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.

Coffins Patch Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA) is located approximately four miles off Key Colony Beach and offers some of the best snorkeling and diving in the Middle Keys. Maximum depth is about 25-30 feet/ 7 -9m.

This spur and groove reef formation sitting 5 miles off of Big Pine Key, in the Florida Keys, is part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Due to its protected status reef life is very healthy and active here.

At 210 feet in length, the The Adolphus Busch Sr. stands upright and completely intact in just 110 feet of water. The ship that put Big Pine Key on the wreck diver’s map. This island freighter was purchased by the local dive community in 1998 with the generous assistance of Adolphus Busch IV.

The Adolphus Busch wreck was cleaned and purposefully sunk as an artificial reef in 1998 off the coast of the Lower Keys of Florida. Originally named the M/V London, the 210-foot coastal freighter sits at approximately 120ft (40m) with the deck at about 100ft (33m). Current and visibility can vary.

50-90’ – Starting in a sand pit at 50’, follow the spur and groove coral structures to the drop off at 90’. Large coral structures with beautiful schools of grunts. Explore the west side of the pit where we frequently see a large school of Southern sennets, typically over 100 in the school.

45′ – Named after a former Key Dives captain, Cindy’s Corner is soft sand meets a spur-and-groove reef at 45’. Look in the sand for stingrays and blue parrots at the edge of the reef.

A short boat ride away, this site offers a lot to see in a relatively shallow area, perfect for the second dive after the first deeper one of the day.

Part of a double reef system offshore of the main Alligator Reef and separated by a wide sand channel. Depths can reach around 90 ft (30m) on the farther edges.

NW and SE of Cheeca Rocks, Alligator Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA) bridges the shallow reefs of the Upper Keys and the deeper reefs of the Middle Keys. This rectangular SPA is a small bank reef protecting a spur-and-groove system, reef crest, and a portion of the northeast rubble ridge.