Davey Crocker Reef

Davey Crocker sits in the shallows just a few miles offshore from Islamorada, but don't let the depth fool you. At 15 to 20 feet, this patch reef packs in more marine life per square foot than most sites twice as deep. It's the kind of dive that humbles experienced divers and absolutely lights up first-timers.

The reef structure is a classic Florida Keys patch — broad coral heads rising from a white sand bottom, sea fans swaying in the gentle current, and an intricate network of ledges and overhangs that shelters an astonishing variety of residents. Nurse sharks wedge themselves beneath the coral shelves and stay put, unbothered by the bubbles above. Green moray eels thread through the crevices. Sea turtles cruise the shallows with complete indifference to divers. And the fish life is relentless — dense, swirling schools of grunts, snapper, and tropical species that create a living wall of color in every direction.

This is one of IDC's most-visited sites for good reason. The combination of easy conditions, exceptional visibility, and sheer abundance of wildlife makes Davey Crocker a must-do on any Florida Keys dive list — whether it's your first ocean dive or your hundredth.