History

• Key Largo is home to America's first underwater state park. The John Pennekamp Coral Reef Park was founded here in 1960. The Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary was founded in 1975 to further protect this delicate habitat. In the mid-1990s, all of the Florida Keys became part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
  
  

Geography

• Key Largo is the first island of the Florida Keys. Located about an hour south of Miami, this island is known as the "Dive Capital of the World." It is home to both shallow reefs and deep wrecks. Key Largo's more popular spots include The Elbow, home to many historic shipwrecks, the Key Largo Dry Rocks, site of the "Christ of the Deep" statue, and the North Dry Rock, home to the "Minnow Cave."
  
  

Significance

• Located in Key Largo is America's only living barrier coral reef, and the third largest barrier reef in the world. This reef is one of the world's most diverse marine ecosystems. In Key Largo, you will find patch reefs, seagrass meadows, and more than 300 varieties of marine life.
  
  

Features

• Snorkeling in Key Largo, you will encounter coral reefs featuring sea whips, brain coral, star coral, sea fans and sea fingers. The local marine life includes sea turtles, eels, sea rays, conch and lobsters. Tropical fish you may spot are angelfish, parrotfish, tangs, groupers and butterfly fish. The reefs in Key Largo average about 6 to 12 feet in depth. Some areas of the Molasses Reef touch the surface, while the deepest part reaches 55 feet. Snorkelers interested in shipwrecks can visit the wreck of the Benwood, a Norwegian freighter, sunk in 1942.
  
  

Considerations

• More than 1 million people will come to the Keys each year to snorkel and dive. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary has developed the Sea Smart - Dive Smart program to help educate dive operators on the importance of eco-friendly snorkeling and diving. This complex habitat is already at risk from global pollution and climate change. When visiting these reefs, it is extremely important to practice safe, responsible snorkeling and help preserve the beauty of Key Largo.