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Wreck your day
Key Largo is home to some of the most famous wrecks in the world. Hard-core wreck enthusiasts will love the deep wrecks such as the Spiegel Grove and the Duane.
Most dive shops require divers to be at OHDVW $GYDQFHG 2SHQ :DWHU FHUWLÀHG DQG diving with a computer to do these dives. Beyond the depth, what can make these dives challenging are currents. The Gulf 6WUHDP FDQ EH YHU\ ÀFNOH 6RPH GD\V GLYHUV FDQ ÁRDW DURXQG WKH ZUHFNV OLNH EXWWHUÁLHV DQG RWKHU GD\V WKH\·OO EH ÁDSSLQJ RQ WKH DVFHQW GHVFHQW OLQH OLNH ÁDJV WKHLU EXEEOHV streaming out horizontally. If you are less experienced, you may be able hire a guide to take you. (Tip: wear gloves since the lines DUH SHUPDQHQW DQG FDQ KDYH ÀUH FRUDO EDUQDFOHV DQG WKH RFFDVLRQDO ÀVKKRRN embedded in them.)
But it's not just the deep wrecks that attract divers. The waters of Key Largo are littered with wrecks at shallower depths that are great for novice divers, too! You could spend a week diving the wrecks of this area and still not see them all.
The USS Spiegel Grove
Undoubtedly the Mack Daddy of Key Largo wrecks, the Spiegel Grove is a 510 foot long Navy Landing Ship Dock scuttled in 2002. The sinking didn't go exactly as SODQQHG DQG WKH VKLS VSHQW WKH ÀUVW WKUHH \HDUV RI LWV WHQXUH DV DQ DUWLÀFLDO UHHI RQ LWV side. In 2005, Hurricane Dennis passed by. A testament to Mother Nature's strength, the force of currents from the storm righted WKH VKLS WR LWV FXUUHQW VWDWH RQ WKH VHD ÁRRU The ship rests in about 130 feet of water. It's approximately 100 feet to the deck although most of the ship is between 80 and 90. There are great swim throughs. And LI \RX ORRN KDUG HQRXJK \RX PLJKW ÀQG the Snoopy mural. Sharks and barracudas regularly patrol the Spiegel Grove. You GHÀQLWHO\ QHHG PXOWLSOH GLYHV WR VHH DOO RI this wreck.
40 ScubaSport The William J. Duane
A school of barracuda like to extend a toothy welcome to divers as they descend on this 329 foot Coast Guard Treasury Class Cutter that was sunk in 1987. At the time it was decommissioned, it was the oldest active U.S. military vessel and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It is about 130 feet to the sand where the Duane sits upright. Superstructure can be found at around 50 feet. Since this wreck has been down for some time it is festooned with corals. This ship also has areas prepared for divers to be able to access rooms and decks. Divers can often see large marine life including a resident goliath grouper that really lives up to its name.
The USCGC George M. Bibb is a sister ship to the Duane. It was sunk the day after the Duane but ended up on her starboard