Looe Key Reef Health: healthier than Key Largo Reefs?

[MannyDib2]

Just got back from diving shallow reefs in Key Largo. Enjoyed the dives but the reefs seemed pretty beat up. All the Elkhorn and Lettuce Leaf coral I saw was dead. Sadly its not what it was 20 years ago.
Are the reefs in Looe Key any healthier?

 

[MrChen]

Out of curiosity, which dives sites did you do?

 

[MannyDib2]

Out of curiosity, which dives sites did you do?

Eagle Ray Alley
Can't remember
Minnow Cave
Christ of the Abyss

 

[js1221]

My dive buddy did Looe Key last year with his son and said the diving was terrible. According to him everything looked dead or dying, visibility was terrible and there was no marine life, save a few fish. He now says “no” to any diving in the Keys. Again, this is third party so take it for what it’s worth.

 

[MannyDib2]

My dive buddy did Looe Key last year with his son and said the diving was terrible. According to him everything looked dead or dying, visibility was terrible and there was no marine life, save a few fish. I now says “no” to any diving in the Keys. Again, this is third party so take it for what it’s worth.

Ya, I was just reading some articles saying Looe Key was hit hard as well. Heart breaking. Not just for the reef but everyone who's livelihood depends on the tourist money it brings.

I was actually doing coral planting dives with I.Care down in Islamorada. Great experience. Highly recommend.

Coral Restoration Dives | Key Dives

Dive into conservation with Key Dives! Join our Coral Restoration Dives to help rebuild vibrant reefs & protect marine life.Book a dive with a purpose today!

keydives.com

https://www.icareaboutcoral.org/

They do them in Key Largo too

https://www.coralrestoration.org/dive-programs

 

[MannyDib2]

So this begs the question: is anywhere in the Caribbean not trashed?

 

[PBcatfish]

The basic site here, huff post, is not one I put a lot of faith in because they tend to be slanted & I've seen them flip flop on issues in the past, but this piece about keys reefs has some information that seems noteworthy -

They're Desperately Trying To Save This Animal — And It Isn’t Working

Rebuilding degraded coral reefs started as a noble endeavor, but now some coral scientists are confronting a dark reality.

www.huffpost.com

 

[Sophie Diver]

Just a bit further south in Islamorada (Tavernier) they dive sites like Victory and Crocker, Hens & Chickens etc. Better than Key Largo by a mile. I always dive with Conch Republic Divers. Sure they come up to the Key Largo sites too but not always.