Diving in Florida Keys

Explore 265 dive sites in Florida Keys, United States. Ocean conditions, marine species, and dive centres.

Best Time to Dive in Florida Keys

The warmest water temperatures in Florida Keys occur in July, averaging 31.5°C (up to 34.8°C). The coolest conditions are in January at 19.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 19.3°C (air: 18.5°C)
  • February: 20.5°C (air: 21.6°C)
  • March: 23.1°C (air: 22.4°C)
  • April: 25.5°C (air: 24.3°C)
  • May: 27.8°C (air: 25.9°C)
  • June: 30.2°C (air: 27.5°C)
  • July: 31.5°C (air: 28.3°C)
  • August: 31.5°C (air: 28.3°C)
  • September: 30.2°C (air: 27.3°C)
  • October: 27.3°C (air: 26.0°C)
  • November: 24.1°C (air: 22.3°C)
  • December: 20.9°C (air: 19.8°C)

Marine Life in Florida Keys

Home to 91 recorded species including 69 reef fish, 6 sharks & rays, 3 other, 3 hard corals, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 sea urchins.

Dive Site Difficulty in Florida Keys

Florida Keys has 56 beginner, 4 intermediate dive sites - suitable for divers of all levels.

Recommended Packing List for Florida Keys

Based on average water temperature of 26.0°C, currents 1 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 26°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories

Marine Protected Areas in Florida Keys

  • Everglades National Park - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category V)
  • Biscayne National Park - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category V)
  • Parc national des Everglades - World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
  • John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • National Key Deer Refuge - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Key West National Wildlife Refuge - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • J.N. 'Ding Darling' National Wildlife Refuge - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Everglades National Park - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category V)
  • Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Vizcaya Museum and - Gardens (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Snook Islands - Natural Area (IUCN Category V)
  • Haulover - Beach Park (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Big Hickory Island - Preserve (IUCN Category V)
  • Cowpens - Sanctuary (IUCN Category V)
  • Saddlebunch Key - Sanctuary (IUCN Category V)
  • Stump Pass Beach State Park - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Gasparilla Sound - Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Cape Haze Aquatic Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Coupon Bight Aquatic Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Cape Romano - Ten Thousand Islands Aquatic Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Jensen Beach to Jupiter Inlet Aquatic Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Lignumvitae Key Aquatic Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • North Fork, St. Lucie Aquatic Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • SS Copenhagen Underwater Archaeological Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Half Moon Underwater Archaeological Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Lofthus Underwater Archaeological Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Georges Valentine Underwater Archaeological Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Rookery Bay Aquatic Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • The Barnacle Historic State Park - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • J. N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.Wilderness Area - National Wildlife Refuge (IUCN Category Ib)
  • Marjory Stoneman Douglas - Wilderness Area (IUCN Category Ib)
  • San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological - State Park (IUCN Category III)
  • Everglades - Specially Protected Area (Cartagena Convention) (IUCN Category V)
  • Dry Tortugas - Specially Protected Area (Cartagena Convention) (IUCN Category V)
  • Florida Keys - Specially Protected Area (Cartagena Convention) (IUCN Category V)
  • R. Hardy Matheson - Preserve (IUCN Category V)
  • San Pedro Underwater - Archaeological Preserve State Park (IUCN Category III)
  • Lignumvitae Key - Botanical State Park (IUCN Category V)
  • Biscayne Bay-Card Sound Spiny Lobster Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Rookery Bay - National Estuarine Research Reserve (IUCN Category V)
  • Biscayne - National Park (IUCN Category II)
  • Dry Tortugas - National Park (IUCN Category II)
  • Everglades - National Park (IUCN Category II)
  • Great White Heron - National Wildlife Refuge (IUCN Category IV)
  • Key West - National Wildlife Refuge (IUCN Category IV)
  • Ten Thousand Islands - National Wildlife Refuge (IUCN Category IV)
  • St. Lucie Inlet - Preserve State Park (IUCN Category V)
  • Rookery Bay National Estuarine Sanctuary Macrosite - Sanctuary (IUCN Category V)
  • Martin County Spoil Islands - State Resource Management Area (IUCN Category VI)
  • Curry Hammock - State Park (IUCN Category III)
  • John Pennekamp Coral Reef - State Park (IUCN Category V)
  • Key West National Wildlife Refuge.Wilderness Area - National Wildlife Refuge (IUCN Category Ib)
  • Dinner Key Picnic Islands - Park (IUCN Category V)
  • Phil Foster - Park (IUCN Category V)
  • Alligator Reef Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Bay Keys Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Big Mullet Key Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Boca Grande Key Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Carysfort/South Carysfort Reef Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Caya Agua Keys Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Cheeca Rocks Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Coffins Patch Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Conch Reef Research Only Area Sanctuary Preservation Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Conch Reef Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Cotton Key Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Cottrell Key Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Crocodile Lake Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Davis Reef Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Dove Key Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Dry Rocks Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • East Content Keys Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • East Harbor Key Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Eastern Dry Rocks Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Eastern Sambo Research Only Area Research Only Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • French Reef Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Grecian Rocks Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Hen and Chickens Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Horseshoe Key Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Little Crane Key Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Little Mullet Key Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Looe Key Existing Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Looe Key Research Only Area Sanctuary Preservation Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Looe Key Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Lower Harbor Keys Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Marquesas Keys Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Molasses Reef Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Mud Keys Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Newfound Harbor Key Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Pelican Shoal Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Rock Key Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Rodriguez Key Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Sand Key Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Sawyer Keys Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Snipe Keys Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Sombrero Key Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Tennessee Reef Research Only Area Research Only Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • The Elbow Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Tidal Flat South of Marvin Key Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Upper Harbor Key Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • West Content Keys Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Western Sambo Ecological Reserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Woman Key Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Florida Keys Areas to be Avoided Natural Reserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Florida Keys Sanctuary Preservation Areas - Cheeca Rocks, Eastern Dry Rocks, Hens and Chickens, Rock Key Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Snake Creek Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Tavernier Key Wildlife Management Area - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)

