks don’t come out to play.

The Fingers

Dive Site: The Fingers

Depth: 35-75

Site Type: Reef

If you look at your hand this is what this site looks like. It has a large reef area with finger like spurs. We’ve encountered everything from eagle rays to dolphins here. And look close in the sand to see numerous yellow headed jawfish.

Runway

Dive Site: Runway

Depth: 30-90

Site Type: Reef

Runway has a large sand channel running the entire length of the site. From above it looks like a runway. A very popular spot for fisherman due to contours of the bottom. This spot is where we also do our reef clean up and come up with numerous anchors, fishing line and other goodies.

Bully

Dive Site: Bully

Depth: 40-90

Site Type: Reef

This site gets it name after the bull shark. Its on one of our walls and seems to be a popular spot for the bully. If your lucky enough to see one, take in the moment because they are beautiful.

Ham

Dive Site: Ham

Depth: 25-35

Site Type: Reef

Ham is another little patch reef that is absolutely full of life. You will see grunts and goat fish by the hundreds here. The reef itself resembles swiss cheese and because of this harbors many juvenile critters. Around the outer part of the reef is a ledge system with many under-cuts. Take a moment to peek under them to wink at nurse sharks and eels.

Captain Grumpy

Dive Site: Captain Grumpy

Depth: 25-25

Site Type: Reef

A nice patch reef that is known for its nurse sharks. The surrounding topography is grass offering a very good chance at spotting turtles. With many nooks and crannies throughout the reef divers will encounter different eel species, including, green moray, spotted moray, goldentail and viper. This reef was not named after IDC’s own Captain Scott, though some may think so 🙂

Davis Reef

Dive Site: Davis Reef

Depth: 15 – 30 Feet

Site Type: Reef

Resource managers made this reef, in 15-30 feet, a sanctuary preservation area in order to ensure the protection of its well-established gorgonians, such as sea rods, sea whips, sea feathers and sea fans. After rubbing Buddha’s Belly, next to the large brain coral, you may even see the large green morays, nurse sharks, and stingrays that also call this reef home.

Crocker Wall

Dive Site: Crocker Wall

Depth: 30 – 60 Feet

Site Type: Reef / Wall

Located on the south end of Crocker Reef (30-60 feet), the wall sports spur and groove formation with mounding coral heads on top in 60-80 feet of water and is a great sea slope dive. Large fish, turtles, barrel sponges, sea fans, green morays, etc. can frequently be seen.

Hens and Chickens

Dive Site: Hens and Chickens Reef

Depth: 10-20 Feet

Site Type: Reef

This beautiful patch reef in 10-20 feet of water is great for both diving and snorkeling. The large brain and star coral mounds surround the site along with a forest of purple sea fans. Some of the mounds are close to 15 feet in height and create a labyrinth for divers. Don’t let the shallow depths fool you. This is one of the most unique reefs that the Florida Keys has to offer.

Wrecks

Spiegel Grove

Spiegel Grove: The Spiegel Grove measures 510 feet from stern to bow. A massive ship that was used by the Navy as a transport vessel. She was intentionally sunk in June 2002 to create an artificial reef. Tons of cool swim throughs that our guides will safely navigate you through.

SS Benwood

The Benwood is a 360 foot Norwegian merchant freighter that was sunk during the early years of World War II. The vessel was sailing blacked out to avoid German U-Boats in the area during one night early April of 1942. The vessel collided with the Robert C. Tuttle which was also blacked out. The Benwood began to collapse upon itself and now rests in 30 – 60 ft.

Alexander Barge

Dive Site: Alexander Barge

Depth: 100 ft

Site Type: Wreck

A push barge surrounded by bridge rubble, good for larger critters.

The Bibb

Dive Site: The Bibb

Depth: 105-130

Site Type: Wreck

Official Name: USCG Bibb

Location: Key Largo

Vessel: 327 Foot Coast Guard Cutter

Dive Level: Advanced & Nitrox

Near Molasses reef off the coast of Key Largo sits the USCG Bibb, the sister ship to the Duane. This wreck dive experiences a moderate to heavy current more often than not due to its placement near the gulf stream. Laying on her Starboard side, most of this wreck sits below 100 feet with very little relief from any currents at shallower depths. Due to its positioning, it’s one of the deepest wrecks in the area making it an Advanced Dive.

We ask that our divers be at minimum a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver with experience diving deep and we highly suggest that you have your Nitrox/Enriched Air Certification to extend the amount of time you can spend on this beautiful wreck. We often host Deep Diver Courses and Wreck Diver courses at this site. Contact our shop today to learn more about the opportunities to dive this vessel.
History of the Bibb Wreck Dive
Built in Charleston, SC, this vessel was named after George M. Bibb. Bibb was a US Senator and was appointed the secretary of the Treasury in 1844 by President Tyler. The Bibb started working as a US Coast Guard Cutter providing patrols in the North Atlantic. World War II saw her pulled into Naval service after being fit with anti-submarine weapons. With the designation WPG-31, she protected the northeast coast and trans-atlantic convoys. On multiple occasions, she engaged with submarines and rescued sailors from boats that had been torpedoed. In 1943, her captain disobeyed direct orders to rescue a group of survivors from frigid waters. Due to this, 202 souls lived to see another day

Later in the war, he designation was changed to WACG-31 when he heavy armament was refitted with anti-aircraft gun and a large radio room. She was converted into a command-and-control ship for amphibious landings. After the war she, like her sister ship, returned to Coast Guard Service.

