Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is the largest protection measure for the coral reef in the Florida Keys. In the late 1980s there was a high rate of large vessel groundings on the reef, causing alarm in the diving community and beyond. Lots of coral was destroyed by the groundings, and this added to the growing concern over polluted waters washing over the coral and in Florida Bay created the drive for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

In fact, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary covers ground that’s already protected by other, smaller sanctuaries. Divers just need to know to look for yellow marker balls, which designate Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs). Inside the SPAs, there is no anchoring, and it’s a no-take zone.

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary also designates research-only areas on the reef, located at Looe Key, Conch Reef, Tennessee Reef, and Eastern Sambo. You cannot dive the marked areas at these spots.

Areas designated by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary also include Ecological Reserve areas, which have the tightest rules yet. These areas are located at Western Sambo in Key West, and at Dry Tortugas.