Revision 2/02/2012 2:38 PM
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Alligator Reef
 Key Largo, FL |
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Alligator Reef Alligator Reef is one of the largest reef
systems in the Upper Keys. In the 1960s, a study of Alligator Reef
found and identified more than 500 species of marine life. The reef
arose around a wrecked ship; the USS Alligator built in 1820, which
went down in 1825 while on a Navy mission. This 86-foot ship was
attempting to protect a convoy from being raided by pirates. Salvaged
after going aground, the crew decided it would be best to blow up the
ship in order to protect her from further pirating. The remains of the
ship are two piles of ballast stones but the surrounding reef is one of
the largest in the area.
Alligator Reef is located six miles south-southwest of Windley Key
and can be easily identified by the reigning 136-foot tall lighthouse
tower. The dive site is a great place for underwater exploring and has
many crevices and ravines that beg the diver to investigate. Upon
further discovery, the diver will be able to identify hard and soft
corals, several shells and a plethora of tropical fish. The depths of
the dive range from a shallow eight feet all the way down to forty
feet.
Alligator Reef is a Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA). The SPA covers
.2 square nautical miles and contains portions of the northeast rubble
ridge, the reef crest, and some of the spur and groove system present
in the reef. Mooring buoys mark off the area that is heavily used
especially by commercial divers. Activity is rarely restricted for
recreational diving as the commercial sectors are blocked off and very
few are displaced.
Just 300 yards west-southwest of Alligator Reef is Alligator Gully.
Alligator Gully is a great place to dive to see an abundance of Marine
life, coral-studded ledges 8-28 feet high, and sweeping coral valleys.