Spanish Anchor
Conditions & tides
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Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
Spanish Anchor is a dive on Molasses Reef, marked as buoy M22, off Key Largo in the Florida Keys. It lies at about 20 to 35 ft (6 to 11 m), and is suited to Open Water divers.
The anchor. The site takes its name from a historic eight foot anchor, encrusted with coral growth, that is likely from a Spanish colonial vessel. It rests among coral formations, and the surrounding bottom is made up of spur and groove reef with plenty of marine life.
The boat ride from Key Largo takes about 30 minutes, and boats tie off to a mooring buoy because anchoring is not allowed in the Sanctuary Preservation Area. The Molasses Reef Light, a steel tower, marks the reef as you approach. Current is usually absent here and visibility is typically good, so it is an easy site for newer divers.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
Spotted DragonetDiplogrammus pauciradiatusReported here · unconfirmed
Clown GobyMicrogobius gulosusReported here · unconfirmed
ScorpionfishScorpionfishReported here · unconfirmed
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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