Orion wreck - Florida Keys

The Orion wreck, just north of Key Largo, is one of those wrecks we keep going back to. We love it because it’s a real classic Keys wreck: not too deep, well-colonized, and with enough history to make you feel like you’re diving a piece of the past. Dropping down, you’ll find it sitting upright in about 25 metres of water, mostly intact with a slight list to port. The visibility here is often fantastic, 20 metres isn't uncommon, letting you really appreciate the scale. What really gets us about the Orion are the penetrations. Nothing too crazy, but there are some accessible swim-throughs in the cargo holds that are just begging to be explored, especially if you’re comfortable with overhead environments. Inside, the light plays through the openings, illuminating schools of grunt and snapper that hang suspended, seemingly undisturbed by divers. Outside, the superstructure is draped in soft corals, and we’ve often found substantial goliath grouper lurking in the shadows near the bow, huge and placid. Our favourite is exploring the stern, where the prop is still visible and often surrounded by clouds of silversides. It’s a rewarding dive for advanced open water divers looking for a bit of wreck exploration without the extreme depths.

Location
Florida Keys, United States, North America
Coordinates
25.691000, -80.086334
Type
wreck

Marine Protected Area: Half Moon Underwater Archaeological Preserve

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 Orion 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 Orion 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