Do not follow this link, or your host will be blocked from this site. This is a spider trap.
Back to the home page Big Blue Planet was created by Dive-Logs

See more of the best (and worst!) locations for such items as visibility, coral quality, and marine sightings etc.

1:  Cape Town / False Ba...
99%
in South Africa
2:  Manado
98%
in Indonesia
3:  Conception Bay
98%
in Canada (east)
4:  Viti Levu
98%
in Fiji
5:  Queen Charlotte Stra...
98%
in Canada (west)
6:  Koror
97%
in Palau
7:  Bali
97%
in Indonesia
8:  South Male Atoll
96%
in Maldives
9:  Gran Canaria
96%
in Canaries
10:  Halkidiki
96%
in Greece
*Based on your reviews.
More best (and worsts!)...

Want to see the next generation of this site?

Big Blue Planet is now in archive mode.
All the best info has been brought into our online interactive dive log map on DiveLogs.com!

More features, beautiful wall to wall maps, the same goal:
divers helping other divers find their next diving holiday location!

Check it out here

Location: Key Largo (United States (south))
Please choose the information you would like to see...
Here you can see what other divers thought, the top dive sites, what fish to see, and what wrecks are here.
You can also access an overview of the location, including interactive maps, climate data, and photos.
We also have detailed listings of dive centres, resorts, travel agents and helpfull websites.
No buddies are currently registered for this location!


Top Dive Sites (make sure you dive these!)
1 Molassas Reef With 8 votes(s).
2 Spiegel Grove With 8 votes(s).
3 Duane With 6 votes(s).
4 French Reef With 3 votes(s).
5 Benwood With 2 votes(s).
6 sombrero reef With 1 votes(s).
7 Conch Wall With 1 votes(s).
8 Pickles reef With 1 votes(s).
9 Bibb With 1 votes(s).
10 Aquarium With 1 votes(s).

Marine Sightings:

Based on data from your reviews for Key Largo. we know the following about the marine life you can expect to see.
If you have been to Key Largo please add a review (see left). Your experience of what you saw will help to extend these results!

Reef Fish Sightings: Pelagic Fish Sightings: Quality of Coral:

Species: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Banded Butterflyfish No data No data No data No data You may see this
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
Basking Shark No data No data No data No data No data No data You may see this
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
Bottlenose Dolphin No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data You may see this
No data yet available
Caribbean Reef Shark No data No data You may see this No data No data No data You may see this
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
Caribbean Spiny Lobster No data No data You may see this No data You may see this You should see this You should see this No data No data No data You may see this You may see this
French Angelfish No data No data No data No data You should see this You should see this You should see this No data No data No data You should see this You should see this
Great Barracuda You should see this No data You may see this You should see this You should see this You should see this You should see this No data You may see this No data You should see this You should see this
Great Hammerhead No data No data No data No data No data You may see this
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
Green Moray You may see this No data You may see this No data You may see this You may see this You may see this No data You may see this No data No data You may see this
Green Sea Turtle No data No data You may see this You may see this You may see this You may see this No data No data You may see this No data You may see this
No data yet available
Hawksbill Sea Turtle No data No data No data No data No data You may see this You may see this No data No data No data You may see this You may see this
Loggerhead Sea Turtle No data No data No data No data You may see this
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
Longspine Porcupine Fish No data No data No data No data You may see this No data You may see this No data No data No data No data You may see this
Manta Ray No data No data No data No data No data You may see this You may see this
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
Nurse Shark You may see this No data You may see this You may see this You may see this You may see this You should see this You may see this You may see this No data You may see this You may see this
Queen Angel Fish No data No data You may see this You should see this You should see this You may see this You should see this No data No data No data You may see this You should see this
Reef Squid No data No data No data No data You may see this You may see this
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
Scorpion Fish No data No data No data No data You may see this No data No data No data You may see this No data You may see this
No data yet available
Southern Stingray No data No data You may see this No data You may see this You may see this You may see this No data You may see this No data No data You may see this
Spotted Eagle Ray No data No data No data No data You may see this No data No data No data No data No data You may see this
No data yet available
Tarpon No data No data No data You may see this You may see this You may see this You should see this
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
Trumpetfish No data No data No data No data You should see this No data No data No data You may see this No data You may see this You should see this
West Indian Manatee No data No data You may see this No data No data No data No data No data No data No data You may see this No data

Reviews:

Here are the last 10 reviews for Key Largo. Show all of them.

