The Gulf side of Key West has its own charm.
Well, after the Vandenberg was sunk, we headed west, just past Sand Key. The vis was 60 foot, at least, and we had a sweet spot for viewing all sorts of fish that showed up. Most interesting was a big Remora. Lots of speedos showed up, and they are great to watch because they travel in large schools and move fast. The picture doesn’t capture that totally, so you’ll just have to go snorkeling yourself to see them!
Lots of places have public sculpture, and many tropical islands have coral reef near their shores. But Key West has both. Star Gazer Reef is a huge network of steel sculpture installed in the sand near the main reef. It’s been there long enough now that coral heads have grown on the table-like structure. There are now resident fish under the “roof” of Star Gazer, and most recently a Goliath Grouper (Jewfish).
Star Gazer Reef is lots of fun to dive or snorkel. The dark lines of the steel legs stand out against the white sand making for nice pictures. It also makes it easy to find the Jewfish. Look for a pair of huge Angel Fish, too. They are platter-sized!
Star Gazer reef is located near the main reef, six miles southwest of Key West, near Sand Key. There’s a mouring buoy there for easy access. It’s definitely worth a visit, for its uniqueness and almost guaranteed sighting of a Goliath Grouper.
