Info on Alligator reef

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MSPDiver

Contributor
Messages
305
Reaction score
17
Location
Forest Hill, MD
# of dives
500 - 999
Has anyone been to Aligator reef or Aligator deep in Islamorada lately? What are the condition of the reef?
 
I was there a few days ago and the viz was very nice. I might go today and if I do I will update you.
 
What can i expect to see? Have you seen any hammerheads or other sharks at these locations, how about Eagle Rays? Thanks
 
Nurse sharks all the time, rays once in a while, turtles sometimes. It is a shallow dive (25 ft) with nice inverted ledges and plentiful healthy fauna.
 
The Alligator Reef (SPA) area is on the shallow side - max 35' ish, but if you go South East of the lower mooring (In the following link):http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/research_monitoring/alligator.html you will hit the ledge the gradually drops of to 90'

If this this what you are looking for the topography on Crocker or Conch Wall is the same if not better.

What about the deep wall section? I have read that it gets as deep as 90ft?
 
Kidsdream, have you ever seen a large palegics at the locations you mention? I am looking to put myself in the best position possible to see eagle rays, reef shark and may be a hammerhead. I am going in July and have approimately 6 dives in the Islamorada area. Can you recomend a place to possible see the above. Thanks
 
Kidsdream, have you ever seen a large palegics at the locations you mention? I am looking to put myself in the best position possible to see eagle rays, reef shark and may be a hammerhead. I am going in July and have approimately 6 dives in the Islamorada area. Can you recomend a place to possible see the above. Thanks

If that is the case you may want to drive several hundred miles north to Jupiter....

Eagle Rays...best seen in north Key Largo.

Reefies.... In my expereince the most consistent in the Keys is the deep edge of French Reef. They are really skiddish and you will need a day of great vis and a little luck to see a few scootin' off in the distance.

Hammerheads....I cant tell you the number of dives I have done in Keys.... hundreds. Number of hammerheads I have encountered = zero. I'm not saying it wont happen, but if it does you are very, very, very fortunate. You have much better odds of running into a bull shark.

Im curious as to why you seek i nformation about Alligator Reef. It's an ok dive site, but harldy a reef I would chose for big animals. If your goal is to see big predators your odds are far better at the Duane and Bibb or Molassis and French Reefs.
 
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As Matt said, Jupiter is the place to go if you want to see reef sharks (and Turtles). The reef up there itself is not so colorful but it is definitely sharky. But even there, Hammerheads are quite uncommon. I have only seen one in all my Florida dives (in Key Largo actually)

Now the Upper Keys are much better for Eagle Rays. You are more likely to see a couple off the deeper slopes or far North at Carysfort. That said, the biggest group fly-bys I have seen are always at Mo' (don't know why). Seems like the Gray reefs have been around a bit more around French and Mo', but still not a common occurrence.

Taken at Mo'
Keys+Eagle+Ray+1.jpg


Remember seeing the big stuff is always a privilege and on any particular week you may get skunked.

Kidsdream, have you ever seen a large palegics at the locations you mention? I am looking to put myself in the best position possible to see eagle rays, reef shark and may be a hammerhead. I am going in July and have approimately 6 dives in the Islamorada area. Can you recomend a place to possible see the above. Thanks
 
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The reason I ask about Alligator is because I have never been there. I have about 30 dives in the Key Largo/ Islamorada area. My trip this year is going to include the SG, Duane, Eagle, Mo night dive and several shallow reefs in Islamorada area. I have done Davis reef (Twice), Hens Chicken. Rocky Top and PAtch A and B. I am wordering what sites you guys suggest in Islamorada. It is our own private charter so I call the shots. As far as the big guys I have dove Ft. LAuderdale several times, the reefs were very disapointing. Wreck diving was nice but nothing big (fish wise). As for Jupiter, I am looking into retiring at that location.
 

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