Key West Diving: What to Know Before You Go

Key West diving is arguably, the best diving the nation has to offer, and considering it's home to the Great Florida Reef, and the third largest coral barrier reef system in the world, it’s no wonder that divers make the trip out here year after year. If you’re new to diving, popular dive sites can feel a touch intimidating what with all the advanced divers milling about, but this shouldn’t be the case off the coast of Key West. Key West diving is famous not just for its unique eco diversity, but also for the remarkable number of shallow wrecks resting just offshore. This phenomenon makes it a haven for anyone making their first foray into the world of diving. For advanced divers, they don’t have to descend to dizzying depths to get an upclose look of a wreck, and all the unique life that it holds. However, it’s important to know that diving can have negative impacts on the underwater world, and to make sure you enjoy your Key West diving experience to the fullest, here are a few things you should know before you go:

1) Don’t Touch the Corals

Just as certain environments on land are hypersensitive to the human footprint, think about how little under water climates are physically touched by humans. Even the slightest touch, brush of the fins, or any other piece of dive equipment can potentially damage or kill the sensitive coral polyps that make up the hard and soft corals along the reef.

2) Avoid Touching the Ocean Floor

Much like vast array of flora and fauna that calls the Great Florida Reef home, the ocean floor is teeming with life. You may see large patches along the ocean floor that appears barren, and devoid of life, but that’s never the the case. Walking along the ocean floor can disturb important feeding habitats, and disrupt the general cycle of life in that particular ecosphere.

3) Always Wear Buoyancy Control Equipment

Tying into the first and second point, you want to be able to make any necessary adjustments to your equipment mid-dive, to avoid stepping on the coal beds below. Wearing buoyancy control or snorkel vests will allow you to do this. If you’re unsure about this, you can discuss it with your guide.

4) Don’t Feed the Animals

It can be really tempting to feed the local wildlife, especially when you’re trying to snap an epic underwater photo. Feeding the fish is wildly destructive to their natural feeding patterns, and can potentially cause you injury, especially if you attract the attention of the wrong fish! Don’t worry about attracting fish, Key West diving never disappoints!

5) Chart Out Your Dive

If you’re out on a Key West diving excursion, you don’t have to worry about your locale, your guide will know exactly where you can, and cannot dive. If you’re heading out on your own dive trip, it’s important to take note of where the reef mooring buoys are located. Dive and snorkel sites located within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary prohibit boats from anchoring to or too close to the reef.

6) Leave Everything in It’s Place

Taking a small piece of coral, bits shell, or other parts of the reef is highly illegal. It may not seem like a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but just think what would happen if everyone who came to Key West and took a little reef momento with them? Respecting local conservation laws means the reef and it’s inhabitants will remain there intact for everyone to enjoy.

Key West diving is something that everyone in the world should come to enjoy, and with these tips and guidelines, every dive will be a memorable one.