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Rock Key

We love Rock Key for its sheer convenience, and it’s always a solid bet for a relaxed dive out of Key West. It’s a shallow spot, usually around 8-10 meters, making it perfect for longer bottom times and a great choice if you’re newer to diving or just want an easy cruise. The reef here is mostly low-profile coral formations, plenty of finger coral and some nice pillar coral stands that always catch our eye. Look closely in the nooks and crannies – we often spot Yellowhead Jawfish peeking out of their burrows and American Pugnose Pipefish doing their best impression of seagrass blades. Schools of French Grunts and Schoolmasters drift lazily over the coral, a constant, shimmering curtain of silver. We’ve even had the occasional Sandbar Shark cruise by on deeper visits. Visibility is generally good, often 15-20 meters, though it can kick up a bit after a strong southerly blow. We’d suggest going early in the morning to beat the boat traffic; it tends to get a little busy later in the day. It’s a really pleasant dive, calm and full of those smaller, often overlooked details that make the Keys reefs so rewarding.