Conch Wall
One of the few places in the Florida Keys where the reef forms anything resembling a vertical wall, Conch Wall is a nice change of pace. Dropping steeply from 60 to 90ft, this is one of the deepest living reefs in the Florida Keys. The wall is festooned with deepwater sea fans and several species of barrel sponges, including giant, leathery and green barrel sponges. You’ll see lots of red and purple finger sponges, too.
Angelfish, parrotfish, wrasses and other reef fish are plentiful along the wall, but it’s the possibility of seeing larger animals that cranks the excitement of diving here up a notch. Big jacks, like the speedy crevalle jacks, are nearly always around. Greater amberjacks and permits show up from time to time, while you’ll likely spot several species of grouper, including black, Nassau and yellowfin groupers.
Drift dive Conch Wall when a current is running—which is most of the time—and you’ll feel like you’re flying. Choosing your entry point and timing your descent can be tricky, but then you can relax and go with the flow. Toward the end of your dive, you can either ascend directly to a safety stop or head up a prominent sand chute to shallower water atop Conch Reef.
Reproduced with permission from Diving & Snorkeling Florida Keys 2001 Lonely Plant Publications www.lonelyplanet.com