This dive site, French Reef, is a Sanctuary Protected Area located about seven miles southeast of Key Largo, Florida. It's renowned for its intricate underwater topography featuring winding channels and numerous enjoyable swim-throughs, making navigation a delightful challenge, as local guides quip, 'If you haven’t been lost on French, you haven’t dove French.' This labyrinthine structure adds an adventurous dimension to diving here, appealing to those who enjoy exploring unique reef formations. Its protected status ensures the preservation of its natural beauty.
While not specifying exact species, the site boasts a 'large variety of wildlife and coral.' Divers can expect to encounter diverse reef fish such as snappers, groupers, parrotfish, and angelfish, alongside various types of hard and soft corals forming the unique landscape. Smaller macro life like crustaceans and nudibranchs are also likely to be found within the reef's nooks and crannies, typical of a healthy Florida Keys reef system.
With depths ranging from 15 to 40 feet (approximately 4.5 to 13 meters), French Reef is suitable for divers of various experience levels, though its navigation complexity suggests an intermediate skill set is beneficial. Its shallow average depth of 6 meters also makes it highly suitable for both snorkeling and freediving, allowing ample bottom time to explore its unique features. The best time to visit aligns with typical Florida Keys diving seasons, offering good conditions generally year-round, with calmer seas outside of hurricane season (June-November).
