Eastern Dry Rocks

★★★★☆

The Eastern Dry Rocks reef is a popular spot for diving and/or snorkeling. It is also quite close to multiple other reefs including Sand Key and Rock Key, so it is common for divers and snorkelers to see multiple reefs on one outing.

You’ll see typical Caribbean life like nurse and reef sharks, possible eagle rays, turtles, stingrays, and lots of fish: snapper, angelfish, grunts, parrot fish, and grouper.

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Dive Centers Catering This Dive Site

Finz Dive Center Inc.

6003 Penisular Ave, Suite 4, 33040 Key West, FL - United States

Dive Sites Nearby

marco p. (#1764087)

Sand Key Lighthouse (★4.1)

Sand Key is a Sanctuary Preservation area that was originally its own island. Due to erosion and hurricanes, it’s been reduced to a very small patch of sand surrounded by a coral reef. The sand is an especially nice feature you don’t usually have at other Florida coral reefs. Great dive and snorkel spot.
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Lost Reef (★4.4)

Lost reef is an aquarium so to speak. Off the beaten path it doesnt see many visitors. If you get a chance to drift it I highly recommend doing so.
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Rock Key (★4.1)

The crevices within the reef at Rock Key are deeper and wider than what is usually found at other coral reefs. These wider openings create the perfect hiding habitat for grouper, moray eel, and other Florida fish.
Virginia Scuba, 20109 Manassas

Cayman Salvager (Wreck) (★4.4)

Cayman Salvager is one of the three Key West dive sites that are part of the Florida Keys Wreck Trek program. This is a popular fishing and diving site a short distance from Key West.
Nikki M. (#2162199)

Eastern Sambo Reef (★3.9)

20 minutes directly south of Key West is the Eastern Sambo Reef. This reef is located inside the Western Sambo Ecological Reserve and is fully protected from all types of fishing. The reef is approximately nine square miles of spur-and-groove type coral formations. The reef ranges from 10-4 feet’ in depth.
Mares

9 Foot Stake (★4.2)

15 minutes south of Key West, FL lies 9 Foot Stake Reef. This reef is located next to Marker 32 Reef and is located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary System; however, fishing and spearfishing are allowed. The depth of this reef ranges from 15’-30’.
Scubapro

Middle Sambo Reef (★4.6)

This is the middle reef dive site that makes up the Sambo Reef area near Key West, Florida. These reefs lie in a marine reserve and are home to healthy coral and lots of fish.
Scubapro

Cannonball Cut (★3.8)

6 miles to the south of Key West is Cannonball Cut. This dive site does not have a mooring ball which makes it a good place for drift diving. This site consists of continuing fields of coral. Maximum depth is 18m/60 feet. This site is good for drift diving as well as lionfish hunting.
Aqualung

Western Sambo Reef (★4.1)

15 minutes south of Key West is the Western Sambo Reef. This reef is one of two Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Ecological Reserves. It is fully protected from all types of fishing. Depth runs from 7-40 feet.
Virginia Scuba, 20109 Manassas

USS Vandenberg (Wreck) (★4.6)

This is one of the most famous dive sites in Key West. Sunk over 10 years ago this Ex-Military Missile Tracking Ship varies in depth from 70 feet to 100 plus feet and is for advanced and expert divers only.
Aqualung

Joe’s Tug (★4.2)

Joe’s Tug - 60ft to 70ft Private mooring ball. Tug boat wreck scattered throughout a wonderful reef. Typically there is an eel in the stern section and many schools of yellowtail and other fish around the bow. We call this agreat reef with a wreck in the middle. Ask how it ended up getting its name.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

The Haystacks (★4.1)

Haystacks lies on the reef area known as the Western Sambo reef and is an excellent, shallow boat dive. Perfect for snorkelers and all levels of divers.
Nikki M. (#2162199)

Marker 32 Reef (★4.0)

6 Miles south of Key West is Marker 32 reef. This site is located adjacent to Western Sambos reef. This reef has two mooring balls on it. Very easy dive site with spur-and-groove style coral formations.
Aqualung

Ball and Chain (★4.1)

Ball and Chain is one of Key West’s most historic outer reef sites. Made famous by old home made moorings called Bubba Buoys were used to moor ships off Key West for quarantine.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

State Harbor (★4.0)

Stone wall, steep drop. Protected harbor but also prone to oily residue from the boats. Suitable for night dives. Shore entry possible. Not a notable dive spot although many locals appear to lobster here.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

CFK Lagoon (★3.6)

Training lagoon for College of the Florida Keys. Permission and fees required for use. Restricted to use by the college or local dive shops after screening.
Aqualung

The Cable (★3.8)

The Cable is one of Key West’s most exciting outer reef dive sites. In the 1850’s it was the telegraph cable that started near the Southernmost Point buoy and stretched all the way to Havana Cuba. In the mid 1980’s it was disassembled by ATT.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Sombrero Reef (★4.1)

Sombrero Reef is a designated SPA area and is one of the more popular scuba diving and Florida Keys snorkeling destinations in Marathon. The area’s name is derived from the 142’ lighthouse which is located in the northern section of the SPA region.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

The Horseshoe (★3.8)

It’s called the “Horseshoe“ located at Mile Marker 35 in Big Pine Key. It was an old quarry which the dugout coral was used to build the Overseas Highway. At about 30 ft/10m deep in the middle, there is an ambulance and a small boat. Divers and Snorkelers use the location during poor sea conditions.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Cottrell Key (★4.0)

Cottrell Key is one of three mangrove islands 9 miles northwest of Key West within the Key West National Wildlife Refuge. It is very shallow and ideal for snorkeling. It is a nursery home to many newborn and juvenile species and home to rare batfish.
Aqualung

Marquesas (★3.7)

Marquesas keys - This is an island atoll approximately 25 miles West of Key West. South on the reef line is good diving by Cosgrove Shoal Light. Many dive sites closer to Key West offer the same or similar features of the Marquesas.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Eye of the needle (★4.3)

Similar to The Cable this famous outer reef dive site is prolific with marine life and enormous sponges. Its iconic sewing needle coral heads you can swim through lead to its name. No Mooring balls. Deeper Spur and groove coral formations similar to dive site: The Aquarium.