Dive Sites Near Lower Key Largo

	Site Name	Dive Type	Difficulty	GPS	Max Depth	Map

1	Conch Reef & Wall	Reef	Intermediate - Advanced	24°57.380 N 80°27.390 W	17'

	Conch Reef is aptly named since the area is home to numerous Queen Conchs. The area is also home to the Aquarius Underwater Habitat where scientists stay for 10 day stints to study and explore the ocean around them. Narrowly escaping closure, the research facility is also the site for Mission 31, a documentary by Jacques Cousteau's grandson, Fabian Cousteau. Filming began on September 30, 2013 and captured every second of he and his crew's 31 grueling days under water. The purpose of the documentary was to capture the affects of living under water for a long duration and to study the coral and other marine life in the area. The lab sat at about 60 feet but the living unit was at about 50 feet. This 81 ton living facility was 43' x 20' x 16.5'. Inside there were 6 bunks, a shower and toilet, instant hot water, a microwave, trash compactor, and a refrigerator. The unit was also air conditioned and the computers were capable of linking back to shore. Conch Wall runs Southwest from the Aquarius Underwater Habitat for almost half a mile. The top of the reef is about 55 feet and from there, the wall drops off on the seaward side to 95 to 110 feet. Markers - Site is identified by a red marker and 6 mooring buoys. Details - Conch Reef is an exceptionally well formed coral reef system where the inner section is SPA protected and the outer areas are Research Only restricted areas. Do not enter this area without checking first to determine if access will be allowed. Entering when the area is restricted results in large fines being levied. Conch Wall has several dense coral formations and numerous barrel sponges that cover the reef providing shelter for smaller fish from schools of Amberjacks, Groupers and Reef Sharks. Rare Black Coral can be found along the wall at about 85 feet and Eagle Rays tend to school in the deeper water. Due to the currents, this is a typically done as a drift dive and is maybe the only true wall in the Keys. Marine Life - Sea whips, sea fans, grouper, barracuda, permit, jacks, snapper, 5 foot tall barrel sponges, reef sharks, manta rays and larger pelagic species at the deeper levels. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Coral Reef Conservation.


2	San José	Wreck	Novice	24°56.919 N 80°29.334 W	35'

	The San José ship wreck was originally an English ship built in 1728 and christened Saint Joseph. When Don Joseph Duque purchased her from the British, he changed her name to San José y Las Animas, often referred to as El Duque. This 36 gun ship was part of the 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet that wrecked July 15 along the length of the Florida Coast. The strong winds and high waves tore at the ships traveling together in the Flota. Struggling to survive, the Captains on the different vessels attempted various strategies. As the storm progressed, the ships no longer could maintain their Flota formation. The distance between them began to substantially increase and eventually they were scattered far and wide. The wind and waves continually drove them westward, and as they approached the Florida Keys, their ships smashed onto the sharp coral reefs. Many foundered and sank, while others were forced over the dangerous reefs and into shallow water where they grounded and flooded. This 900 ton ship, captained by Cristóbal Fernandez Franco, eventually came to rest off Tavernier Key, on a sandy bottom near Hawk Channel. When the storm passed, the ship was flooded to her poop deck, but fortunately all on board survived. Her crew began the difficult process of salvaging her cargo. She carried the standard fare of silver coin, bullion, sugar, tobacco, cocoa, Chinese porcelain, indigo and cochineal, but it was not possible to save everything on board. Compared to other ships that had been forced over the Florida reefs, this ship had grounded in much deeper water. Due to the greater depth, much of her cargo was well below water and was ruined. The important task at hand was to remove as much of her gold and silver as possible. Her owner, Don Duque, was the Spaniard who had an association with Don Urquijo. The latter was the ill fated owner of the San Ignacio and the San Francisco, two other ships that sank while traveling with the Flota. Records appear to indicate that he and Don Urquijo had been smuggling extra wealth that was to go unreported to King Philip V. Whether the salvagers recovered as much gold and silver as his manifest declared, or whether they found more, is a point of interest. One of the documents from 1733 to the proper Spanish officials indicate that 236,247 pesos were recovered in a salvage attempt. Centuries later, modern salvagers discovered the wreck and managed to uncover an assortment of important Spanish treasure including wedding rings, silver coins, weaponry and pottery. At the wreck site they also found a 135 foot long and 40 foot wide ballast pile that reached as high as 6 feet in places. This was a 36 gun ship, and reports indicate that at least 23 cannons were found scattered around the area. Two anchors were also located at the eastern edge of the pile and approximately 200 yards south was the ship's 25 foot long rudder. Markers - None. Details - Wreck is primarily covered by sand. A few pieces of timber and the occasional ballast stone can be found. Marine Life - Stony and goronian coral, parrotfish, nurse shark, moray eel, yellowtail, blue tang, angelfish, sea turtles. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Multi-Level, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck, Coral Reef Conservation.

