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Grecian Rocks
Grecian Rocks is about a mile in from the main reef line and is known as an inner bank reef. The reef profile is an abbreviated version of the spur-and-groove formation so common on the outer reefs. The fore reef is a moderately steep slope, starting near the surface and descending to about 25ft near the mooring buoys on the seaward side. The bottom levels out in flat sand at 28 to 30ft, with scattered clumps of coral trailing away from the reef. Branching corals in the shallows give way to mixed hard and soft corals in the midsection and larger hard corals near the bottom. Fossil coral ridges are exposed in many places, with only a light covering of live coral.
Grecian Rocks is a sanctuary preservation area, which affords it added protection against damage to corals and seagrass, as well as a prohibition against fishing. The populations of reef and predatory fish on Grecian have grown appreciably since the SPA was designated in July 1997. Expect to see almost any of the common Keys reef fish here.
The mooring buoys wrap around the south side of the reef, where a cut forms a deep pass through the corals. The reef south of the pass is known as Banana Reef. Although it is slightly shallower, Banana Reef is similar to Grecian Rocks.
On windy days the back reef at Grecian Rocks is the last refuge of snorkel boats, as the broad, shallow reef provides an excellent lee. On calm days it can still draw a crowd, because it’s such a perfect spot for novice divers. The maximum depth behind the reef is 6ft, but much of the site is 4ft or less. The bottom is mostly sand and beds of turtle grass. At the back edge of the reef is a narrow rubble zone beside the coral shelf that delineates the reef crest. Wave action and high visitor impact have reduced the live coral cover on the reef crest, but it’s still an interesting area. At low tide parts of the reef may be more than a foot out of the water.
First-time snorkelers are usually captivated by the many colorful reef fish that feed along the reef crest, but the sand and seagrass are also full of life. Queen conch are plentiful on the back reef, in addition to hermit crabs, juvenile grunts and snappers, and hundreds of invertebrates. Although the shallow water and sand bottom may tempt you to stand up, please don’t, because every bit of the bottom harbors life of some kind.
Little Grecian, an unmarked shallow reef several hundred yards to the north, is a good alternative for snorkeling if the weather is calm. The reef is a flat dome, about 5ft deep on top and perhaps 12ft deep along the outer edges. Sea fans and other gorgonians are especially numerous amid the smaller hard corals here.
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Reproduced with permission from Diving & Snorkeling Florida Keys 2001 Lonely Plant Publications www.lonelyplanet.com
