Spiegel Grove Scuba Dive - GOLIATH GROUPER encounter - Key Largo Florida

The Spiegel Grove is one of the most popular shipwreck dive sites in the Florida Keys, specifically located off the coast of Key Largo, Florida. It’s a massive artificial reef created from a decommissioned Navy ship, deliberately sunk in 2002 to serve as a dive site and marine habitat. Here’s what makes the Spiegel Grove dive so fascinating:

Key Details about the Spiegel Grove Wreck:
Ship Type: Originally, the Spiegel Grove was a U.S. Navy Landing Ship Dock (LSD), over 510 feet (155 meters) long.
Depth: The wreck lies at depths ranging from around 60 feet to 130 feet (18 to 40 meters). The shallower sections of the ship, like the upper deck, can be reached at about 60 feet, while the deeper areas go beyond recreational limits, especially near the sandy bottom.
Marine Life: As it’s been underwater for over 20 years, the wreck has developed into a thriving artificial reef, attracting a wide variety of marine life, including:
Goliath groupers
Barracuda
Nurse sharks
Moray eels
Turtles
Large schools of jacks and snapper
Dive Experience:
Diver Level: The Spiegel Grove is often recommended for advanced divers due to its depth, currents, and the sheer size of the wreck. However, there are dive trips that cater to both intermediate and advanced divers, with different sections of the wreck available for exploration.
Notable Features:
The Crane: One of the most famous features of the wreck is the large crane on the upper deck, often surrounded by marine life.
Swim-throughs: Experienced divers can explore various parts of the interior, including cargo holds and passageways.
Wheelhouse and Decks: The wheelhouse and other superstructures provide interesting vantage points and are usually swarmed with fish.
Conditions:
Currents: The currents around Spiegel Grove can be strong, which is why good buoyancy control and experience are important.
Visibility: Depending on the conditions, visibility can range from 30 to 100 feet (9 to 30 meters), though it’s generally pretty good for Florida Keys diving.
Diving the Spiegel Grove is an exhilarating experience, offering both the thrill of wreck exploration and abundant marine life in a unique underwater environment!

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