Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is important not because you can go scuba diving here, but because it is an important part of the coral reef ecosystem. Everglades National Park provides protection for the nursery of the coral reefs. That is, the Everglades are where many of the fish on the main reef begin their lives. Baby fish and invertebrates thrive here because there’s a constant flow of water which is necessary to sea grass. Sea Grass in Florida Bay is where fish grow up before they head out to the Atlantic and the coral reef.

If you’re in the Upper Keys, Everglades National Park is a wonderful day trip if you take a break for a day from scuba. You can drive up to Homestead, FL and enter the Park through the entrances near Homestead. There are trails, birds everywhere especially in winter, and alligators everywhere! There are flats fishing trips out of Everglades National Park, too. Visitor Centers are throughout the park as well.