Scuba diving in Tavernier
Tavernier is located South of Key Largo and North of
Islamorada. This location makes it a great diving
destination, becausese some Key Largo and Islamorada dive
sites as well as those in Tavernier are easily accessible.
Tavernier reef system offers
a variety of aqua life which
attracts scuba divers. Dive sites like Molasses Reef and the
Spiegel Grove are home to the most rare pillar coral in the
area. Most of Tavernier dive sites are minutes away from the
shore.
Always dive according to your level of training.
Never enter the water without checking with
Tavernier dive
centers for safety, additional information, level required
for each dive site and without being accompanied by a
professional.
All the information provided is purely informative for our
readers and shouldn't be used as is to plan your immersion.
Average annual temperature: Between 26°C and 31°C. (77° F
and 87° F)
Average Water surface temperature: Between 21° C and 30° C
(70°F and 86°F)
Visibility often averaging: Visibility is between 40 and 60
feet (12 to 18 meters)
Coldest time: February
Warmest time: July
Possible to dive all year round.
Tavernier has a variets of dive sites, in addition to
shallow and intermediate dive sites it has some of the most
famous wrecks in the Keys like the Bibb, Spiegel Grove and
the Eagle. The current in the area is great for drift
diving, you can enjoy watching sea life while drifting.
Eagle rays, snappers and large jewfish consider
Tavernier's
dive sites home.
Some of Tavernier dive sites.
The Conch Reef is at depth ranging from 2 to 100 feet (0.60
to 30 meters) deep. It is one of the deepest sites in the
area. It is shallow in the upper section from 15 to 20 feet
(4 to 6 meters) then it drops to 90 feet (27 meters) deep.
The drop off known as the Conch Wall it is home to many rare
kinds of sea life such as huge barrel sponges, it can reach
more than 5 feet (2 meters) high. Sea rods, whips, and
plumes of gorgonians grow on the reef and pelagic fish
consider it home.
The Duane is an advanced dive site with a depth of 40 to 120
feet (12 to 36 meters). The current is strong on this site
which makes it great for drift diving. This reef was formed
by a sunken ship called the Duane. The visibility in the
area is quite astonishing, and helps you enjoy seeing sea
life in the area such as large jewfish, cobia, turtles and
big amberjacks. The wreck in encrusted with many kinds of
corals.
The Eagle is an artificial dive site at a depth of 75 to 120
feet (23 to 36 meters). The Eagle was sunk in the year 1985
by members of the Islamorada diving and tourism communities.
It is an advanced dive site and the current is suitable for
drift diving. Diving on this site can be a multilevel
because of its variable depths. The Eagle became home to
variety of underwater life like schools of silversides and
grunts, amberjacks, grouper and cobia. You could also come
face to face with a large jewfish or nurse shark
The Spiegel Grove is an artificial dive site. A ship was
deliberately sunk to form this reef in the year 2002, and
became the largest ship sunk to form an artificial reef. Now
it is home to a variety of sea life such as algae, sponges,
and coral, as well as the legions of tiny tropical fish,
large barracuda and jacks. The site is at depth ranging from
45 to 130 feet (14 to 40 meters).
Molasses Reef is at a depth of 3 to 40 feet (0.91 to 12
meters) deep. This site was named after a barge that sank
here many years ago while carrying a load of molasses
barrels. Mooring buoys mark this beautiful site. A variety
of soft and hard corals, rope sponges and vase sponges form
this reef and give it its beautiful colors. Large schools of
horse-eyed jacks permit jacks, bar jacks and small-mouth
grunts can be seen in the site. Great barracuda, parrot
fish, grouper and snapper are commonly seen on every dive.
The Bibb is another artificial site; the Bibb was
intentionally sunk as part of the artificial reef program.
It is an advanced dive site at a depth of 90 to 130 feet (27
to 40 meters). It is preferable to do this dive as a
multilevel dive. Due to the strong current there, the
visibility exceeds 100 feet (30 meters). It is home to large
sea creatures like jewfish, cobia, turtles and big
amberjacks also schools of barracuda are seen in the area.
French Reef is a beginner dive site with depth range from 3
to 100 feet (0.91 to30 meters) deep. This interesting dive
site is famous for its impressive tunnels and caves which
are home to cooper sweepers and moray eels. The shallower
parts in the area are covered with beautiful golden brown
elkhorn coral.
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