Recommendations for a skin diving/snorkeling stop between Miami & Key West?

[jff]

I've been looking at the maps and trying to figure out where would be a good place to pull in, moor up to a mooring ball if possible, and do some skin diving/snorkeling on our way down to Key West? We plan to stop over at Little Palm Island on the way down but I was hoping to find somewhere either between Miami & Little Palm Island or between Little Palm Island and Key West where we could stop and relax, eat lunch and do some snorkeling. Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Capt. Jason

 

[Mystic Dreamer]

You have many options heading south via Hawks...most have mooring balls so they are real easy to just pull up and get wet. Some of my favorites are, from North to South:

Carys Fort Reef of of Northern Key Largo
Molasses Reef
Alligator Reef
Sombrero off of Marathon

Any good Keys dive map will have the exact GPS locations. Most of these have varying depths and great coral/fish. Depending on what time you leave Miami, somewhere between Molasses or Alligator or going to be about your "mid point' where you will be ready for a stop and some lunch.

 

[Steve S]

Capt Jason,

My buddy, Randy, is a dive master in Key West and was part of the survey team for the Vandenberg, which was sunk to form an artificial reef about 6nm south of Key West. Cool place to go diving! http://bigshipwrecks.com/

The team from Mel Fishers hid a silver coin on the Vandenberg and was giving monthly clues and Randy was able to find the coin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxeLNskF7Hc

Might be a good spot to go. They have the mooring balls - 5 of them at the site. I am not scuba diver but I did snorkel the site.