Among divers and snorkelers, the Florida Keys enjoy a reputation as where American waters turn tropical, making the island chain a prime spot for underwater adventure. One of the better-known sites for divers and snorkelers alike is Molasses Reef, a vibrant underwater habitat off Key Largo. That location near the eastern end of the Florida Keys make it a destination not just for visitors to the Keys, but for those in Miami as well.

Physical Features

Molasses Reef is hard to miss from the surface, since a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather station is located right next to it. The site has roughly 40 permanent mooring buoys along its length, so no visiting boat need ever drop an anchor and risk damaging the coral. The north end of the reef is in about 10 to 15 feet of water, making it suitable for snorkelers. As the reef travels to the southwest, it deepens down to 70 feet, so that area is better for novice and intermediate divers. The area also hosts an old shipwreck, which is now mostly just a pile of ballast stones, although the anchor and a large winch remain identifiable.

Snorkeling Tours

Most of the dive centers in Key Largo, such as Keys Diver and Snorkel Center ( or the Amoray Dive Resort ( also operate snorkeling tours to Molasses Reef. However, Molasses Reef might not be on the itinerary of a dive center for a particular day, so some calling around might be necessary to find a boat going there. Most of these tours are usually half-day affairs visiting one to three snorkeling sites, and include only a rental snorkeling kit.

Diving Tours

All diving centers on Key Largo send boats out to Molasses Reef, but as with the snorkeling boat tours, a given center might not visit the reef on a particular day. The typical boat dive tour is a two-tank trip visiting Molasses Reef and one other dive site. The reef is also a Key Largo area destination for night diving, usually a one-tank trip. Another option is to charter a private trip, such as those offered by Blue Water Divers (, and spend as much time as desired on Molasses Reef.

Marine Life

The reef itself is made up of elkhorn, star, brain and fire corals, as well as sea fans and sponges, creating a vibrant underwater landscape. In the cracks and crevasses of the corals crabs, lobsters and eels all make their homes. Colorful angelfish, spadefish and coral-eating parrotfish are all common sights on the reef. Sea turtles sometimes appear in the area, and an attentive diver or snorkeler might see a stingray hiding in the sandy bottoms around the reef. Placid nurse sharks sometimes seek shelter beneath the reef's overhangs and in its small caves.

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