Looe Key

Looe Key is part of the Florida Lower Keys. Nearby are Big Pine Key, Islamorada, Key Largo and Marathon. This is an island with a slow pace of life. Looe Key, Florida, is only reachable by boat. This five-mile square area attracts vacationers to its shores for a number of reasons, generally aquatic ones. At the top of the attractions list is Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary.

Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary offers visitors some of the most spectacular diving sights in Florida. You can take part in an arranged trip to take you there from Bahia Honda State National Park. Rent your equipment from a Looe Key dive center. There are several, including the Looe Key Reef Resort and Dive Center, Paradise Divers, Sunshine Key Resort and Marina and Strike Zone Charters. All can help you out by providing the right equipment and directions to the perfect sites on the Looe Key reef.

Don your equipment, hire a boat and explore the five-mile section of the nearby reef. This area offers the type of opportunities to divers and snorkelers about which they always dream. Dive into the clear blue-green waters to explore the different undersea habitats raging from beds of sea grass and patch reefs to the sand flats. The coral itself is of varied types including giant elkhorn coral. The waters abound with rainbow colored fish and rare species. Be forewarned. The Looe Key reef is only for exploration and visual recording. Yellow Buoys float to mark the spots of protected marine life. You cannot spear fish or capture any of the reef or its inhabitants. You, also, cannot collect shells or pieces of reef for souvenirs. Purchase any memorabilia at the nearby souvenir shops.

Explore the shipwrecks on the seabed’s floor. There are several shipwrecks for divers of all levels and skill ranges to investigate. The British Frigate, H. M. S. Looe struck a reef and sank in 1744 while people deliberately scuttled the Adolphus Bush for the pleasure of divers. Over all, there are some 4,000 sunken shipwrecks for a diver to explore in this area.

One of the glories of Looe Key snorkeling and diving is its openness. Whatever level you are at in the sport, Looe Key can accommodate you. There are dives to meet everybody’s skill level. There are also accommodations including the Looe Key Reef Resort and Dive Center, geared to make your diving trip more pleasurable. Check a map and accommodation directory to locate any other Looe Key resort.