Looe Key Reef is rated one of the top ten reefs in the world, and some feel it may be the best dive in the Keys. This spur-and-groove reef has a clean, sandy bottom, 15-30 feet deep, with coral fingers coming up 15 to 25 feet from the sea floor - and the shallowest part of the reef comes all the way to the surface. Numerous gullies, caverns and coral formations give home to all types of tropical fish, large and small. Underwater photography, even with a disposable underwater camera, can be spectacular.
The reef is only 4 to 5 miles offshore, due south of the Newfound Harbor Channel entrance. Since 1981, Looe Key has been federally protected as a National Marine Sanctuary, and no spearfishing or tropical fish collecting are allowed. Numerous moorings are available - anchoring is prohibited because it is so damaging to the reef.

If you're interested in going out on a dive boat, check out Reef Divers website. Capt. Jim Wyatt comes highly recommended. He has been a SCUBA instructor for over 25 years and is a former U.S. Navy Diving and Salvage Officer. Whether you're a non-diver just taking a resort SCUBA course, a new diver just getting your first openwater checkout, an experienced diver taking a Specialty Course like Night or Wreck Diving, or an advanced diver taking a Nitrox course, Jim can certify you.
Capt. Wyatt's 2 dive boats handle only 6 divers per boat, so you're not part of a crowd of tanks and elbows. The boats make trips to Looe Key anytime the weather will allow, plus an occasional deep dive, wreck dive or night dive to keep it interesting. Jim and his crew are known to be helpful and friendly, and a free underwater guide is available with advance arrangements.

The wreck of the Adolphus Busch sits upright in 50 to 100 feet, with the main deck at 80' of water and a maximum depth of 108'. It's a 210' steel freighter sunk in Dec. 1998, and offers a controlled wreck dive that open water divers with some experience will enjoy. Wreck diving is a unique experience that you'll really enjoy. You might wish to be "Wreck Diver" certified, or go for more bottom time with Nitrox certification. Nitrox is slightly higher in O₂ and therefore less saturated with nitrogen, meaning a little less nitrogen in the diver's blood system when it's time to surface. End result: more bottom time. Nitrox diving requires specialty training and special tank fills.
The coordinates are 13968.0 - 43547.9 - 2431.841 - 8127.688, for those who have a GPS, and it is well marked. While diving, keep an eye out for the friendly resident 350 pound Jewfish who lives on the wreck.