Author: DiveSpots
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Aquarius Underwater Laboratory
Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Islamorada GPS Coordinates The Aquarius underwater ocean laboratory is located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary three and a half miles off-shore in Conch Reef. The laboratory is currently in 60 feet of water but is built to withstand depths of up to 120 feet. The actually laboratory…
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Alligator Reef
Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Islamorada GPS Coordinates Alligator Reef is one of the largest reef systems in the Upper Keys. In the 1960s, a study of Alligator Reef found and identified more than 500 species of marine life. The reef arose around a wrecked ship; the USS Alligator built in 1820, which…
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Alexander Barge / Artificial Reef
Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Islamorada GPS Coordinates Alexander, a 120-foot long and 40-foot wide barge, was purposefully sunk in 1984 to mark the site for the development of an artificial reef. A year later, remains of the old Whale Harbor Bridge were added to the area to help in the formation of…
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USCG Duane
Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Key Largo GPS Coordinates The USCG Duane is a 329-foot cutter that was decommissioned on August 1st, 1985, as the oldest active U.S. military vessel. The ship was intentionally sunk on November 27, 1987, to create an artificial reef. This ship was sunk deep down to ensure that…
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USCG Bibb
Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Key Largo GPS Coordinates The USS Bibb wreck is a former Coast Guard ship built in 1937. The Bibb served in patrols and as a convoy escort during World War II. She took part in the invasion of Okinawa and was in service in Vietnam. The 327-foot vessel…
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Turtle Reef
Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Key Largo GPS Coordinates Turtle Reef, also know as Turtle Rocks, is a good-sized patch reef on the very northern edge of the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary. Most reef species are represented here, including Eagle Rays, plenty of Nurse Sharks, and an occasional moray. This site is…
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Thiorva Wreck
Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Key Largo GPS Coordinates At the north end of Turtle Reef, this wreck lies in 10 – 15 feet of water, making it a great site for snorkeling. This unidentified wreck may be the remains of an old schooner. Not much is known about the wreck. Her anchor,…
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Spiegel Grove
Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Key Largo GPS Coordinates The largest vessel ever intentionally sunk is the USS Spiegel Grove, a 510-foot landing ship dock. To give a better visual understanding of the immensity of this ship, she is roughly equivalent in length to two football fields. The Spiegel Grove was named after…
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Snapper Ledge
Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Key Largo GPS Coordinates Snapper Ledge is a shallow reef in 25 feet of water off of Key Largo. Because of the countless Yellowtail Snapper (hence the name) found at the site, this ledge is a local favorite and a highly recommended dive spot. Often, the schools of…
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Pickles Reef
Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Key Largo GPS Coordinates Pickles is a large, shallow reef area where divers and snorkelers can view well-formed corals. The name comes from cement-filled pickle barrels sunk here during the Civil War. These barrels are now covered with the largest pillar corals in the Keys. Numerous ledges and…