Diving in Florida Keys

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