Clear water, shallow depths and an incredible array of vibrant coral and marine life help make Molasses Reef one of the most popular dive and snorkel sites in the United States. Visibility can reach up to an astounding 100 feet, boasting some of the best underwater views in the state that keep swimmers -- atop the water or below the surface -- coming back for more.
Molasses Reef is part of the Florida Reef Tract, the only living barrier reef in the continental United States. About 5,000 square feet of Molasses Reef was destroyed when a freighter ran aground there in 1984, but a team of marine specialists transplanted coral clippings from other reefs in 2003 and the area has thrived. The great visibility throughout Molasses Reef is because of its shallow depths -- much of the reef is in 15 to 30 feet of water, although it goes as deep as 70 feet -- and its proximity to the Gulf Stream, which clears some contaminants from the water.
Pretty much every dive shop in Key Largo goes to Molasses Reef on a regular basis. Silent World Dive Center and Horizon Divers are two well-known options, and both limit the number of passengers on the boat so you're not stumbling over other people to get into the water. Most dive shops choose the sites they'll visit based on weather and water conditions, so it's a good idea to call a day ahead and ask if they're planning to go to Molasses Reef before booking your spot. Make it clear you want to hit Molasses; the staff may not be able to guarantee anything, but most charters take site requests into consideration.
Once you're in the waters of Molasses Reef, prepare to be dazzled. Snorkelers should stay in the northern section of the reef, where the reef's spur and groove coral formations sit in depths ranging between 15 and 40 feet -- making for some of the best visibility in the Keys. You'll swim above huge brain coral colonies, staghorn coral, star coral and more, and will be able to spot the grunts, jacks, angelfish, parrotfish and sea turtles that frequent the area.
Divers can swim here or head south to deeper areas. This is the domain of nurse sharks, and you'll likely spot some goliath grouper. The fire coral caves are a series of small swim-through caves where parrotfish and angelfish hang out, and you can enter the larger swim-through cave known as the Hole in the Wall. Nearby, you can see remnants of past shipwrecks, such as a winch and an old Spanish anchor.