Visited Comments
December 2011 After hearing about the usual very strong current and low visibility, we were amazed at there being no current and at least 60 ft visibility. The ship was awe inspiring. We dove it twice that day due to the highly unusual conditions. Divemaster said this happens maybe once per year. Non divers traveling with ys enjoyed the nature, manatees, birding and wonderful resaurants with the laid back lifestyle.
Date posted: 22-Jan-2012 15:18 by: Cynde
November 2008 great place to dive
Date posted: 20-Nov-2008 02:57 by: numberfivedock
December 2006 Go here to dive... there is not much else to Key Largo and the beaches are non-existant.
Date posted: 07-Feb-2007 20:44 by: ww_kayaker
December 2006 My first opportunity to dive in Key Largo came in September 2004, preceding a business trip to Miami. Based on Undercurrent reviews, I had planned to dive with Captain Jeff Jarvis on the HMS Minnow. As he was going to be vacationing the week of my visit, he suggested I dive with Ocean Divers. I have been diving with them ever since and have now dived with them seven times/43 dives, including a visit in September as well as this current trip. Ocean Divers has a very informative website and communicates well by email and phone. Ocean Divers has two 50 foot boats, the Ocean Diver and Santana. They go to one deep wreck site and one reef site every morning and 2 reef sites every afternoon Monday through Friday. On Saturday, they give a choice of wreck/reef or 2 reef dives in the morning and on Sunday they do wreck/reef or reef/reef both morning and afternoon. I try to make Sunday on all my visits due to the enhanced wreck diving opportunities. They do a night dive on Wednesday and Saturday. The boats are quite comfortable and include fresh water showers, a dry table and camera tub, and a marine head. Deep wrecks require AOW training or equivalent or 2 dives of 80 feet or greater in the last 12 months. The deep wreck dives also require the purchase of an Upper Keys Artificial Reef Medallion ($10 annually). Ocean Divers uses 80 cu ft steel tanks, the buoyancy characteristics allow for elimination of about 4 pounds of weight relative to aluminum tanks. 32% nitrox is readily available for $6/tank. There is substantial savings in buying a multi-charter card versus purchasing individual dive trips. I have found Ocean Divers willing to attempt sites in less than optimum weather conditions and to go out with a minimum number of divers. To their credit, they take safety very seriously and abandon a dive when the surface conditions and current dictate. The dive masters do not generally dive but are very helpful for all on deck activities. The gems of Key Largo diving are the two deep wrecks, the Duane and the Spiegel Grove. The Duane is a 327 foot long, 41 foot wide US Coast Guard Cutter built at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia and launched in 1936. The Duane gained notoriety in 1943 when, in conjunction with its sister ship, the Spencer, it sank the German submarine U-177 and rescued 22 of its crew members. The Duane went on to serve in the Mediterranean, France, and Vietnam in addition to the US. The Duane was decommissioned in 1985 as the oldest active US military vessel and was sunk in 1987. It rests upright in about 120 feet of water. The Spiegel Grove is a 510 foot long, 84 foot wide Landing Ship Dock. It was built in Mississippi and launched in 1955. The Spiegel Grove was decommissioned in 1989 and was sunk in 2002. It rested on its starboard side in approximately 130 feet of water until it was set upright during Hurricane Dennis in July 2005. Both the Duane and the Spiegel Grove have numerous excellent swim-throughs. The majority of shallow dives are on Molasses and French Reefs and on the wreck of the Benwood, a 360 foot Norwegian freighter sunk in a collision in 1942, during WWII. The sea life in Key Largo is quite prolific. I have occasionally seen Reef and Hammerhead Sharks. Nurse Sharks, Barracuda, Green and Spotted Morays, lobster, turtles, and an abundance of Caribbean reef fish are all quite common. The water temperature varies considerably. I have had dives in September in 85-86 degree water and dives in December in 75-76 degree water. There is a link to NOAA and the buoy at Molasses Reef with air and water temperatures and wind speed on the Ocean Divers website. The Holiday Inn Key Largo Resort & Marina is a comfortable hotel. The rooms have refrigerators, coffee makers, and free wireless internet access. I have become fond of the marina-view rooms. The hotel has a small exercise facility and the breakfast buffet starts early enough to make the morning boats. I often eat lunch and/or dinner at the Galley Restaurant, upstairs and next to Ocean Divers. It has very good, inexpensive food and good service by nice people. Key Largo/Ocean Divers/Holiday Inn is a great diving destination in the US. I'm currently scheming on my return for an eighth visit.
Date posted: 26-Dec-2006 23:54 by: Craig
March 2003 We stayed on Marathon and the best dive site in the area was definately Sombrero Reef. We did try to dive the Thunderbolt, but couldn't actually find the underwater buoy that marks her spot despite 3 or 4 possible GPS co-ords(!) so we had to give up. Overall it was a nice trip.
Date posted: 20-Oct-2006 15:48 by: simonspear
September 2006 Key Largo is in my opinion, a very good all round dive location. There is not an awful lot to do other than dive & fish, but there's a little. I personally rate this in my top ten dive locations.
Date posted: 16-Oct-2006 17:37 by: Patterson
July 1998 Good diving. Just dont expect a dive guide to get in the water with you! he might get his hair wet!
Date posted: 21-Jul-2006 10:55 by: Akamas Diver
May 2006 Key Largo is a fantastic place to dive - it's where I did my discover scuba course a year ago and I haven't looked back! I'm hooked! We have been to a few other places as well as Key Largo (inc Mallorca, Egypt and the UK) but nothing has beaten Key Largo! We dove with liquid World Adventures who are a great outfit - tailor made dive experiences, friendly and knowledgeable staf etc.
Date posted: 09-Jun-2006 18:55 by: Hurtle Turtle
May 2006 Diving in Key Largo was better than on the other keys. Water temp was 78-80 degF with 30-50 ft of vis. The amount of coral damage was fairly depressing, but we were still able to enjoy a lot of great dives with Capt. Jeff on the HMS Minnow.
Date posted: 29-May-2006 05:03 by: Sushi
February 2006 Best dives: Spiegel Grove Wreck French Reef Bibb Wreck Alligator reef. For more information go to www.fla-keys.com
Date posted: 25-Apr-2006 19:20 by: Mario


