DIVING ZONES

Still under investigation

Originally sank at the pier in Key West in 1986. It was raised, cleaned and was then intended to be sunk in the waters off Miami as an artificial reef. However, late on the night before it was to be transported from Key West, it was towed out clandestinely to be sunk closer to home. In a further twist to the tale, on its way to its alternative site, it started taking on water and chose its own spot to sink!

Joe's Tug is a largely intact wreck, except for the missing wheelhouse, which has largely disintegrated over the years. The entire hull is easily accessible as a result, and is usually filled with schooling fish.

The Cayman Salvage Master, is a 187 foot Coast Guard buoy tender that now attracts an abundance of marine life in her final resting place. Divers were not on the agenda, as this wreck was planned to be in 300 feet as a fishing site, unfortunately (for the fishermen) it prematurely sunk on the way to its final destination in only 90 feet. Then, following Hurricane Katrina's violent visit to the dive site she flipped the artificial reef over from her side to sitting upright! Cheers for that one Katrina!

You will see Nassau grouper, permit, amberjack, schooling barracuda, cobia and hords of other schooling fish. The best attraction on this wreck is the large cable spool on the bow that seems to be a focal point for the schooling fish.

Eastern Dry Rocks abounds with large mounds of corals and is a favorite of Key West dive boats. The diving is relatively shallow here and snorkelers will also enjoy the healthy fish populations and clear water. Since hurricane Georges (1998) there has been much discussion as to whether this reef, and others in the lower keys, were positively or negatively affected by the storm.

As it's name implies, this "Lost Reef" was recently discovered and has adapted into a regular dive site attraction for those in the Key West area.

This dive site is appropriate for novice to intermediate skilled scuba divers, with a six to ten-foot ledge which snakes around the "Lost Reef" and even undercuts in places with caverns and split canyons. You will find fish "packed" under the ledges - including schools of grunts, goatfish, wrasse. parrotfish and angelfish, all in significant numbers. At certain times of the year this area is prolific with silversides, a tiny, silver, forked-tailed fish also know as minnows that school tightly together, often obscuring your view.