Name: Hens & Chicken Reef
Rating: 5.0

Florida

Monroe County

Divers will travel far and wide to find the best diving. But those who live in the United States have plenty of great diving on their doorstep as well, with plentiful access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. From warm-water reefs to temperate seas, here are some of the top places to scuba dive in the United States.

United States





Hens & Chicken Reef is also known as Hens'n Chicken.

Islamorada

Hens & Chicken Reef



4.5 miles from Snake Creek.
5.5 miles SE of Windley Key.

Crocker Reef

This dive site is in a Sanctuary Preservation Area, no fishing or lobstering allowed!

Davis reef is well known for its schools of fish; and the small Buddha statue that was placed here in 1989.

3 miles E-SE of Hens & Chickens Tower. 5 miles W of Snake Creek.

Davis Reef is also known as Davis Ledge.

Davis Reef

Good patches is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in USA, Florida, Keys, Upper Keys which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Good patches

30' single hull diesel 

On 4/02/2010 I went to coordinates N24'53.111  W80 31.320. This site is in 170 feet of water. John.

20min out of the coast north-east of islamorada

Captain Grumphy

Site D Coral Reef is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in USA, Florida, Keys, Upper Keys which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Site D Coral Reef

The Eagle is a 269 feet long freighter which was sunk (December 19th, 1985) intentionally near Lower Matecumbe Key, Florida, to become an artificial reef and diving spot.

It was split in two by hurricane Georges in september 1998. A distance of about 100 feet now separates the two halves.

History:
1962 - Built for Danish shipowners J. Lauritzen at Bijkers Shipyard, Gorinchem, The Netherlands; named 'Raila Dan'. 
1969 - Sold to Dutch shipping company 'Poseidon' and renamed 'Barok'. 
1974 - Sold again, renamed Carmela. 
19xx - Renamed Ytai 
19xx - Renamed Etai 
1981 - Sold and renamed Carigulf Pioneer 
19xx - Sold and renamed Arron K. 
1985 October 6th - Arron K. damaged by fire when sailing from Miami to Venezuela; superstructure damaged beyond economical repair 
1985 December 19th - Renamed Eagle Tire Co. and sunk as an artificial reef near Lower Matecumbe Key, Florida by the Upper Keys Artificial Reef Association 
1998 September - Split in two by hurricane Georges 


4.5 miles SE of Islamorada. Midway between Crocker Reef and Alligator light.

The Eagle Wreck is also known as Raila Dan, Barok, Carmela,  Etai, Ytai, Carigulf Pioneer, Arron K.

The Eagle Wreck

Conch Reef contains a Sanctuary Preservation Area, no fishing or lobstering allowed.

3.5 Miles SW of Pickles Reef and 7 miles from Snake Creek.

Conch Reef

"The name honors the U.S. Navy schooner Alligator, part of the U. S. Navy Anti-Piracy Squadron that had recently been established in Key West, which went aground at this location in 1822. The Alligator was blown up after removing as much as possible from it to prevent it from being used by pirates. Countless vessels have also sunk here on the reef's jagged coral. This lighthouse cost $185,000 to build at that time. To support the tower, a 2,000 lb (900 kg) hammer was used to drive the 12" (300 mm) iron pilings ten feet (3 m) into the coral." Source: wikipedia.org

"Alligator Reef is a small bank reef with some transitional reef features. It is located between the shallow reefs of the Upper Keys and the deeper, drowned reefs of the Middle Keys, and lies approximately 3.5 nautical miles (7km) southeast of Upper Matecumbe Key." It has a lighthouse that it is visible from the highway between Mile Markers 77 and 80, in a good visibility day." Source: floridakeys.noaa.gov

Alligator Reef

Located to the southeast of Alligator reef, this is a deeper spur and groove system with a slow drop off to a ledge with a maximum depth of 95ft.



Alligator Deep

The Duane sunk in 1987. She sits upright in 120 feet of water.

Vessel size:
- length: 327 feet
- beam: 41 foot

6 miles offshore, approx 1 mile south of Molasses Reef tower dive site.

The Duane Wreck is also known as USCG Duane.

The Duane Wreck

Islamorada Dive Center

Florida Keys Dive Center

Capt. Slate's Scuba Adventures

Conch Republic Divers

Seamonkeys Watersports

Key Dives

Scuba Fun

Sea Dwellers Dive Center, Inc.

BlueWater Divers

Rainbow Reef Dive Center

Beautifully clear water with a wide variety of sea life. I saw nurse sharks, loggerheads, barracuda, yellow tale snapper, eel, angelfish. 

Hens & Chicken Reef

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Hens & Chicken Reef