Wreck Dives:

Here are the wreck dives we know of for Key Largo.

USCG Cutter Bibb
Ranked as Awesome by independant reviews Ranked as Awesome by independant reviews Ranked as Awesome by independant reviews
The Bibb rests on her starboard side in about 130 feet of water, less than a mile south of Molasses Reef, off Key Largo, Florida. Her port rail is 90-100 feet deep. Due to her depth, beam, and sideways orientation, the Bibb is rarely visited by local dive operators, but for experienced deep divers visiting Key Largo, this wreck shouldnt be missed.
32m / 105ft
42m / 138ft
Deliberately sunk: 01-Nov-1987 Wreck penetration is possible. Technical or decompression diving. More info...
Diver reviews for USCG Cutter Bibb:
Same ship as the Duane but its laying on its side. Great Dive
Date posted: 27-Sep-2008 01:16 by: Scotty who thought that: Only experienced wreck divers should attempt this.
Ranked it as: Ranked as Awesome by ScottyRanked as Awesome by ScottyRanked as Awesome by Scotty

USCG Cutter Duane
Ranked as Awesome by independant reviews Ranked as Awesome by independant reviews Ranked as Awesome by independant reviews
The Duane was intentionally sunk as an artificial reef on November 27, 1987. She came to rest upright on the sandy bottom in approximately 130 feet of water, about a mile south of Molasses Reef. Her main deck features a maximum depth of ~107 feet, with easy swim-through access for divers with appropriate training and experience. Since her sinking, The Duane has become an impressive artificial reef. Her upright position makes for an excellent multi-level deep wreck dive.
34m / 112ft
42m / 138ft
Deliberately sunk: 27-Nov-1987 Wreck penetration is possible. Technical or decompression diving. More info...
Diver reviews for USCG Cutter Duane:
One of the best wreck dives in the US.
Date posted: 27-Sep-2008 01:14 by: Scotty who thought that: Only experienced wreck divers should attempt this.
Ranked it as: Ranked as Awesome by ScottyRanked as Awesome by ScottyRanked as Awesome by Scotty

USS Spiegel Grove
Ranked as Awesome by independant reviews Ranked as Awesome by independant reviews Ranked as Awesome by independant reviews
The USS Spiegel Grove Top Dog is the largest ship ever intentionally scuttled for recreational scuba diving. Conceived and built in the mid nineteen fifties, she was a product of the Cold War, designed and equipped for amphibious beach assault. The Spiegel Grove saw action in Lebanon in 1976, and again in Grenada in 1984. She also assisted with NASA splashdown recovery missions. Her main deck lies between ~90 feet deep at the bow and ~100 feet deep at the stern. Her well deck is ~120 feet down. Due to depth and unpredictable currents, the Spiegel Grove is considered to be an advanced dive by most local dive operators.
29m / 95ft
39m / 128ft
Deliberately sunk: 10-Jun-2002 Wreck penetration is possible. Technical or decompression diving. More info...
Diver reviews for USS Spiegel Grove:
Great Wreck....can be currents not for novices
Date posted: 27-Sep-2008 01:13 by: Scotty who thought that: Only experienced wreck divers should attempt this.
Ranked it as: Ranked as Awesome by ScottyRanked as Awesome by ScottyRanked as Awesome by Scotty
This dive can be challenging, because of the unpredicatable, and strong currents that can be present. The dive can be done by anyone, but only experienced wreck divers should enter. Inside it is amazing, and I personally can't wait to revisit it now that it is sitting levelly on the seabed.
Date posted: 26-Nov-2005 18:53 by: The Warrior who thought that: Only experienced wreck divers should attempt this.
Ranked it as: Ranked as Awesome by The WarriorRanked as Awesome by The WarriorRanked as Awesome by The Warrior