3	El Infante	Wreck	Novice	24°56.558 N 80°28.530 W	20'

	Built in 1724, El Infante (the Prince) was originally named Nuestra Señora de Balvaneda and she was an armed galleon in the Flota that belonged to King Philip V. She had a capacity of 400 tons and was one of the Flota's largest ships carrying 60 cannons for protection. The ships in these Flotas carried an immense volume of Spanish treasure including gold bullion and silver. As such, they're often referred to as the Plate Fleet or Silver Plate Fleet since the Spanish word for silver is plato. This particular vessel carried one of the more precious cargos which included the pillar which was the newly minted coin from the Americas. Also on board was gold bullion, silver, brazilwood, cochineal, Guadalajara ware, Chinese porcelain, leather hides, indigo, vanilla, and citrus, as well as 186 boxes of silver coins. Piloted by her Captain, Don Domingo de Lanz, she was traveling in the forefront of the Flota when the hurricane struck. The strong winds forced the galleon onto her beam-ends, requiring her crew to cut down her masts and bowsprit. No matter their efforts, the strength of the storm proved greater, and she eventually smashed upon a reef positioned just south of Little Conch Reef. Markers - None. Details - Ballast stone and pieces of timber from hull and frames are strewn over the wreck area. Marine Life - Yellowtail, fire coral, including parrotfish, angelfish, hogfish, blue tang, porkfish, damselfish, reef and nurse shark and moray eels. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck, Coral Reef Conservation.

4	Little Conch Reef	Reef	Novice	24°56.520 N 80°28.500 W	15'

	This reef sits in shallow water and is another great spot for snorkeling and diving. It is also home to one of the 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet's shipwrecks. Markers - None. Details - This is in shallow water and is quite long as it extends almost a mile. Little Conch Reef is also a good place to check out a piece of marine history which was wrecked here. Ballast and timber are about all that remain of the 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet's El Infante. Marine Life - Pillar and staghorn coral, large sea fans, tropical fish, barrel sponges, loggerhead sea turtles, spiny lobster. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Coral Reef Conservation.

5	Chaves	Wreck	Novice	24°56.791 N 80°34.985 W	15'

	The Chaves Wreck is the Nuestra Señora del Carmen, San Antonio de Padua y las Animas. She was one of the smaller vessels that traveled with the ill fated 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet. At just over 220 ton, this freighter carried no registered treasure when she foundered off Windley Key, near Islamorada during the deadly 1733 Hurricane. Over the years there's also been a certain amount of controversy regarding whether this ship was refloated or not. Considering the violence of the storm, her fate was incredibly different from her sister ships. First she didn't break up on the reefs, her hull stayed in tact, and her masts were operational. Second, her cargo was in good condition, and miraculously, all aboard were alive. However, stronger evidence supports that she did not head back out to sea, and that this is indeed the ship named in honor of her owner, Don Antonio de Chaves. The reason it's doubtful that she returned to sea is because she'd been forced into very shallow water by the storm. She was firmly grounded, and despite the best of efforts of her crew, it was impossible to dislodge her. The only option left to her Captain was to remove her cargo, and burn her to the water. Markers - None. Details - The Chaves wreck is excellent for Islamorada snorkeling or novice diving. Calm, clear water, and close to shore. Stone ballast, and timber planks can be found. Marine Life - Seagrasses, wrasses, damselfish, blue tang, parrotfish, angelfish, starfish, sponges, coral, spiny lobster. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck, Coral Reef Conservation.

6	Hen and Chickens Reef	Reef	Novice - Intermediate	24°56.150 N 80°32.840 W	35'

	Hen and Chickens Reef is a protected SPA coral reef that is an extremely popular snorkeling and diving spot. Even though visibility can be poor when diving at this site, it still makes for wonderful snorkeling since the water is shallow at about 5 feet. This is also the perfect place to introduce children to this fun and educational sport, while teaching them about marine life. Markers - 35' lighted tower and 4 boundary buoys. Details - From the air, the site looks like a mother hen with her chicks around her. Mazes of coral create a colorful and interesting Key Largo diving experience with numerous tropical fish darting within and around the coral. Marine Life - Numerous stony and gorgonian coral including brain, star, staghorn, sea fans, sea plumes, white sponges, snook, blue tang, grunts, parrotfish, green moray eel, grouper, angelfish, spiny lobsters, barracuda, reef crabs. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Multi-Level, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Coral Reef Conservation.

