Diving in the Florida Keys

The Florida Keys have so much to view underwater. Hundreds of species of tropical fish and other marine life are available on our coral reefs and wrecks for your viewing pleasure. Most dive sites are equipped with convenient mooring buoys to save the reef from anchors and make it easy for boaters to tie off. Most sites are a short boat ride from our islands, where dozens of highly professional dive operators are ready to cater to you. Here is a directory of Florida Keys dive shops and other charters that offer snorkeling and diving trips

	Key Largo Diving & Snorkeling
	Islamorada Diving & Snorkeling
	Marathon Diving & Snorkeling
	Big Pine & Lower Keys Diving & Snorkeling
	Key West Diving & Snorkeling
	Bahia Honda State Park
	John Pennekamp State Park
	Dry Tortugas National Park

On July 9th 2005, underwater turbulence generated by Hurricane Dennis uprighted the 510-foot artificial reef known as the Spiegel Grove, which had been lying on its side since it was scuttled on May 17, 2002.

The shifted position of the 510-foot ship came as a surprise because the area experienced minimal tropical-storm force winds during the passage of Hurricane Dennis.

On Monday after the storm, a boat from Key Largo dive shop Ocean Divers visited the former Navy vessel, which was lying in 130 feet of water. When divers arrived at the site six miles offshore, they saw that several mooring balls were missing.

The dive boat tied off on one of the three remaining moorings and instructors Bob Snyder and Steve Schalk descended the mooring lines. At 90 feet, Schalk said he saw nothing and came to the surface. Snyder, who descended to the ship's bow, was stunned by what he saw.

"I was in shock," he said. "I had to ask myself, 'Am I narced [suffering from nitrogen narcosis]?' There was only 10-foot visibility, so I dropped down 10 feet and I could see both sides of the ship. It was sitting upright."