Marinas, Reefs & Wonders Beneath: Exploring Florida’s Only Underwater State Park

Apr 6

4 min read

We weren’t quite sure what to expect when we decided to bring our boat to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, but we were up for the adventure. Tucked away in Key Largo, this park had been on our radar for a while—Florida’s only underwater state park sounded too unique to pass up. With snorkel gear packed and a healthy dose of curiosity, we were ready to see what hidden treasures the reef had in store.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is more than just a scenic boating destination—it's a vital piece of Florida's natural and historical legacy. Stretching three miles into the Atlantic Ocean and running about 25 miles along the coast, the park offers access to over 30 marked snorkeling and diving sites, each revealing a different facet of the coral reef ecosystem. Established to protect the only living coral reef in the continental United States, the park has been a sanctuary for marine life and ocean lovers since it opened in 1963. Its significance was nationally recognized when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 14, 1972.

One of the highlights of our visit was snorkeling at the site of the Christ of the Deep statue—a breathtaking underwater sculpture. The park makes it easy for boaters to access this and other reef sites with a well-maintained system of mooring buoys, designed to protect the fragile reef from anchor damage. At the Christ statue, the buoys form a circle, and in the center lies the serene figure of Christ, arms outstretched toward the surface, about 25 feet below. Snorkeling above it, surrounded by schools of colorful fish and swaying sea fans, was nothing short of surreal. The clear waters and thoughtful preservation efforts make this one of the most unique and accessible reef experiences in the world. We should share the current can be intimidating at times, especially if you are not a strong swimmer. The easiest snorkeling is during slack tide and we recommend bringing (or renting) long fins.

Even if you don't have your own boat, John Pennekamp makes it easy to enjoy everything the park has to offer. If you're bringing a boat, the marina has an excellent launch with plenty of parking for trucks and trailers—quite the pleasant surprise for an island destination. Forgot your gear or just want to pack light? No worries! There's a handy on-site vendor offering wetsuit and snorkel equipment rentals right in the park. No boat? No problem! The park rents boats and also provides a variety of snorkeling charters taking you to some of the best reef spots, including the Christ of the Deep. The guided trips are a very easy way to explore the underwater beauty of the Keys without having to be your own captain.

If you're lucky enough to snag a camping spot, you'll find the campground is small and the sites are close together, but it's totally worth booking. If you bring your own boat, they have a small number of free slips available for campers and, after checking in with the Dockmaster, we were happy a spot was available for our use. It's awesome to hop on your boat every day without the hassle of launching and loading. They also offer paid slips for those who would like dockside power/water or for those who like to camp on their boat.

Our camping tips at this park include:

Driving to Key Largo might be hectic, but once there, remember to switch to "island time" mentality and take a relaxed approached to everything you do.
Plan to visit one of the local restaurants for dinner. On our first night, after setting up camp, we enjoyed The Fish House and every dish was delicious!
If fishing, be sure you are doing so in an allowable area since the underwater park has some restricted areas. Then take your catch to a local restaurant where they will be happy to cook it up for you.

We’re excited to have shared our journey with you. Check out the links below for some of our favorite camping gear. Just a heads up, as an Amazon affiliate, we might earn a little something if you decide to grab any of these items. It helps us keep the Florida Native Life content coming your way! But most importantly, if you haven't experienced it yet, we just hope you can visit this unique park to enjoy all the amazing water experiences the park has to offer.

Here's a list of our favorite camping items available on Amazon:

We enjoy using a variety of rechargeable lights
- Rechargeable twinkle lights were a nice feature and provided the perfect amount of light to help navigate the dark campsite.
- A rechargeable bottle lamp is both a cute and practical addition to the picnic table. When paced on top of a gallon of water (see the picture above) the light dispersed perfectly over our dinner.
- We find it very easy to keep power nearby and to recharge items by using a Jackery power pack.
Tent essentials
- The rechargeable/solar expanding tent light provided soft light when settling in at night.
- Placing moving blankets on the tent's floor provides protective and soft barrier to the hard island ground.
- We prefer using a good mattress pad that providing both cushion and comfort.
- Instead of bringing blankets, we opt for two quality sleeping bags. We use oversized bags rated for the cold but are cozy for any weather.
- After camping, we removed the residual campfire odors from the tent by giving it a GearAid bath and setting it up to dry before storing it away.
A few other favorites
- A percolator makes the best camp coffee
- John Pennekamp State Park does not provide in-ground fire rings. Any fire must be off the ground. Because we knew this in advance, we brought our solo stove and firewood. For added entertainment, we sprinkled some mystical flames into the fire - never a dull moment!