Florida Keys Dive Sites

Alexander Barge

Sunk in 1984 as the first artificial reef in the Florida Keys program, the Alexander Barge sits at 100 feet surrounded by bridge rubble — a rewarding dive packed with Goliath Grouper, Turtles, Sharks, and reef fish in numbers that justify its reputation.

Alligator Reef

One of the most recognizable dive sites in the Florida Keys. A shallow, protected reef marked by the historic 136-foot Alligator Reef Lighthouse and teeming with marine life across depths of 10 to 25 feet. Accessible to divers and snorkelers alike.

Aquarium

Aquarium is one of the more unusual reef layouts in Islamorada. Two separate patch reefs at 25 feet, with the sand flat between them creating natural channels and crevices that Spiny Lobster favor heavily during season. Good fish life year-round, exceptional lobster hunting when the season opens.

Bully

A wall reef running 40 to 90 feet, named for the Bull Sharks that have made it a regular stop. Sightings aren't guaranteed but when a Bull Shark moves through this wall, it's a moment worth every dive that didn't produce one.

Captain Grumpy

A 25-foot patch reef set in sea grass flats, known for consistent Nurse Shark sightings, excellent Sea Turtle habitat in the surrounding grass, and an unusually varied Moray Eel population — Green, Spotted, Goldentail, and Viper all call this reef home.

Crater

A coral ledge reef running 35 to 60 feet, defined by a large crater-like sand depression at its center. The sand hole draws rays, Nurse Sharks, and larger critters and gives the site an unusual, easily navigable layout that sets it apart from a typical Keys patch reef.

Crocker Wall

Crocker Wall runs along the south end of Crocker Reef. A spur-and-groove sea slope stretching more than 400 feet, descending from 30 feet at the mounding coral heads down to nearly 80 feet at the base. Barrel Sponges, Sea Turtles, Spotted Eagle Rays, Green Morays, and large fish are consistent throughout the dive.

Davey Crocker Reef

One of the most fish-dense reefs in the Florida Keys. Nurse sharks rest under ledges, schools swirl overhead, and green morays peek from crevices all in 20 feet of crystal-clear water.

Davis Reef

Davis Reef is one of only a handful of Florida Keys reefs formally protected as a Sanctuary Preservation Area, designated specifically to safeguard its exceptional gorgonians. At 15 to 30 feet, it's accessible to all levels, offers some of the richest soft coral diving in the Upper Keys, and comes with one of the more unusual dive site traditions in Islamorada: rubbing Buddha's Belly for luck.

Ham

Ham is a compact patch reef at 25 to 35 feet with a porous, swiss cheese-like coral structure that creates more hiding spots per square foot than almost any site IDC visits. Dense schools of Grunts and Goatfish fill the water column, juvenile fish pack every crevice, and the outer ledge undercuts are reliably stocked with Nurse Sharks and Eels.

Hammerhead

Hammerhead is a deep ledge reef at 60 feet named for the shark sightings that have made it one of IDC's more talked-about sites. Shark activity is not guaranteed but the ledge structure, resident marine life, and depth make it a rewarding dive whether the big visitors show up or not.

Hens and Chickens

Hens and Chickens is a 106-acre Sanctuary Preservation Area off Plantation Key. A shallow reef of clustered coral formations with brain and star coral mounds reaching up to 15 feet in height, a dense forest of purple sea fans, and the kind of structural complexity that makes a 10 to 20 foot dive feel far bigger than it should.

Morada

Named for the color it earns — "morada" means purple in Spanish. This 15-foot patch reef is blanketed in purple sea fans and gorgonians, with Bonnethead Sharks in residence for most of the year. Accessible to divers and snorkelers alike.

Nurse Shark City

A shallow patch reef that lives up to its name. Nurse Sharks rest under the coral ledges and cruise the sandy bottom in numbers you don't see at most sites. They're calm, unhurried, and completely comfortable with divers.

Rocky Top

Large coral heads, purple gorgonians, resident sea turtles, and schools of fish so dense they block out the light, Rocky Top earns its reputation as one of the most life-packed reefs in Islamorada.

Runway

A wide reef running 30 to 90 feet with a defining sand channel that runs its entire length — visible from above like an actual runway. Popular with fishermen for the same bottom contours that make it productive for divers. Also IDC's regular reef cleanup site, where the crew pulls abandoned anchors, fishing line, and debris from the bottom.

The Bibb

The USCGC Bibb is a 327-foot Treasury-class cutter resting on her starboard side at 105 to 130 feet — the sister ship to the Duane, sunk the very next day, just half a mile away. Less visited than her upright neighbor, better preserved for it, and a genuine bucket-list dive for advanced divers who make the effort.

The Drop

A wall reef dropping from 50 to 90 feet with strong coral structure and open water visibility. The site is known for Spotted Eagle Rays moving through the water column — keep your eyes peeled on the blue as you descend.

The Duane

The USCGC Duane is a 327-foot Treasury-class Coast Guard cutter resting perfectly upright at 120 feet — a decorated WWII veteran, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and consistently ranked among the finest advanced wreck dives in the Florida Keys. The crow's nest and radar tower start at 60 feet. The deck sits at 100. The seafloor is at 120.

The Fingers

A large spur-and-groove reef shaped precisely like a hand with wide sand channels separating tall coral fingers running from 35 to 75 feet. One of IDC's most varied dives, with Spotted Eagle Rays and Dolphins in the blue water and Yellowheaded Jawfish hidden in the sand below.

Victory Reef

Victory Reef is a crew favorite for good reason. A 40 to 90 foot spur-and-groove wall reef 5 miles offshore, defined by a V-shaped coral structure with very large, distinct spurs, deep cannon-like grooves, and a wide central sand channel that channels sharks, rays, and hogfish between the walls.