7	Capitana El Rubi Segundo	Wreck	Novice	24°55.491 N 80°31.891 W	19'

	The Flagship, Capitana El Rubi Segundo (Second Ruby), was a ship of tremendous importance in the 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet. This magnificent vessel was commanded by General Rodrigo de Torres. The Capitana had 60 cannons and also carried over 2,000 boxes of bullion, gold and silver coins including pillar dollars. El Rubi was also transporting materials from the southern regions which included indigo, vanilla, chocolate, and tobacco. When the strong hurricane winds began to separate the Flota and drive the individual ships closer and closer to the coral reefs, the flagship was already in trouble. She had begun to take on water, and when she finally grounded inside the reef line, it was almost a blessing. If the Capitana El Rubi Segundo had stayed at sea, her cargo and crew would likely have been lost as she was structurally failing. The grounding did not go without incident however. Two crew were thrown overboard and died, and another was crushed when the ship struck the coral reef. Very quickly the water consumed the Capitana El Rubi Segundo, and she rolled onto her starboard side, facing out to sea. Due to the immense wealth she carried, General Torres immediately ordered 2 forts built on Upper Matecumbe Key. His obligation was to protect King Philip V's treasure and return it safely. Divers were brought in from Havana to aid the crew. Together, they recovered most of the copper, some of the cochineal and indigo, along with all the coins and bullion except for seven unaccounted boxes. Markers - None. Details - Resides within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Very little remains other than ballast and pieces of timber encrusted with coral. Marine Life - Rays, barracuda, jack, sea grasses, coral, parrotfish, blue tang, angelfish, spiny lobster, yellowtail, nurse shark, eel. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck, Coral Reef Conservation.

8	Davis Reef	Reef	Novice - Advanced	24°55.500 N 80°30.210 W	80'

	Here you'll find a submerged and rather large smiling Buddha. The Buddha placed at this site was positioned in 1989. Perhaps the peculiar reasoning behind this statue's placement was to act as a juxtaposition to the Christ of the Abyss at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The Buddha you see today is also not the original one. This statue was placed here after the original Buddha was stolen, most likely as a prank. As part of the fun, divers are encouraged to rub the statue's head for wisdom and good luck, or to rub the Buddha's stomach to promote fertility. Markers - Several mooring buoys. Details - Fishermen frequent most of the area as only a small portion is SPA protected. This is also one of the better Key Largo diving sites at night. This is because the Ledge runs the length of the area, and is 5 - 10' high making it easy to navigate. You'll find that both the Ledge and the Buddha sit in 20' of water, and are the two more popular dive features. The Ledge is also heavily populated with a large variety of game and tropical fish. You'll also find numerous coral ridges and sandy channels to explore. Marine Life - Large brain coral, sting rays, nurse grunts, nurse shark, green moray eels and spiny lobsters, brain coral, tropical fish including butterfly fish, angelfish, damselfish, blue tang, and parrotfish. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Multi-Level, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Coral Reef Conservation.

9	Crocker Reef	Reef	Novice - Intermediate	24°54.460 N 80°31.660 W	95'

	Crocker Reef, also known as Davey Crocker Reef, is a ledge and patch coral reef not SPA protected, so when diving here, you'll need to be aware of fishermen in the area. Several wrecks from the 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet are located at the north end. This coral reef is a drop off of Cheeca Rocks and there are twin walls just north that descend 60 - 80 feet where larger game fish are found. Markers - No markers. Details - The reef has a number of large valleys plus 20 high coral ridges are found just southeast of the reef. The south end of the reef has the 400' long wall which is good for drift diving when the current is strong. Marine Life - Crocker Reef is known for it's very friendly fish, especially the numerous grunts, schoolmasters and eels. Jacks, nurse and hammerhead sharks, eagle rays, sea turtles, green moray eels, wrasses, grouper, staghorn, finger coral, fire coral, black coral, sea fans and other gorgonians, sponges. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Multi-Level, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Coral Reef Conservation.

10	Cheeca Rocks	Reef	Novice	24°54.130 N 80°36.940 W	20'

	Also known as Cheeca Gardens. Contrary to it's name however, there are no rocks here, but you'll find brain coral large enough to be considered a small boulder. Cheeca Rocks is the perfect destination to learn how to snorkel, or to finish off a day diving. It's also one of the better places to introduce the wonders of the sea to younger children. Not only will they learn important water skills, they'll develop an appreciation of marine life. Even though the patch reef is small in area, it is an SPA protected reef. Markers - No markers. Details - Large inshore patch reef surrounded by grass and sand. Two points of interest are the donut hole and a large coral head referred to as Rick's Rock. Marine Life - Good variety of tropical fish in large numbers including blue tang, grunts, hogfish, snapper, nurse shark, angelfish, foureye butterflyfish, parrotfish, sea turtles, and colorful coral including fire, star and large brain. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Coral Reef Conservation.

