Sand Key

Sand Key sits a few miles south of Key West, marked by the Sand Key Light off the outer reef line of the lower Florida Keys. The reef here is part of the barrier reef tract that runs along the Keys, reachable by short boat trips out of Key West. It's a beginner dive with a max depth of around 9.1 metres and generally great visibility over a reef bottom. Nurse sharks are a regular sight here, and divers have also reported angelfish, barracuda, and parrotfish on the reef.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Caribbean Bluehead WrasseThalassoma bifasciatumReported here · unconfirmed
• Bicolor DamselfishStegastes partitusReported here · unconfirmed
• Yellowtail SnapperOcyurus chrysurusReported here · unconfirmed
• Striped ParrotfishScarus iseriReported here · unconfirmed
• Slippery DickHalichoeres bivittatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Redband ParrotfishSparisoma aurofrenatumReported here · unconfirmed
• Yellowhead WrasseHalichoeres garnotiReported here · unconfirmed
• Brazilian Ocean SurgeonfishAcanthurus bahianusReported here · unconfirmed
• Atlantic Blue TangAcanthurus coeruleusReported here · unconfirmed
• White GruntHaemulon plumieriiReported here · unconfirmed
• AngelfishAngelfishReported here · unconfirmed
• ParrotfishParrotfishReported here · unconfirmed
• Nurse sharkNurse sharkConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
• BarracudaBarracudaReported here · unconfirmed