John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

The first underwater park in the United States, protecting the only living coral reef on the US mainland

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park covers around 70 square nautical miles of Atlantic Ocean waters off Key Largo, extending roughly 25 miles along the coast and 3 miles offshore. Established in 1963, it was the first underwater state park in the United States and remains one of the most visited Florida state parks, receiving over a million visitors a year.

The park protects sections of the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States. Divers find elkhorn coral, brain coral, sea fans, and a rich population of reef fish: parrotfish, angelfish, barracuda, and nurse sharks. Snorkellers can access the shallower reef formations without certification. Glass-bottom boat tours run daily from the park marina for those who prefer to stay dry. Above the waterline, the park includes mangrove channels, seagrass beds, and marked kayak trails through the backcountry. Canoe and kayak rental is available at the marina.

things to do sight wildlife
A story
The Christ of the Abyss — an 8.5-foot bronze statue of Jesus with arms raised towards the surface — was placed here in 1965, a replica of a statue that stands in the sea off Portofino, Italy. It rests on sand in 25 feet of water at Key Largo Dry Rocks, and it has become one of the most photographed underwater subjects in the world. The original Italian statue was placed in the Mediterranean in 1954, in memory of Dario Gonzatti, the first Italian to use an aqualung.