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Drift Diving Is Fun And
Challenging At The Gap

The Gap is a mid to deep Florida Keys dive that is aptly named as one does exist in the shelf.

It starts at around 50 feet and rapidly slopes downward 30 vertical feet.

Since the Florida Keys diving site has a rather strong current, drift diving can be quite good here. However, it can also make this part of the reef less advisable for the novice diver.

As you descend the rapid slope of the wall, you'll be able to see a good assortment of larger sponges.

The deeper levels also will produce a better variety of game fish and other species including sunshine fish that you don't usually see at the shallower reef sites.

Spectacular Water Views Are a Highlight at Beaches in Key West


Goliath Grouper Swims With Smaller Fish
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At-A-Glance Reef Dive Description
and GPS Coordinates

Name
The Gap
Location
4 miles south-southeast of Key Colony Beach
GPS Co-ordinates
24'39.960 N 080'58.310 W
Level
Novice - Intermediate
Depth
50 - 80'
Visibility
Good
Reef Site Description
This Florida Keys diving site has a wall located on the outside that drops off rather rapidly. This is a particularly good dive site for ledge or drift diving because of the strong current. The inside of this Florida Keys coral reef has a gradual slope and is better for novice divers and snorkelers
Snorkel Site
Inside of reef
Marine Life
10 - 15' high coral heads, numerous tropical and game fish, ocean sponges, jacks, barracuda, yellowtail, star coral, wrasses, schoolmasters, grunts, sea fans and plumes. Deeper levels you can see the larger game fish and pelagic species, spiny lobster




If you're scuba diving Florida Keys and looking for something a bit different, this is certainly one of the better places to go. Plus there's enough diversity in marine life, structure and depth to make it a more interesting and challenging Marathon scuba diving site.

This Marathon dive site is also near Pillar Patch or Pillar City which is found a few miles to the northeast. The towering coral has become considerably degraded over the years due to vandalism and anchors dropping on it.

It's not a major scuba dive Florida Keys spot, but the local dive charter companies do frequent it. As a scuba diver, Pillar Patch gives you a good final stop off for the day, especially after you've spent time dealing with the stronger current found at this Marathon dive site.



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Local Weather Zip Codes

Key Largo - 33037
Marathon - 33050
Key West - 33040
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