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Insight Horizon Media

Is it safe to dive in Key Largo?

Author

Mia Smith

Published Mar 02, 2026

Is it safe to dive in Key Largo?

Key Largo is a dream dive destination where well-preserved natural coral reefs lie only a few miles from the shore – shallow reefs for snorkelers and deeper coral-encrusted wrecks for experienced divers. A perfect paradise for both divers and snorkelers.

How deep is the Spiegel Grove wreck?

80 feet
Fascinating Dive Opportunity Takes a Turn for the Better. A diver and a friendly bar jack hover over the bow of the Spiegel Grove at a depth of 80 feet.

Where is Spiegel Grove wreck?

The ex-Spiegel Grove is located on Dixie Shoal, 6 miles (10 km) off the Florida Keys in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. For a scuba diver, this ship is 510 feet (160 m) long and 84 feet (26 m) wide; it is said that one can dive this wreck 100 times and still never see the entire thing.

How many divers have died on the Spiegel Grove?

Six people have died while diving the Spiegel Grove, a 1960s-era warship sunk off the Upper Keys in 2002 to create an artificial reef.

What is the best diving spot in the world?

Top 10 Dives: World’s Best Places for Scuba Diving

  1. Barracuda Point, Sipadan Island, Malaysia.
  2. Blue Corner Wall, Palau, Micronesia.
  3. The Yongala, Australia.
  4. Thistlegorm, Egyptian Red Sea.
  5. Shark and Yolanda Reef, Egyptian Red Sea.
  6. Manta Ray Night Dive, Kailua Kona, Hawaii.
  7. Great Blue Hole, Belize.
  8. USAT Liberty, Bali, Indonesia.

Where is the best shore diving in the world?

10 Great Destinations for Shore Diving

  • Haleiwa Alii Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii.
  • USS Liberty, Tulamben, Bali.
  • Million Dollar Point and SS Calvin Coolidge, Espiritu Santo, Republic of Vanuatu.
  • Blue Hole, Gozo Island, Malta.
  • Ningaloo Reef, Australia.
  • Cane Bay, St.
  • La Jolla Cove and Shores, California.
  • Cayman Islands.

How did the USS Spiegel Grove sink?

The SPIEGEL GROVE spent the following years at the James River Reserve Fleet, Fort Eustis, Va., until she was sunk as an artificial reef at Key Largo, Fla., on May 17, 2002. Builder: Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss. Crew List: This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS SPIEGEL GROVE.

Can you fish Spiegel Grove?

4. Spiegel Grove. Spiegel Grove is another wreck that’s excellent for fishing, located off Key Largo. The USS Spiegel Grove was a dock landing ship that the United States Navy commissioned in the 1950s and decommissioned in the ’80s.

Why do you get so tired after scuba diving?

If you find yourself inexplicably fatigued, or sleepy after diving then it can be due to ‘decompression stress’. Decompression stress is theorized to be a physiological effect that stems from micro-bubbles that can form in the blood and tissues as a result of sub-optimal dive behaviours.

What is Shorediving?

Shore diving basically means diving from the shore rather than from a boat. Some fantastic dive sites can be found just off the shores and there really is no need to take a boat if you have some fantastic diving opportunities right on your doorstep.

What are the best Wreck-Reefs to visit in Key Largo?

Popular for fish feedings, the Washington can get crowded (and the visibility slightly lowered). THE DIVE: One of Key Largo’s most popular wreck-reefs, the City of Washington is, in places, barely discernible as a shipwreck.

How do you dive a wreck on the Florida Keys?

THE DIVE: Like most of the deeper Keys wrecks, you’ll be asked to produce your C-card and log book to prove you can negotiate low vis and high current. Diving onto the bow, you’ll find her cable-laying wheel, which has been fused in place by 16 years at the bottom. Barracuda and schools of jacks are docents on your wreck tour.

How deep is the Duane in Key Largo?

The Duane was sunk in 1987 and quickly became the number one wreck dive in the United States of America. She sits upright in the sand at a maximum depth of 125ft. Her deck is at 100ft. and the top of the crow’s nest is at 50ft. You can see most any of the varied reef fish that Key Largo offers.

What ships are on Key Largo right now?

1 USCGC Duane, Key Largo. 2 Eagle, Islamorada. 3 Benwood, Key Largo. 4 City of Washington, Key Largo. 5 USCGC Bibb, Key Largo. 6 Cayman Salvage Master, Key West. 7 Thunderbolt, Marathon. 8 Joe’s Tug, Key West. 9 Adolphus Busch Sr., Looe Key. 10 USS Wilkes-Barre, Key West.