Sand Key

Sand Key Reef is a protected coral reef located approximately 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Key West, Florida, recognizable from the surface by its historic red iron lighthouse built in 1853. The reef is part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the Sand Key Sanctuary Preservation Area, and it is noted for naturally shifting and changing shape with weather and ocean conditions over time.

The reef features a spur-and-groove formation, where coral ridges alternate with sandy channels. Shallow coral gardens suit snorkelers and beginners, while the deeper southern ledges reach approximately 40 to 65 feet (12 to 20 m) and offer more substantial scuba diving. The reef changes shape naturally with weather and ocean conditions, so each visit differs.

Marine life at Sand Key regularly includes sea turtles, nurse sharks, southern stingrays, barracuda, angelfish, parrotfish, butterflyfish, moray eels, and colorful tropical reef fish, alongside sea fans and vibrant coral gardens throughout the site.