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2015


Rub Buddha's Belly Whilst Diving Davis Reef in the Florida Keys

Published by Kristin Cowles, Editor-in-Chief

Country: United States

The Experience

When a diver visits a dive spot for the first time, the energy leading up to the descent into new and uncharted territory is electrical. Your imagination runs wild with all the possible creatures you might encounter, and you cross your fingers in hope of catching a glimpse of something surprising and unusual. When you dive Davis Reef, Florida Keys you can forget all your lucky charms, as the sheer quantity of marine life is staggering.

They say that the Lower Keys are for partying and the Upper Keys are for diving. The discerning diver, intent on a first-class experience, opts for Ocean Quest Dive Center. With a modest seaside office in Islamorada, the Ocean Quest Dive Center staff's warm and welcoming humour makes you feel immediately part of the gang.

Over half a century of protective management along the 100-mile arc of coral reef, has yielded top-notch Florida Keys diving. With a plethora of quality dive sites to choose from, picking a “best spot” can be rather difficult. Diving Davis Reef is an enlightening experience, literally. Just a few flips away from the massive brain coral, Davis Reef is home to a Buddha statue that is said to bring fertility to those who rub his belly, and knowledge to those who rub his head. Placed here in 1989, the original Buddha statue was stolen a few years back, but its replacement’s powers are alleged to be just as potent.

Diving Davis Reef is the quintessential Florida Keys diving experience. With an average depth of 15–30 ft. it is an easy dive along a lively coral ledge; perfect for novice divers and the navigationally impaired. When diving Davis Reef you will be overwhelmed by the massive schools of grunt fish, grouped together gill-to-gill in the shadows of the coral ledge. At about 5 ft. high, the fascination of diving Davis Reef lies below the ledge’s undercut, where you can often catch a snoozing nurse shark and handfuls of moray eels. If you can manage to tear your attention from the impressive schools of jacks, grunts and goatfish, on closer inspection, the ledge holds clusters of impressive corals, including the distinguished fan coral. With an almost velour-looking purple surface, these extravagant beings can be upwards of 5 ft. in length.

Florida Keys diving is an easily enjoyed world-class experience. The effort that has been put forth to preserve the marine and coral life here is immediately recognizable—a stark contrast to other world dive locations such as Thailand and Indonesia.

I was sweetly surprised.

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When to Go to Dive Florida Keys

The best time of year for Florida Keys diving is May through July. The temperatures during this time of year are between 27°–32°C, and the water is so nice that you can often dive without a wetsuit. Diving into August, September and October is nice as well, but it is also prime hurricane season, so be sure to check ahead that there no tropical storms in the area.

Odds n' Ends

When diving Davis Reef remember that it is in a designated (Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA) and that you must not disturb the marine life in any way. No touching or taking! Fishing, lobstering, or collecting of animals and organic matter of any sort is strictly prohibited when diving Davis Reef.

Typically, Florida Keys diving is done without a guide, but you can arrange a guide for an additional fee if you are inexperienced and feel you may benefit from one.

Want a Guide?

Ocean Quest Dive Center

More Experiences Nearby

Glide through a River of Grass in the Everglades
There is an eerie calm about the Everglades; there are no motorized boats allowed, and the animals that live there slip in and out of the water with hardly a splash. Look out into the swampy, grass filled water, and you will find several pairs of unblinking eyes gazing back at you. Gators. Mosquitoes buzz around your head, and it can be brutally hot depending on what time of year you visit; but this is nature at its best. Hundreds of species of birds and animals live in the Everglades, including alligators, manatees, panthers and pythons. About forty of the ...81 miles away.

Carpe Diem! Book to do this experience now!

Ocean Quest Dive Center is one of the oldest and most experienced dive operators in the upper Florida Keys!
Starting from $67.00 per person.
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Books and DVDs

The Florida Keys Dive Guide, Revised Edition
Lonely Planet Guide to Diving and Snorkeling the Florida Keys Book
Frommer's South Florida: With the best of Miami & the Keys

Elsewhere on the Web

The Florida Keys 360 - Fla-keys360.com
The Florida Keys and Key West - Fla-keys.com

Media References

Florida passes bill to better protect and restore coral reefs - Xray-mag.com (magazine)
Officials in Florida sees increase in sea turtle nests - Xray-mag.com (magazine)
Florida Keys Vandenberg reef project prepares to sail forward - Xray-mag.com (magazine)

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