Nine Foot Stake

Fast Facts:

• Average Depth:  15 ft. / 5 m
• Max Depth: 30 ft. / 9 m

Features:

• Coral Reef
• Mooring Buoys
• Good Snorkeling

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This site is a nice shallow-water reef averaging 15 to 30 feet. The reef is marked by a nine-foot piling (hence the name) and is one mile west of #1 Marker. Divers make very interesting discoveries at this site due to testing that was done by the Navy-Air Development Corp.

Because of the shallowness of this area, it provides excellent photography opportunities. This is also a great area for those interested in snorkeling. Divers might be interested in using this site to off gas before proceeding to a deep dive in a nearby area such as Cayman Salvager.

There are many exciting varieties of sea life at this site. Brain coral with six-foot diameters as well as juvenile pelagic life are unique to the area. Because of its location in relation to Key West, this is a popular site for night diving and provides a home to several nocturnal species such as hermit crabs, nudibranches, anemones, and brittle stars. There are also the remnants of a small lighthouse with piling scattered and coral mounds that rise over 12 feet. These aspects provide protection for reef fish such as Spanish hogfish, yellow goatfish, and blue tags as well as large barracudas. This is a great dive for viewing schools of fish but also for observing individual tropical reef fish that may be of interest.

There are two mooring buoys, one at each end of a set of coral fingers.