Sand Key is one of the most popular diving and snorkelling locations near Key West.

Name Dive Site:	Sand Key
Depth:	9-72ft (3-22m)
Accessibility:	Boat, Live-aboard
Inserted/Added by:	lars, © Author: Lars Hemel
Rated:	Rated not yet
Specifications:

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Sand Key is a small island created by a tiny strip of sand with some spectacular coral formations and reefs around it. It is made of pieces of crushed coral and shells and is known to change with the weather, creating different dive sites each time you come here. Its first light tower was built of brick and destroyed in 1846. Its current 110 foot high red iron lighthouse built in 1853 is easy to find and serves as a great navigation point. It can be climbed on clear days with some spectacular views of Key West. Less than seven miles southwest of Key West it is famous for snorkellers and divers alike. Its inner shoreward (leeward) coral reefs are crowded with snorkellers while divers often visit the waters at the southern ocean side. A small Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA) is marked by floating orange buoys to make sure that the marine habitat doesn't decay.

There are more than 20 mooring buoys used by boats as anchoring is forbidden, all different dive and snorkel sites. Near the drop-off between 40 and 65 feet you can see several pelagic species such as barracuda cruising around searching for food. Fire coral, elkhorn coral, groupers, morays and several types of baitfish can be found all over the place while sand channels are great to test your navigational skills. Nurse sharks, loggerhead turtles and eagle rays have been known to visit Sand Key as well.

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