Dry Tortugas National Park guide · 2 min read
Snorkeling the Southwest Corner of the Florida Reef
Dry land makes up less than one percent of the park, so the water is the best place to experience it.
The park sits at the far southwestern end of the Florida Keys reef system, ranked third by size among the planet's reef systems. An east-moving current from the Gulf passes just south of the park, and its remoteness adds to the effect. Together they support more sea life than elsewhere in the Keys, often in larger sizes.
The islands rest on ancient coral reefs, and a shallow basin ringed with living coral sits on top of them. Hundreds of kinds of sea life live close to the surface, and more than 30 species of coral grow here. Snorkelers may spot sharks, sea turtles, lobsters, squid, octopus, Goliath groupers, and tropical reef fishes.
Garden Key is the most accessible starting point for most visitors, especially day trippers, because its snorkeling spots are the simplest to reach. Beginners often choose the Moat Wall, where the water is calm and shallow. Swimmers there watch tropical fish and spot historical artifacts along the wall.
The South Coaling Dock Ruins are iron pilings on the south side of the island. Swimmers reach them by heading out from South Swim Beach. Here the scene is dominated by coral, with only a scattering of fish. Texas Rock Coral Reef lies roughly due north of Garden Key in about 55 feet of water.
Texas Rock is a large coral mound that climbs from the sand and tops out about 35 feet down. Fish gather above it in dense clusters that nearly reach the water's surface, while deep water sea fans grow along its northern side. Rare black coral turns up in the crevices. Almost every species of stony coral grows on the reef, with elkhorn and staghorn the exceptions, and the area is a good spot for underwater photography.
