Florida·United States
Photo: National Park Service · Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Dry Tortugas National Park protects a cluster of small islands and reefs at the end of the Florida Keys, dominated by the vast brick walls of Fort Jefferson. Its reefs are among the healthiest in Florida, with big groupers, sea turtles and the Windjammer wreck in shallow water.
In season: Apr–Jun · Peak: May–Jun
Easy snorkelling from the beach around the fort's moat wall, and boat dives on outer reefs and wrecks. There are no services on the islands beyond a primitive campground.
Shallow reef around a brick fort seventy miles from Key West
An 1875 sailing ship on the bank in twenty feet of water
The outer island reef, boat access only
Take the daily ferry or seaplane from Key West, or book a liveaboard to reach the outer reefs. Snorkel the moat wall on arrival, and camp on Garden Key to dive at dawn and dusk.
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