11	Herrera	Wreck	Novice	24°54.330 N 80°35.530 W	18'

	The Herrera Wreck is usually referred to by her owner's name, even though her given name was Nuestra Señora de Belén y San Antonio de Padua. This merchant vessel sailed as part of the doomed 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet. She's also often referred to as the Figurine Wreck, as her wreck site has produced hundreds of clay animal figurines over the years. As with others in the Flota, the formidable winds of the fierce 1733 Florida hurricane forced this merchant ship further and further west bringing her closer to the jagged coral reefs. With her decks flooded, the Herrera eventually grounded off Upper Matecumbe Key on the inshore edge of Hawk Channel, stranded in shallow water. Markers - None. Details - The Herrera Wreck is the Sanctuary Preservation area but you may find figurines. Be careful though, as they will be very fragile. A ballast pile is all that visibly remains of the Herrera. Marine Life - Butterflyfish, parrotfish, blue tang, angelfish, yellowtail, some coral, turtle grass and sand. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck, Coral Reef Conservation.

12	Tres Puentes	Wreck	Novice	24°53.612 N 80°35.012 W	18'

	The identity of the Tres Puentes (three decks) has never been clarified. Even though her identity is a mystery, it's known with certainty that she was part of the 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet. This wreck is one of 2 possible ships that sailed with the ill fated 1733 Flota. The Nuestra Señora de los Dolores y Santa Isabel was a 296 ton merchant vessel also referred to as El Nuevo Londres (the New London). This vessel was captained by Antonio de Loaysa. The other possibility is that she is the 212 ton merchant ship named Nuestra Señora de Belem y San Juan Bautista, that was captained by Diego de la Corte y Andrade. When the hurricane hit, this merchant ship was traveling in the middle of the Flota. She was forced westward, past the reefs and into the shallow depths of Hawks Channel. Taking on heavy seas, this three deck ship severely grounded, and went down fully submerged in 18 feet of water. Markers - None. Details - This is a Sanctuary Preservation Area so any artifacts you find cannot be removed. The ships ballast stone and pieces of timber are primarily what's left. Marine Life - Grassy seabed, fire coral, puffers, tangs, skates, gobies, and conch. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck, Coral Reef Conservation.

13	Victory Reef	Reef	Intermediate - Advanced	24°53.322 N 80°32.951 W	90'

	This spur and groove reef starts at 40 feet and drops down to 90. It offers very large cannon like grooves as you descend down the wall. At the base of the wall you'll find coral heads that lionfish like to hang out on. Markers - None. Details - Victory Reef will give you a chance to explore a bit deeper than at some of the other coral reefs. It has deeper spur and groove formations and a natural "V" shape which provides different scuba diving adventures. For example, if you swim northeast you'll drop off the wall, and if you swim southwest you'll have a 50 - 60 foot dive. Victory Reef has sand channels with ledges, caves and since it's deeper, you'll have a chance to see larger game fish and pelagic species. Marine Life - Nurse and reef shark, green moray eels, sea turtles, damselfish, grunt, sergeant major, blue chromis, blue tang, porkfish, goatfish, hogfish, wrasse. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Multi-Level, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Coral Reef Conservation.

14	Eagle	Wreck	Advanced	24°52.184 N 80°34.217 W	120'

	Built in The Netherlands in 1962 and given the name Raila Dan, this freighter had a length of 268 feet with a 40 foot beam. She was later named Barok in 1967. Seven years later, her name was changed again to Carmela. She was also known in 1976 as Ytai, Etai in 1977, and Carigulf Pioneer in 1981. She was purchased in 1984 by Jonaz Corporation Ltd. of Georgetown, Cayman Islands where she became known as Arron K., and flew the Cayman flag. Finally, she was christened Eagle Tire Co. in 1985 just before she sank. It was on October 6, 1985 while en route to Venezuela, that she suffered an electrical fire. Her superstructure was seriously impacted beyond the point of affordable repair. The Monroe County Tourist Council along with other interested local parties came together and purchased her as part of their Artificial Reef Program. In preparation for her scuttling she was towed out to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. There, she was positioned about 6 miles off Lower Matecumbe Key, or about 3 miles northeast of the light at Alligator Reef where she was scuttled on December 19, 1985. She had been moored to the Alexander Barge where she was intended to settle, but she broke free. To avoid the current taking her further, they dropped her port anchor. Instead of returning her to the original position, it was decided to let her sink where she was. In 1998, her position changed once again, when the strong winds and waves from Hurricane George managed to rip the vessel in two. Markers - 3 mooring buoys: 1 at the bow, 1 midship and 1 at the stern. Details - Moderate to strong current can be found here, with occasional slight current running over her. She rests on her starboard side with her bow pointing towards shore in 115 feet of water on a sand bottom. Without proper certification, equipment and lighting, penetrating this wreck is not recommended. This wreck is frequented often by Key Largo dive charters so access is no problem. Marine Life - Gorgonian and stony coral, ocean sponges, grouper, angelfish, parrotfish, goliath grouper, yellowtail, barracuda, spiny oysters, shark, cobia, amberjack. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Deep, Multi-Level, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck, Coral Reef Conservation.




