Eastern Dry Rocks - Florida Keys
Bengħisa Reef, tucked away off Comino, offers a pleasant, relaxed dive. We’ve always found it a good spot for a second dive of the day, or if you’re looking for something calm. Descending onto the reef, you'll spot scarlet coral and Mediterranean tapeweed, with plenty of butterfly blennies darting around. Keep an eye out for cowfish, they’re often quite shy, but we’ve had some nice encounters here. It’s a gentle introduction to Comino’s underwater landscape, suitable for newer divers or those who prefer an unhurried exploration.
- Location
- Florida Keys, United States, North America
- Coordinates
- 24.460278, -81.843056
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Eastern Dry Rocks 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
- 1 Girón
- 9-foot Stake (reef)
- Ajax Reef (reef)
- Alexander Springs
- Alligator Reef (reef)
- Anglin Pier Ledge - 10m (reef)
- Anglin’s Pier Reef - 5-15m (reef)
- Aquarium - 10m
- Ball and Chain - 11m
- Banana Patch Reef - 10m (reef)
- Barracuda Dive Centre
- Beach House - 19m
- Blue Grotto Spring (cave)
- Boynton Comb Reef (reef)
- Boynton Ledges - 21m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Eastern Dry Rocks
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
- Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) - Sharks & Rays
- Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) - Sharks & Rays
- Cowfish (Rhinoptera bonasus) - Sharks & Rays
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Blacknose shark (Carcharhinus acronotus) - Sharks & Rays
- Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) - Sharks & Rays
- Prodigal Son (Rachycentron canadum) - Reef Fish
- Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) - Reef Fish
- Sailfin Molly (Poecilia latipinna) - Reef Fish
- Least Killifish (Heterandria formosa) - Reef Fish
- Florida Cone (Conus anabathrum) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Bream (Lagodon rhomboides) - Reef Fish
- Common mojarra (Eucinostomus gula) - Reef Fish
- Bonnethead Shark (Sphyrna tiburo) - Sharks & Rays
- Pigfish (Orthopristis chrysoptera) - Reef Fish
- Lined Sole (Achirus lineatus) - Reef Fish
- Inshore Lizardfish (Synodus foetens) - Reef Fish
- Freshwater Flounder (Trinectes maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Herring (Harengula jaguana) - Reef Fish
- American Gulf Pipefish (Syngnathus scovelli) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Eastern Dry Rocks
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