Rock Key

Rock Key

Rock Key is a mile east of Sand Key light, approximately eight miles southwest of the Marquesas Keys. This remote dive site is home to some spectacular crevices and coral gardens. Deep crevices in the reef descend 20 feet or more to a white sandy bottom, and teem with tropical fish, lobsters, and sea life. Many of these declivities are narrow, with space for only one diver at a time to swim through the gaps. The shallow depth and generally light currents make this place ideal for divers of all skill levels. Mooring buoys around Rock Key mark the dive site between Sand Key and the Dry Rocks islands.

At one time, Rock Key was noted on charts as an area where a ship from Barcelona, Spain ran aground, but today the wreck is practically indistinguishable. Some of the brass fittings and ceramic tiles the ship was carrying when it sank in the 1800s might still be found in the area. A second unidentified wreck has also been discovered at this location. Both ships had iron cannon balls and spikes aboard and these items are sometimes revealed on the sea floor. Large concrete beams and pebble ballast are scattered atop the reef in places. There is always something to find, but Rock Key is a Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA), so nothing can be removed from the site.

An abundant display of marine life is always there to greet divers. Reef sharks, nurse sharks, sea turtles, hundreds of colorful reef fish and barracuda swim among the coral and wreck debris at Rock Key, making it a favorite dive location year round.