15	San Pedro	Wreck	Novice	24°51.802 N 80°40.780 W	20'

	The San Pedro was a 287 ton Dutch built merchant vessel that was part of the 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet. Commanded by Captain Gaspar Lopez Gonzalez, she was traveling from Havana, Cuba to Spain with the rest of the Flota. When the Florida hurricane winds escalated, she was pushed westward toward the islands of the Florida Keys. Forced onto a coral reef, she was repeatedly hammered by the wind and waves, where she took on a considerable amount of water. Finally a strong wave forced her over the reef and into Hawk Channel. Here she grounded, submerged to her decks suffering severe damage. With everyone aboard still alive, the crew were able to assemble make-shift life rafts from her timber. Once they were safely on land, they set up a temporary command center. From here they commuted the mile back and forth to the ship, to salvage what cargo they could. Her cargo, which included cochineal, indigo, Mexican ceramics, bullion, 16,000 pesos in silver coin, tanned hides, and cases of Chinese porcelain. Over the years, wreck diving this site has yielded up numerous Spanish coins dating from 1731 - 1733. Markers - 6 mooring buoys have been set in a circle around the site perimeter. Details - Large ballast pile with pieces of timber, and red ladrillo brick from ship's galley. 7 replica cannon, a 1733 anchor, and a plaque identifying the Preserve. Marine Life - Shoal grass, turtle grass, ocean sponges, sea fans, numerous varieties of coral including brain coral, star coral, sea fans, sea whips, yellow stingray, crab, grouper, green sea turtles, hawksbill sea turtles, gray snapper, gobies, butterflyfish, sergeant major, spiny lobster, grunts, barracuda, damselfish, angelfish, blue tang, drums, yellowtail, wrasse, shrimp, hogfish, horned Christmas tree worm, nurse shark, queen conch, hawk wing conch, bottle nose dolphin. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Coral Reef Conservation.

16	USS Alligator	Reef	Intermediate - Advanced	24°57.380 N 80°27.390 W	17'

	Commissioned in March 1821, with Lieutenant Robert F. Stockton in command, the USS Alligator had a short but memorable career as a warship, which was primarily devoted to fighting pirates and slavers. At 86 feet long with a 24 foot beam, she carried 12 guns. Patrolling the coast off Africa to help suppress the slave trade, Stockton, the commander of the ship, was also in pursuit of finding a suitable stretch of land on the African coast he could help colonize with freed American slaves. During this process, the ship, and the commander were able to capture and thwart several slave trading ships. The feather in their cap was their final ability to secure an important piece of land which now is Liberia. After wintering at home, the Alligator left her Boston port again in March, 1822. She was en route to the West Indies where she was involved in several successful skirmishes with pirate ships. In November, 1822, she received word that several American ships had been taken by pirates about 45 miles east of Matanzas, Cuba. When she intercepted the pirates, the Alligator discovered the pirates were in command of a ship, two brigs, and five schooners. The battle was swift and fierce, and the crew of the USS Alligator were victorious, even though they suffered the unfortunate loss of their new commanding officer, Lieutenant William Allen. With the remaining pirates escaping to land, and one schooner fleeing the scene, the battle was over. On November 18, 1822, the USS Alligator departed Matanzas, escorting a convoy of the ships. On November 20, during the evening, it was determined that Ann Maria, one of the escorted ships, had strayed from the convoy. To ensure the ship's safety, the Alligator's new commander, Lieutenant Dale, ordered the Alligator to go after her. It was during their mission to protect the Ann Maria, that the Alligator ran aground on one of the uncharted Florida reefs. Over the next 2 days the crew fought desperately to free their ship from the jagged reef, but with the wind changing direction, their ship was forced further onto the sharp coral. On November 22, a Bahamian wrecker arrived and took the salvage from the ship. Shortly after, the Ann Maria arrived, and took the crew, valuables and artillery home. Before leaving, and to avoid the Alligator from being taken by pirates, Lieutenant Dale ordered the crew to set the young ship afire. Shortly after, she exploded from the flames and perhaps the explosion is the main reason so little remains of this young, but battle tested warship. But it was a ship designed to endure tremendous battle so why was so little left, even after the blaze? Today, the remnants of this wreck are comprised primarily of encrusted piles of ballast stones and parts of a lower hull. According to the Department of the Navy, Naval History & Heritage Command, the archaeological evidence collected during the survey suggests that the wreck is not the Alligator, but rather one of four other nineteenth-century vessels that reportedly were lost on Alligator reef. This fact is also supported by the amount and type of ballast found at the site. During a 1996 investigation, two partially exposed stone ballast piles were found. There were also pieces of the ship's structure sticking out from beneath a ballast pile which included fragments of the keel, frame, hull planking, pieces of ceiling, and other unidentified pieces of timber. None of the pieces or construction methods supported the quality or style of construction that would have been used for a warship of that era. The most compelling argument against these remnants being part of the USS Alligator however, was the type of ballast found. Stone ballast is not what would have been used on this ship. She would have carried iron ballast and shot, and it's not believable that the crew would have removed the iron ballast in favor of stone. Nor would they have replenished the lost weight from used cargo with this much stone ballast. Markers - Marked by the nearby 136 foot tall lighthouse and the 4 mooring buoys. Details - Ballast stone and pieces of lumber. Marine Life - Coral, sponges, sea fans, sea whips, moray eels, parrotfish, angelfish, nurse shark, grouper, rays, blue tang, spiny lobster, barracuda. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck, Coral Reef Conservation.


