Dive & Snorkel Location
On the night of April 9, 1942, the SS Benwood was navigating completely blacked out. German U-boats were prowling the Florida coast and every light on the ship had been extinguished. In the darkness, she collided with the SS Robert C. Tuttle — another ship, also running dark, also trying to survive the same night. The Benwood never made it to port.
She now rests on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, 6 miles off Key Largo, in 25 to 45 feet of water. Eighty years later, she is one of the most visited and most photogenic snorkel sites in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary — and one of the most fish-filled sites on the entire reef system.
Over 80 years on the bottom, the Benwood has been completely colonized by coral, sponges, and sea fans. Her steel ribs and hull sections are no longer just wreckage — they're reef structure. Every surface hosts something alive. Every crevice shelters something hiding.
Built in 1910 in Sunderland, England. Sunk in 1942, then deliberately destroyed for salvage and used as bombing practice by the Army Air Corps.
Yellowtail snapper, grunts, goatfish, parrotfish, moray eels, lobster, and nurse sharks all live on the wreck.
Brain coral, star coral, elkhorn coral, sea fans, and sea whips all thrive on the artificial reef the wreck has created.
What You'll See
Snorkelers who visit the Benwood at the right time encounter something that stops them cold. Sea turtles rest on the wreck. Not one or two — sometimes dozens. Green turtles and loggerheads settle on the deck, in the hull sections, on the coral-covered ribs of the ship. They tuck in and sleep. They surface for air directly next to the boat and return to the same spot.
Local divers have called the Benwood the Turtle Hotel for years. The name stuck because it's accurate. There are no guarantees with wildlife — but if you want the best chance of a close turtle encounter in Key Largo, the Benwood is where you go.
At a Glance
Good to Know
No guarantees — it's the ocean. But the Benwood is consistently one of the best turtle encounter sites in Key Largo. Guests who are patient above the wreck get the best sightings.
The stern sits in 25 feet of water, the bow in 45 feet. As a snorkeler you stay at the surface — the shallower stern sections are clearly visible on a good visibility day.
Yes. The Benwood is beginner-friendly from the surface. You need to be comfortable floating in open water — that's the only requirement. Our crew provides a full briefing before you get in.
The wreck is snorkeable year-round. Winter and spring bring the best visibility. Turtle activity is consistent throughout the year — they live on the wreck permanently.
Yes. The Benwood sits within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. No fishing, no collecting, no touching the wreck or coral.
Tours That Visit This Site
$79 | 3 Hours | 2 Stops
The original park trip and our best value. Two prime shallow reef sites, including the Christ of the Abyss on virtually every trip, weather permitting.
$109 | 4.5 Hours | 3 Stops
The ultimate experience: Christ of the Abyss, the Benwood Wreck, and Molasses Reef — the three most iconic underwater landmarks in the Florida Keys in a single day.
Summer tours are filling up fast — book your trip to the John Pennekamp reefs today.