The Bibb is recognized for multiple rescues at sea during her Coast Guard career. Once famous rescue was of the crew and passengers aboard the vessel the Bermuda Sky Queen in 1947. The flying boat encountered strong headwinds and burned too much fuel. It made an emergency landing on the sea on its way to Newfoundland in 30 foot swells.

She, like the Duane, participated in wartime duties in 1967 in Vietnamese waters before more Coast Guard duties and a 1984 decommissioning. The Bibb is one of nine wrecks in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Shipwreck Trail.

The Duane

Dive Site: The Duane

Depth: 125

Site Type: Wreck

Official Name: USCG Duane

Location: Key Largo

Vessel: 327 Foot Coast Guard Cutter

Dive Level: Advanced & Nitrox

Roughly 7.5 miles off the coast of Key Largo sits the USCG Duane, the sister ship to the Bibb. The advanced dive sites in the gulf stream and outside of the reef line and often has a moderate current that divers must learn to safely navigate. The upright nature of this vessel allows divers to find shelter from the currents and provides a safe haven for Manta Rays, Bull Sharks, Goliath Grouper, Barracudas, Cobia and more.

This is an Advanced Dive with a maximum depth of 125 feet. We ask that our divers be at minimum a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver and we highly suggest that you have your Nitrox/Enriched Air Certification to extend the amount of time you can spend on this beautiful wreck. We often host Deep Diver Courses and Wreck Diver courses at this site. Contact our shop today to learn more about the opportunities to dive this vessel.
History of the Duane Wrec Dive
The Duane was built in 1936 in a Philadelphia shipyard for the US Coast Guard. She was named after President Jackson’s Secretary of the Treasury, William J. Duane. Her first duties upon service was to support the colonists on the Line Islands south of Hawaii and then later to patrol the Bering Sea. In 1940 she hosted a meteorologist and weather balloons to provide weather information throughout the mid atlantic. The Coast Guard took on this duty because it was unsafe for the merchant fleet in the midst of World War I. Anti-Submarine weaponry was added to the ship in 1941 and she was pulled into active Navy duty under the designation WPG-33. The Duane is credited with multiple engagements with submarines, the sinking of the German sub U-175, a maritime landing in the south of France and more during her service in the Navy.

After the war, she was returned to regular Coast Guard service patrol the mid- and north-atlantic. In 1967 she was once again asked to assume wartime duties in Vietnamese waters. On her first day of patrol, the Duane engaged with multiple enemy vessels, destroying a forward observation post and multiple bunkers, tunnels and fortifications.

After 49 years in service (August of 1985), the USCG Duane was decommissioned. At the time, she was the United States oldest active duty warship. The Duane was donated to the Keys Association of Dive Operators 3 years after her decommissioning. They sank the Duane as an artificial reef, just south of Molasses Reef and alongside her sister ship the USCG Bibb.

The Duane is one of nine wrecks in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Shipwreck Trail.

The Eagle

Dive Site: The Eagle

Depth: 110′

Site Type: Wreck

Official Name: MV Eagle Tire Co.

Location: Islamorada, Florida

Vessel: 287 Foot Cargo Freighter

Dive Level: Advanced & Nitrox

5 Miles off the coast of Islamorada, FL sits a cargo freighter named the Eagle. This incredibly popular diving site is known as a superb wreck dive, spearfishing site and training location for advanced diving courses. The artificial reef was sunk in 1985 and marine life flocked to the site. Due to its depth and locations, you can commonly find Goliath Grouper, Bull Sharks, Rays, Tarpon and a large variety of smaller fish.

This wreck offers several small swim throughs and even some wreck penetration opportunities that line up perfectly with PADI Wreck Diver Course. The true beauty of the dive is to remain around the outside of the wreck to explore the central cargo hold, the king-towers, the superstructure and the marine life sheltering with-in the artificial reef.

This is an Advanced Dive. We ask that our divers be at minimum a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver and we highly suggest that you have your Nitrox/Enriched Air Certification to extend the amount of time you can spend on this beautiful wreck. We often host Deep Diver Courses and Wreck Diver courses at this site. Contact our shop today to learn more about the opportunities to dive this vessel.
The Eagle was named after the Eagle Tire Co. which helped purchase the vessel in 1985. Before it was named the Eagle went by several different names and through multiple fires at sea. Built in Holland in 1962, she took her first voyage under the name Ralia Dan. After 7 years of operation under the Danish flag, she experienced her first fire. The fire caused serious damage and the owners sold the vessel. In 1969 she was renamed Barok. She took on the names Carmela Ytai and Etai. Another serious fire took place in 1977 along with a name change to Carigulf Pioneer (1981) and Arron K (1984).

On October 6th, 1985, once again this ship caught fire. The US Coast Guard charged two Cutters to come to its rescue and evacuate the crew. The ship was declared a total loss and towed to a Miami port. The Florida Keys Artificial Reef Association with financial support of diver donations and a donation from Joe Teitelbaum (the owner of Eagle Tire Co.) purchased the vessel in hope of determining her final resting place in the Florida Keys.

They determined that The Eagle could live on the seafloor near the Alexander Barge. The Miami-Dade County Bomb Squad was called in for a special job – to help sink the 287 Foot vessel. Landing on her starboard side she remained there for 13 years until Hurricane Georges decided to split the wreck into two pieces forever changing the layout of the wreck dive.

The Eagle is one of nine wrecks in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Shipwreck Trail.