Not a challenging or particularly exciting dive this is one of those that almost anyone can do and which will probably inspire you on to do more. The water is pretty clear and bright, the bottom white sand and the coral is quite good considering how close this dive is to shore and how crowed the waterways around the marine reserve are. Christ of the Deep himself is a friendly beacon as you approach him, often surrounded by people having underwater wedding ceremonies, which is a particularly cool thing to swim into.

Florida Keys Christ is the third in a line, all made to protect lovers of the ocean and underwater exploration so it’s a nice dive to get you started on a Florida trip. You can guess from the wedding comment earlier that this is a very popular dive. There are about 15 places to moor your boat but even then you may still have to come back later when it’s quieter. We were introduced to Smokey the Barracuda who seems to be under the impression that the visitors are all there to see him not the statue. Used to people, Smokey ate out of my hand, as did one of the groupers we came across. Eagle rays and stingrays were less friendly but incredibly beautiful as they flapped their wings and cruised gracefully just above the sand floor. Fish and statues of Christ, not an obvious choice but then it suits my tastes well and was definitely, despite the crowds, a very worthwhile and memorable experience.

Written by  LK Barromet.

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The Florida Keys

There are a huge variety of diving and snorkeling sites in the waters of the Florida Keys. You can see canyons, coral, reefs, wrecks and unusual rock formations as well as hugely varied selection of marine life.

One of the best known dives is at Key Largo Dry Rocks in the Key Largo Marine Sanctuary. There divers can see the famous bronze statue of Christ of the Deep (a copy of the 9 foot Italian Christ of the Abyss, who resides off the coast of Genoa. ), who rests in a short canyon. This is also an excellent place to see brain coral and long growths of coral fingers.

Numerous ships have been wrecked in the Florida Keys, the oldest examples date from the 17th Century. Artificial wrecks and reefs have been added to the ships grave yard by the sinking of a fleet of old US Warships including the 327ft long USCG cutters Duane and Bibb (sunk in 1987) and the 510ft LSD Spiegel Grove (sunk in 2002).

You can dive and snorkel here all year round, in winter you may even see a manatee.

 

Review posted 3rd May 2007 by World Reviewer Staff.

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