Eastern Dry Rocks - There are four marked areas right in front of Key West for snorkeling and diving. Eastern Dry Rocks is one of them, and is not only a marked diving area with boueys, but also a Sanctuary Protected Area, or SPA. That means the boundaries within large yellow boueys is off-limits for taking fish, coral, or any other form of life. No fishing, no spearfishing...just snorkeling and diving. This makes it an excellent destination for a great afternoon of diving for any visitor to Key West. It's on the coral reef so you'll see both hard and soft coral, reef fish, and whatever else is passing through the reef on that day. The variety and visual beauty of fish here on Eastern Dry Rocks is splendid and you could take several trips out to this part of the reef and see something different each time. It never gets old!
In Summer, giant Tarpon hang around Eastern Dry Rocks. They are awesome to see from in the water, and not dangerous. They cruise the outer edge and the dropoff of the reef so swim in that direction if you'd like to see these behemoth fish. Other great fish that you might see on Eastern Dry Rocks include Permit, Jewfish (now called Goliath Grouper) Nurse Sharks (don't worry: they are not aggressive) spotted eagle rays and all sorts of exciting fast-swimming jacks, plus the usual suspects: colorful reef fish like parrotfish, angel fish, Sargent Majors and the like.
|
