
Aquatic Preserves
"The state has established four aquatic preserves in the Keys, which include Biscayne Bay-Card Sound Aquatic Preserve north of Key Largo; Lignumvitae Key Aquatic Preserve in the Matecumbe Keys; Coupon Bight Aquatic Preserve along the southern shoreline of Big Pine Key; and San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve just south of Indian Key."
Coral Reefs
"Looe Key is only one of more than one hundred reefs that stretch along the seaward side of the Keys from Soldier Key to Key West. These reefs include Long reef, Ajax, Triumph, Tennessee, Alligator, the Sambos, Carysfort, Molasses, French, Crocker's, Hen and Chickens, Turtle Rocks, Key Largo Dry rocks, Sombrero, and American Shoals. The are legendary diving spots and are among the most visited reefs in the world."
by Jeff Ripple, author, The Florida Keys - The Natural Wonders of an Island Paradise.
Beaches and Parks
Higgs Beach
On Atlantic Blvd. between White St. and Reynolds St.
Smathers Beach S. Roosevelt Blvd. across from the airport
South Beach At the end of Duval St. across from the Southernmost Point
Fort Zachary Taylor At the end of Truman Avenue (through Truman Annex) near the Southernmost point (active archaeological digs) Telephone: (305) 292-6713 Open 8am - sunset
Dry Tortugas National Park/Fort Jefferson 70 miles west of Key West
Garden Key, Dry Tortugas
Accessible by ferry or chartered seaplane
Smathers Beach
South Roosevelt Blvd
Key West, FL
2 mile long beach, just west of the airport - parking, restrooms, concession stands, chair rentals, picnic tables, watersport rentals.
Marinas
A&B Marina Front Street
Historic Seaport Garrison Bight Marina
Between Front and Grinnell streets
711 Eisenhower Dr. (office)
Key West FL 33040
Telephone: Main Office (305) 294-3093 8.5 acre waterfront area with 2 mile Harborwalk, restaurants, bars, boutiques, markets, dive shops, museums.
Galleon Marina 619 Front Street Outside of being the most highly protected harbor for your vessel, the Galleon Marina offers exclusive amenities for its guests. Take advantage of all of the resort amenities including our pool, private beach, sauna, and exercise room. The Galleon Marina is breakwater shielded and provides specially engineered docks for maximum protection.
Toll Free: 1-800-6MARINA
The Shipwreck Trail - An Adventure to Dive For...
A trail of historic shipwrecks is scattered along the treacherous coral reefs and buried in the sandy shallows a few miles off the Florida Keys, and these wrecks have many tales to tell....For each of the nine Shipwreck Trail sites there is an underwater site guide available which provides the shipwreck and mooring buoy positions, history, a site map, and identifies marine life you can expect to see. Conditions on the Shipwreck Trail sites vary from easy dives in shallow water to deeper dives of l00 feet or more where swift currents may be encountered. Some of the deeper sites require mooring to submerged buoys. Diving and snorkeling charters, underwater site guides, and additional information on the conditions for each site are available from local dive shops...read more>>
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