Cottrell Key
Protected Area
Bay Keys Wildlife Management Area
Why dive here
With 87+ marine species recorded in the area - including bull sharks, dolphins, hammerhead sharks, seahorses and sea turtles - Cottrell Key offers some of Florida Keys's richest reef diving. Water ranges 19-32°C, warmest July, August, September.
Cottrell Key sits just north of Key West, a good option when you’re looking for a shallower, more relaxed dive. At just 7 meters deep, it’s a brilliant spot for newer divers, or when you just want a long bottom time soaking up the sun's rays on the reef. We've often found small nurse sharks tucked under ledges here, and the patch reef structure is home to plenty of angelfish and parrotfish. If you're looking for a gentle drift over pretty corals, Cottrell Key delivers.
Typical Cottrell Key Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Nearest Dive Centres to Cottrell Key
Dive shops near Cottrell Key
Divers Direct
Lost Reef Adventures
Captain Hook
Finz Dive Center
Looe Key Reef Resort & Dive Center
Captain Hook’s Looe Key Reef Adventures
Reviews for Cottrell Key
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Cottrell Key
Cottrell Key Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Cottrell Key, sourced from NOAA NDBC + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: 8725520 - Fort Myers, FL (28km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
27°C
81°F · Range: 20.9–31.1°C
Air Temperature
26°C
79°F
Current Speed
0 cm/s
Direction: S (180°)
Salinity
35.98 PSU
Wind Speed
2.7 m/s
5.2 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1014.5 hPa
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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