Key Largo, Florida, United States

Mahogany Hammock Reef

Mahogany Hammock Reef sits on the outer reef tract of Key Largo between French Reef and Molasses Reef, inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The site is a classic spur-and-groove formation with depths from about 4 metres on the inner flat to 13 metres on the seaward edge, less crowded than its more famous neighbours and popular as a refresher and second-tank dive. The reef has retained healthy stands of elkhorn and staghorn coral on the upper spurs, with brain and great star coral on the shoulders and Caribbean sea fans waving in the surge. Resident species include large schools of yellowtail snapper, bluestriped grunt, hawksbill turtles, southern stingrays in the sand grooves, queen and French angelfish, the occasional Caribbean reef shark patrolling the outer ledge and goliath grouper. Visibility 18 to 30 metres in summer. The site is moored only and fishing is prohibited inside the surrounding Sanctuary Preservation Area.