John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park · Key Largo
Over 40 dive and snorkel sites in Pennekamp and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary — and every Silent World trip helps fund coral restoration at Carysfort Reef.
Dive & Snorkel Locations
Welcome to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, home to some of the most magnificent underwater landscapes in the world! Here at Silent World, we offer a wide range of diving opportunities, PADI courses, and snorkeling adventures — making this location a perfect destination for experienced divers looking for their next underwater adventure, vacationers who want to improve their diving skills, and marine life enthusiasts.
Weather and conditions decide the day — the captain picks the best sites from the list below for your group.
Where We Take You
From the Christ of the Abyss statue to Carysfort Lighthouse, wrecks, ledges, and shallow snorkel gardens — these are the reefs and wrecks Silent World visits inside Pennekamp and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
This iconic statue of Jesus Christ is located in the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary and is one of the most popular dive sites in the world. The statue is a must-visit for those who want to experience the beauty and serenity of the underwater world. Just north of the Grecian Rocks and relatively shallow, it attracts divers and snorkelers alike.
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This dive site is named for its horseshoe-shaped reef that encircles a large sand patch in the center. Here, you'll find a diverse array of marine life, including parrot fish, sergeant majors, lobsters, and other exotic sea creatures. Depths range from about 5 ft to 25 ft — great for open water divers, photographers, and snorkelers.
This site is famous for its series of finger-like coral formations that create an intricate maze of canyons and swim-throughs. As you make your way through the maze, you'll encounter a variety of marine life, including colorful sponges, gorgonians, and more. Southeast of the Elbow, shallow elkhorn ridges make it a favorite for photographers.
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This dive site is a combination of a shallow reef and a deep ledge, both of which are home to a variety of marine life. The shallow reef is ideal for snorkeling and is known for its vibrant coral formations and colorful fish. The deep ledge is a great spot for more experienced divers and is home to larger fish species, such as barracudas, nurse sharks, and more — dropping to about 75 ft.
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This dive site gets its name from the large concrete wheels that can be seen lying on the reef — cargo from a sunken supply barge that was carrying train wheels for the Flagler Railroad. In addition to the wheels, you'll encounter schools of colorful tropical fish, nurse sharks, lobsters, and large elkhorn coral growing from the wheels themselves.
This dive site is named for the anchor chain that can be seen lying on the reef. The chain creates a natural pathway that leads you through the reef and is home to a variety of marine life, including schools of tropical fish, eels, and more. Just south of the City of Washington site — remnants of a fishing barge damaged by Hurricane Donna in 1960.
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This dive site is a popular spot for snorkelers and is named for its banana-shaped reef. The reef is known for its vibrant coral formations and colorful fish, making it a great spot for those who want to experience the beauty of the reef. On the southern end of the Grecian Rocks area, the long sloping ledge really does look like a banana.
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The remains of the S.S. Benwood, a steam-powered cargo ship built in 1910 and lost in a collision off Key Largo on April 9th, 1942 — later believed to have been used for aerial target practice after WWII. Today the wreck creates an artificial reef east of Molasses Reef, home to schools of tropical fish, barracudas, turtles, and more.
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This dive site is a combination of two shallow reefs that are home to a variety of marine life. The shallow reefs are ideal for snorkeling and are known for their vibrant coral formations and colorful fish. Turtles, sting rays, nurse sharks, and moray eels can often be spotted at this reef — on the north end of French Reef above Molasses Reef.
This dive site is the remains of the steamship City of Washington that sank in 1917. An iron-hulled steamer launched in 1877, she served passenger transport, cargo trade, and as a troop transport during the Spanish-American War. Today the wreck is home to schools of tropical fish, eels, and more.
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Embark on an exhilarating underwater adventure through Grecian Rocks, where vibrant marine life and magnificent coral formations create a breathtaking underwater oasis. Immerse yourself in this mesmerizing aquatic playground as you navigate its enchanting nooks and crannies, encountering a diverse array of colorful creatures along the way.
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Dive into the captivating depths of Cannon Patch Reef in Key Largo, where an underwater paradise teems with vibrant marine life and awe-inspiring coral formations. Explore this enchanting aquatic haven as you weave through its intricate labyrinth of nooks and crannies, discovering an astonishing variety of colorful sea creatures at every turn.
Discover the underwater wonderland of Carysfort Reef inside John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, where the iconic 100-foot-tall, 172-year-old Carysfort Lighthouse stands as a beacon for adventure seekers. Carysfort has an unusual “double reef” configuration — shallow corals perfect for snorkeling near the lighthouse that thin out as depth gradually increases. Perfect for beginners and seasoned snorkelers, with colorful fish, sea turtles, and a thriving ecosystem.
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This site is a stunning, vibrant reef that offers a plethora of marine life for divers to explore — schools of colorful fish and sponges amidst a lush garden of coral formations. The reef features a steep, sloping wall that drops into the depths, creating a unique landscape for divers to navigate. Relatively close to the City of Washington wreck, north of Alligator Reef.
Sunk in Key Largo in June 2002 — and turned upright by Hurricane Dennis in 2005. The USS Spiegel Grove is becoming an entire reef ecosystem northeast of Molasses Reef, full of tropical fish, coral, and sponges.
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Coral Restoration Program
We partner with the Coral Restoration Foundation at Carysfort Reef — our showcase restoration site and home of our second largest Coral Tree™ nursery. Fragments grow in the nursery, then get outplanted onto the reef.
As a PADI Eco-Center, Blue Star Operator, and Green Fins Operator, we run snorkel-only and scuba trips with reef-safe practices — free reef-safe sunscreen included on every boat.
Why It Matters
1
At Carysfort Reef we grow living coral fragments alongside the Coral Restoration Foundation — one of the largest nurseries in the Keys.
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Carysfort is one of seven reefs selected for large-scale restoration. You may see nurseries and recently outplanted coral on your trip.
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Book a snorkel or dive with Silent World and you're helping fund the reef you came to see — restoration funded by the trips that bring people here.
Snorkel-only and scuba boats to Christ of the Abyss, Carysfort, Benwood, and the rest of Pennekamp. Weather decides the day — the captain picks the best experience.
