Smith Shoal

Smith Shoal

Located about 11 miles northwest of Key West, Smith Shoal is among the most obscure dive sites in the Florida Keys and is known for normally having poor visibility. However, Smith Shoal is undoubtedly the easiest dive site to locate, being marked by a 49-feet tall light tower. The striking pyramidal steel light tower was first constructed back in 1933, standing proudly in 20 feet of water at Smith Shoal. Just like the identical towers positioned in Marquesas Keys, the Tennessee Reef, and Dry Tortugas, this tower is unmanned and runs through automation.

For novice divers, Smith Shoal can be an excellent location to start learning the ropes and mastering the art of scuba diving. The water depth is fairly shallow, only ranging from 18 to 30 feet deep. Although it is not one of the more popular diving sites in the Keys due to the lack of visibility, Smith Shoal still offers divers some exciting sights to see. There are staghorn, brain, and plate corals situated near the sand bottom to the south side of the light tower. Unfortunately, there are fewer coral than in previous years, which is believed to be caused by red tide that recently spread through the area.

Scuba divers in Smith Shoal often report seeing schools of grouper and jewfish, along with some small lobsters and crabs. Because the dive site is not listed as a Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA), it is legal to catch fish or lobster if a diver possesses a valid Florida saltwater fishing license or lobster stamp. Spear fishermen often frequent the area about this site to hunt for various species. While there are no accessible mooring buoys, divers are allowed to anchor their boats in the nearby vicinity. It is recommended that divers carefully lower the anchor, in order to prevent more damage to the coral formations lurking beneath.

One of the most appealing features of Smith Shoal is its close proximity to one of the best preserved shipwreck diving sites in the area, Alexander’s Wreck. The shipwreck has been transformed into an artificial reef, and is now home for a variety of different sea creatures. In particular, Alexander’s Wreck has been an integral part of helping restore the endangered large grouper species of jewfish. It is highly recommended that divers plan a day trip to explore both Smith Shoal and Alexander’s Wreck for a spectacular day of underwater adventures.