Marathon, with its stunning underwater landscapes and a variety of on-land activities, is a destination that caters to both diving enthusiasts and those seeking a well-rounded Florida Keys experience.

The combination of underwater wonders and on-land attractions makes the Lower Keys a well-rounded destination for nature lovers and water enthusiasts alike.

The Bahamas is known as the “Wreck Capital of the Caribbean”. With thousands of sunken hulks buried beneath the sand and reef, about 50 wrecks are safely accessible to divers. Most of them surround New Providence Island and were sunk by Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas over the last 30 years. Some have been moved from Nassau Harbor, others sunk intentionally, but the result is still the same: giving divers a new thrill and the ocean a new reef.

Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas is renowned for incredible reef and dramatic wall diving surrounding the island of Nassau.

Dive Key Largo’s U.S.S. Spiegel Grove

Dive Islamorada’s Crown Jewel: The Eagle

Once you’ve ticked off the many impressive sites in Key Largo, Islamorada and Marathon, you’ll arrive in yet another natural Florida Keys wonderland — the Lower Keys. A stunning swath of the archipelago that curves gently westward on its way to the end of the road in Key West, the Lower Keys is a destination all its own. And there’s tons of fun to discover here, both below the water’s surface and above.

All the elements of an idyllic dive vacation in the Florida Keys come together where the Overseas Highway comes to a dramatic finish in Key West. Here, you’re at the southernmost point of the United States, and worlds away from the mainland when it comes to attitude and stress level — after all, Key West is closer to Cuba than Miami. The United States is at its most Caribbean here, and not just in the pastel-hued bungalows and crystal-clear waters, but in Key West’s casual approach to life as a whole too. The Florida Keys’ dining scene is at its most sophisticated and diverse here. And if you think the diving opportunities dwindle out at the end of the road, you’d be dead wrong. One of the most exciting wrecks of the Florida Keys Wreck Trek awaits divers who descend on the General Hoyt S. Vandenberg. And day-trippers can head offshore from Key West to one of the most fascinating national parks in the United States within the islands of the Dry Tortugas. Read on for more ways to maximize your time diving and simply enjoying all the pleasures of Key West.