Pennekamp Park
MM 102.5 Oceanside
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park was created in 1960 through efforts of its namesake during the 1950s. The park stretches from the Ocean Reef area in upper Key Largo, to Rodriquez Key, just south of Key Largo. From shore, it goes out six miles to the reef and of course includes the main reef within its boundaries.
Key Largo has an extensive network of flats areas around the island, and shallow water makes for easy underwater viewing. Key Largo is also closer to the Gulf Stream than other parts of the Florida Keys, so the water is clearer more of the time. Key Largo is also one of the larger keys in the chain of islands, and therefore provides more protection for flats, coral and marine life in general.
The Park has a dive center, but there are also private dive boats that take divers out to the coral reef in Key Largo. The marina inside John Pennekamp State Park has regular trips out to the reef, morning or afternoon to the most popular spots. These include:
All the above dives are less than sixty feet in depth. If you haven’t gone scuba diving in the last three years, you will have to take a refresher course.