Getting to Florida Keys - Nearest Airports

  • Miami Executive Airport (TMB), Miami - 69 km away, approx 90 min travel time
  • Miami International Airport (MIA), Miami - 86 km away, approx 109 min travel time
  • Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Fort Lauderdale - 111 km away, approx 136 min travel time

Dive Sites

Dive Centres

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the typical water conditions like for diving in the Florida Keys, including visibility and temperature?
The Florida Keys offer warm waters, with the best temperatures typically found in July and August at 31.52°C, and September at 30.22°C. While specific visibility data is not provided, these warm conditions generally contribute to comfortable diving experiences. For more information on optimal diving times, visit our When to Dive section.
What types of marine life can divers expect to see when diving in the Florida Keys?
Divers in the Florida Keys can expect to explore the only living coral barrier reef in the continental US, which supports a diverse ecosystem. This unique environment is home to various reef fish and invertebrates, making it a vibrant destination for marine life enthusiasts. You can learn more about marine species in our wildlife database.
What are considered the best dive sites in the Florida Keys for different experience levels?
The Florida Keys offer a wide array of dive sites for all skill levels. Beginners can enjoy vibrant reefs like Western Sambo Reef and Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, or explore beginner-friendly wrecks such as Mike’s Wreck (Hannah M. Bell). Intermediate divers have access to iconic sites like the USS Spiegel Grove (Wreck), the Deep Reef - Looe Key, and even unique cave dives at Devil's Den.
Do I need to be an experienced diver to enjoy scuba diving in the Florida Keys, or are there options for beginners?
No, the Florida Keys cater to divers of all experience levels, with numerous options available for beginners. Many of the 308 dive sites, including popular reefs like Western Sambo Reef and Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, are designated as beginner-friendly. There are also beginner wreck dives such as Cayman Salvager (Wreck), ensuring a rewarding experience for those new to diving.
What are the best ways to get to the Florida Keys for a diving trip?
The provided data does not include specific information on the best ways to get to the Florida Keys for a diving trip. However, as a popular destination in the United States, it is generally accessible via various transportation methods. We recommend checking travel guides for the United States for detailed access information.
When is the best time of year to go scuba diving in the Florida Keys, considering weather and marine life?
Considering water temperature, the best time of year for scuba diving in the Florida Keys is during the warmer months of July and August, when temperatures average 31.52°C, and September, with an average of 30.22°C. These months offer comfortable conditions for exploring the extensive coral barrier reef. For more details on seasonal conditions, refer to our When to Dive guide.
How does visibility typically vary throughout the year for diving in the Florida Keys?
The provided data does not include specific information on how visibility typically varies throughout the year for diving in the Florida Keys. Divers are encouraged to check local conditions closer to their travel dates for the most accurate visibility reports. Local dive centers, of which there are 88 in the area, can often provide up-to-date information.
What is the current health status of the coral reefs in the Florida Keys for diving?
The Florida Keys are home to the only living coral barrier reef in the continental US, a significant natural resource for diving. While the provided data highlights its existence, it does not offer specific details on the current health status or conservation efforts of the reefs. Divers are encouraged to practice responsible diving to help protect this unique ecosystem.