City of Washington (Wreck) - Florida Keys

The City of Washington, sitting upright in just 9 metres of water, is easily one of our favourite Keys wreck dives for new divers. It’s a genuine piece of history, a steamship that went down in 1917, and the shallow depth means you can spend ages exploring without watching your bottom time tick away. We love how the light plays off the huge steam engine and boilers, still largely intact, creating these dramatic shafts through the water. You can swim through some of the open cargo holds, seeing how the structure has completely transformed into an artificial reef. Schools of grunt and snapper are usually milling about, and we often spot a green moray or two tucked into the crevices. It’s perfect for photographers wanting to practice their wreck shots or anyone keen on a relaxed, historical dive without the added challenge of depth or strong currents. For the best visibility, we’d suggest an early morning dive before boat traffic stirs things up too much.

Location
Florida Keys, United States, North America
Coordinates
25.084800, -80.152100
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
9m
Difficulty
Beginner

Marine Protected Area: The Elbow Sanctuary Preserva Sanctuary

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)

Nearby Dive Sites in Florida Keys

Nearest Dive Centres to City of Washington (Wreck)

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.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for City of Washington (Wreck)

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