John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
The first undersea park in the United States, created in 1963 off Key Largo, with a bronze Christ statue standing on the reef.
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The park was established in 1963 as the first undersea park in the country, after a campaign led by a newspaper editor against reef destruction by collectors and construction interests; it now adjoins the much larger Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Christ of the Abyss, a bronze copy of a statue in the Mediterranean off Italy, stands in about eight metres of water on Key Largo Dry Rocks and is the most-visited single feature - snorkellers reach it by boat. The reef is living coral with about six hundred fish species, but it has suffered badly: bleaching events, disease and the 2023 marine heatwave have caused severe loss, and restoration groups are outplanting nursery-grown coral.
What you actually see
- The first US undersea park - created in 1963.
- Christ of the Abyss - a bronze in about eight metres of water.
- Living reef - with roughly six hundred fish species.
- Restoration outplanting - nursery-grown coral being replaced.
When to go
December to April for calmer water and visibility. A full day.
Honest expectations
Reef condition has declined severely from bleaching and disease - it is not what older photographs show. Boat trips cancel in wind and visibility varies. Sunscreen chemicals damage coral; reef-safe products are expected. Hurricane season affects late summer.
Nearby
Key Largo runs south; Everglades National Park is north-west.
What to pack for John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
