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| MileMarker: | 0 |
| Location: | Lat 24 27.19 Long 81 52.58 Small sand island capped with a Red iron lighthouse. |
| Markers: | Red iron lighthouse; several buoys |
| Depth Range: | 0 to 65 feet deep |
| Skill Level req.: | |
| Risks/Warnings: | SPA area [Sanctuary Preservation Area], no fishing or lobstering allowed |
| History | |
| An old brick lighthouse was destroyed here in 1846. The current lighthouse was built in 1853 and is now a historical site. The Spanish recorded that the island changed according to the weather, as it still does today. | |
| Dive Description | |
| Sand Key is a beautiful sand island, made up of crushed coral and small shells. The lighthouse is visible from miles away, so anyone can easily boat here. Snorkeling is excellent on the leeward (shoreward) side of the island. The northwest corner is best for beginners. The good diving is oceanside. Sand Key is one of the most popular sites in the Lower Keys, so one should expect visitors at the site. Rock fingers and gullies characterize the reef surrounding the island. Shallow patches, with elkhorn coral reaching toward the surface, are close into the island. Further out, ledges drop away from 45 to 70 feet. Grouper, barracuda, and loggerhead turtle are seen in that range. |
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| Divesite info by: Jonathan Brinkman | |
Divelog for Sand Key
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