reef

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Carysfort Reef

Carysfort Reef, sitting at the northern end of the Keys, has a real sense of history to it. You’ll find the remains of a 19th-century lighthouse here, and diving around those old pilings, you can almost feel the presence of all the ships they guided. We love the contrast between the man-made structure and the natural reef that’s grown up around it. The reef itself is a classic Florida Keys spur-and-groove formation. Expect to drop down to about 25 feet, maybe a bit more, and then drift along the fingers of coral. On a good day, the light plays beautifully through the water, illuminating schools of French grunts and sergeant majors that seem to hang in the current. Look closely among the corals for spotted trunkfish and the vibrant blues of a dwarf seahorse if you’re lucky. We often see barberfish cleaning larger species, a neat little show to watch. The currents here can pick up, so it's a site that suits divers comfortable with a bit of a drift. It’s a classic Keys dive, solid and reliable.