17	Alligator Reef	Reef	Novice - Intermediate	24°51.100 N 80°37.100 W	50'

	This coral reef is also home to what is considered the USS Alligator which in fact it is not. The Navy conducted a study and determined that the remains of this sunken ship is another yet to be determined vessel. There are however, several other unidentified wrecks buried in the sandy bottom around this Florida Keys coral reef, and perhaps one of those will bear this name. Markers - 136' lighthouse sits in 10' of water and 4 mooring buoys sit on the main reef several hundred feet north of lighthouse. East - 24 50.98N 80 36.84W West - 24 50.81N 80 37.63W North - 24 51.23N 80 37.17W South - 24 50.51N 80 37.35W Details - This reef was once considered to have the largest number of fish species in the world. This is a larger reef that extends over half a mile in length. The Deep is a spur and grove part of the reef area that has a wall extending down to over 95 feet where you'll see larger pelagic fish that aren't often seen at other dive sites. Marine Life - Sea fans, gorgonian and stony coral, grouper, blue tangs, yellowtail, angelfish, damselfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, schoolmasters, grunts, yellow stingray, flounder. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Multi-Level, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Coral Reef Conservation.

18	El Lerri	Wreck	Novice	24°50.755 N 80°42.850 W	20'

	The Spanish Treasure Ship El Lerri, was a 100 foot long, 486 ton merchant ship with a 30 foot beam. Referred to by many names including El Terri, Tyrri, and Therry, the one she carried to the grave was San Felipe. Originally owned by the Marques of Canada, Guillermo Terry, she plied the waters between Spain and England delivering sherry. When she was put into service with the 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet, she was christened San Felipe. Captained by Don José del Villar y Andrada, this was the name she carried the day she sank. When the harsh Florida hurricane hit the Flota, she and the other ships were separated and forced west to the Florida Keys. Taking on large quantities of water, and badly damaged, she made it past the numerous coral reefs where she grounded, submerged to her decks. Miraculously, like the San Pedro, everyone on board the El Lerri survived. Some of the San Felipe's cargo would have been destroyed when she took on water. She carried a mix of perishable and non-perishable goods, including chocolate, citrus relish, snuff, vanilla beans, molasses, indigo, cochineal, silver, medicines, and gifts. Markers - None. Details - Only remnants are a large ballast pile of red stone. Marine Life - Sea sponges, sea fans, sea whips, brain coral, crab, grouper, snapper, grunts, barracuda, eels, spiny lobster, gobies, damselfish, angelfish, wrasses, blue tangs, hogfish, nurse shark, blennies. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck, Coral Reef Conservation.

19	Tollgate Rocks	Reef	Intermediate - Advanced	24°50.186 N 80°43.691 W	18'

	This reef is in shallow water and even has some grassy areas that rise above the water line. It's also home to a few ship wrecks in the area such as the El Lerri, the San Pedro, and the San Francisco. Markers - None. Details - This inshore patch reef has numerous coral heads that rise to the surface with spots of grass in between. Marine Life - Tollgate Rocks has colorful coral, and numerous species of tropical fish including damselfish, angelfish. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Coral Reef Conservation.

