U Thant Island - New England

The Florida Reef is… well, it’s complicated. Not a single dive site, but the entire barrier reef system running along the Keys. When we talk about ‘diving the Florida Reef’, we're usually talking about a specific patch, like Molasses Reef or Christ of the Abyss. It's the longest coral barrier reef in the continental U.S., which sounds impressive, and it is, but it’s seen better days. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth a dive, though. We often find ourselves drifting over extensive tracts of hard corals, brain corals, and star corals, punctuated by stands of gorgonians swaying in the surge. The water can be surprisingly cool even in summer, especially if you hit a thermocline. Visibility varies wildly, from a milky 10 metres after a storm to a crisp 25 metres on a good day, the kind where you can easily spot a lurking longspine squirrelfish or a tiny dwarf seahorse clinging to a blade of turtle grass. Our favourite moments are usually in the shallower, patch reef areas where the light penetrates fully, illuminating schools of porkfish and bluestriped grunts. It’s generally pretty accessible, suiting divers who appreciate convenience and the chance to see some classic Caribbean reef fish, even if the coral isn’t always vibrant. We’d suggest going early to beat the crowds, especially if you’re hitting one of the more popular mooring balls. Look for the elusive cherub pygmy angelfish darting among the coral heads; they’re a real treat if you can spot one.

Location

New England, United States, North America

Coordinates

40.746597, -73.964386

Type

reef

Marine Protected Area: Mill Rock