20	Cannabis Cruiser	Wreck	Advanced	24°49.584 N 80°38.590 W	110'

	In the 1970's, this trawler, also referred to as the Pot Wreck, was used to smuggle drugs into the United States. It was during one of her many forays that her crew became concerned about the Coast Guard patrolling nearby. To avoid what they perceived as being imminent capture, the crew decided to sink their vessel and flee. The men escaped capture, and the Pot Wreck sank without anyone marking it's location. Five years later while diving Key Largo, two scuba divers discovered the Pot Wreck sitting upright at a depth of about 110 feet. All of her equipment including her navigation device and radar were still in place, along with her substantial load of contraband - the marijuana she carried. Markers - None. Details - Ship sits upright and is good condition although somewhat broken up. Marine Life - Amberjack, moray eel, grouper and goliath grouper, large snook, hogfish, spiny lobster, nurse shark, moray eel, rays, barracuda. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Deep, Drift, Multi-Level, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck, Coral Reef Conservation.

21	San Francisco	Wreck	Novice	24°49.185 N 80°45.425 W	9'

	The San Francisco wreck is the Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Francisco Xavier was one of 2 vessels owned by Don Cristóbal de Urquijo. Both ships were traveling with the unfortunate Spanish Plate Fleet when they grounded and sank during the 1733 Florida hurricane. If Don Cristóbal de Urquijo had chosen to stay aboard this ship, he may have survived as she lost no lives, only cargo. However fate was not on his side. By choosing to travel on his other ship, the San Ignacio, he and 37 others perished when she sank further south at Coffins Patch. Urquijo left behind a widow, Donna Josepha Forti and 2 young daughters with nothing but the mercy of King Philip V who they petitioned for relief. Like the other Spanish ships traveling together in the Flota, this vessel carried much of the same cargo. Her manifest showed tobacco, chocolate, molasses, dyes including indigo and cochineal, silver coins, bullion, and citrus. Except for her gold and silver, much of her remaining cargo was unrecovered or unsalvageable. Markers - None. Details - A ballast pile of round stone, pieces of timber and a portion of her keel can be found. Marine Life - Gorgonian and stony coral, parrotfish, angelfish, grunts, barracuda, ocean sponges, grouper, yellowtail, nurse shark, moray eel, spiny lobster. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck, Coral Reef Conservation.

22	Almiranta El Gallo Indiano	Wreck	Novice	24°48.633 N 80°45.932 W	14'

	The Almiranta El Gallo Indiano (Cock of the Indies) was second in command and guarded the rear of the ill fated 1733 Spanish Treasure Fleet. Even though she was a larger vessel, she was unable to withstand the strong wind and powerful waves of the 1733 Florida Hurricane. On July 15, the Almiranta grounded in 14 feet of water, along the inner edge of Hawk Channel at the seaward end of Channel #5 between Craig Key and Long Key. Her holds completely flooded, 1 soldier, 2 sailors, and 1 child were unable to escape the waters and died. The Vice-Flagship was a 60 gun galleon captained by Don Bernadino de Maturana. She carried not only armaments but boxes of silver coins, copper slabs, dyes such as cochineal and indigo, ceramics and other treasures. Since the ship could not be saved, as soon as the hurricane was over, salvage efforts began which included removing many of her fittings. Her cargo was also unloaded, however the valuable dyes she carried had suffered water damage. Those that could be rescued were sun dried and their value was retained. The amount of King's silver she carried was a small fortune and was all accounted for. In total 1,809 boxes of silver coin and bars were saved, and 25 boxes of fabricated silver were removed. Out of the 517 slabs of copper she carried, 438 slabs were initially found. Markers - None. Details - Current can be strong. Various sizes of stone ballast with a portion of the keel obvious in the middle of the pile. Marine Life - Hard and soft coral, yellowtail, nurse shark, moray eel, barracuda, angelfish, ocean sponges, spiny lobster, grouper, parrotfish. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck, Coral Reef Conservation.

23	Queen of Nassau	Wreck	Tech Only	24°47.165 N 80°39.546 W	230'

	Barely 37 years old, Canada did not have a large presence on the water but understood the importance of protecting the nation's rights. One right in particular was crucial; fishing interests on the Georges and Grand Banks off the East Coast. Canada began to develop a small fleet of ships responsible for monitoring and protecting that territory. When the CGS Canada (Canadian Government Ship Canada) was purchased by the Canadian Fisheries Protection Service (CFPS), Canada took on a new and important role. Built in England in 1904, the CGS Canada was a 200 foot long vessel with a 25 foot beam. Powered by two large triple expansion engines, she could cruise at a top speed of 22 knots. Stationed out of Halifax, Nova Scotia, she was considered the fastest vessel in the CFPS. She became their flagship and was responsible for protecting Canada's fishing interests. To ward off Americans and Europeans who were continually invading their fishing grounds, under the command of Captain Knowlton, she carried 4 high powered Maxim guns. Even though Canada was it's own nation, the British still controlled much of the government. In 1910, Canada petitioned Britain and was awarded the ability to establish the Royal Canadian Navy. When World War I began, the CGS Canada was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on January 25, 1915, and christened HMCS Canada. She received two 12-pounders and two 3-pounders and her duties included surveying for mines as well as protecting troop convoys headed to England. In 1919, when the war was over, she was returned to the CFPS. In 1920, the CFPS opted to sell their one time flagship which finally sold in 1924. Barron Collier of Florida purchased the ship with the intention of turning her into a passenger vessel to transport people from Miami to the Bahamas and gave her the name The Queen of Nassau. However, since the ship was designed for military purposes, she lacked the comforts of a passenger ship. After 18 months, Collier decided to sell the ship to a buyer from Mexico. The ship left Miami en route to Tampa when disaster struck. After sitting in port for so long, she was rusty, and her working parts needed major repair and maintenance. As she struggled out of port the evening of Wednesday, June 30, 1926, it was obvious she was in trouble. Her steam engines were unable to produce enough pressure to keep her moving along at a good speed. Captain Peter Songdahl decided to anchor her south of Miami to service her boilers. The next morning she continued south, but was not picking up speed. By the time Captain Songdahl had reached Alligator Reef it was already July 2nd. He realized that more work had to be done if they were ever going to make it to Tampa. While the crew worked on her that afternoon, reports of water seeping into her bilge came in. The crew began to pump out the water, but the boilers were unable to keep the steam pressure up enough to work her pumps. By 5:45, it was becoming obvious that the ship was taking on more water than they could remove and the demand on the boilers proved to be too much. With the pumps no longer functioning, the ship was taking on water faster. There was no recourse left. The Captain had one chance to move his vessel to deeper water so she wouldn't prove a shipping hazard when she went under. With the boilers barely producing steam, the Captain turned the ship out to deeper water, but the boilers quickly failed. Realizing the inevitable was about to happen, at 7:00 pm, the Captain ordered his 18 crew members onto a lifeboat. Moving away from the Queen of Nassau, they watched her settle back on her stern. Then, as she stood straight up in the air, her boilers exploded. It only took 8 minutes for her to sink beneath the water to her 225 foot watery grave. Markers - None. Details - Reasonably intact, portholes, china, bridge equipment are scattered around the wreck. Starboard shaft and screw are missing, and port-side screw is missing a blade. Marine Life - Amberjack, oysters, coral, sea sponges, sea turtles, snapper, grouper, hammerheads and black tip shark. Recommended Certifications - Technical diving.


24	Tennessee Reef	Reef	Novice - Intermediate	24°45.845 N 80°45.401 W	90'

	This Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary area has several unusual, distinct features including it's lighthouse which stands at the southwest corner of the reef. The lighthouse was built in 1932, and is the only unmanned lighthouse that still has it's lantern. Also over the years, this reef has proven to be quite dangerous, as numerous vessels have wrecked upon it. These wrecks include the Virginia which foundered in 1872, the Erl King which wrecked in 1881, and the Bark Bridesmaid which hit the reef in 1889. Then in 1909, two steamships both wrecked within just a few months of each other. The Olympia foundered on March 25, and the Kelvenhead on June 14. Markers - 49' unmanned lighthouse is on the SW corner of the reef, no mooring buoys. Details - A large portion of this spur and groove reef is only accessible via permit as it's part of the Research Only Zone. This area is well marked with yellow buoys to alert people and warn them to keep out. The Ledge is also a good place for deeper diving with an abundance of fish. It runs west of the light with a slow slope going from 30 - 50'. The Drop Off is located between the reef and the red number 18 day marker. Marine Life - Sea fans, lettuce coral, brain coral, sponges, large snapper, wrasse, foureye butterflyfish, angelfish, trumpetfish, Nassau grouper, grouper. Recommended Certifications - Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Boat, Drift, Multi-Level, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck, Coral Reef Conservation.

	Reef and Fish Cards
	Since there are thousands of different species of fish and coral, these ID cards will help you identify what you see under the ocean.

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