You may have visited the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and not even realized it.  This marine sanctuary includes all waters surrounding the Florida Keys from south of Miami westward to the Dry Tortugas past Key West.  If you set foot in the water off any of the Keys, you are in fact in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

There are many ways to explore the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, but I’ll share the highlights that I recommend on Key West.  I suggest that your first stop to learn more about marine life around Key West is a stop on land, not the sea. Check out the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center on East Quay Road. The Eco-Discovery Center has 6,000 square feet of exhibits featuring the Key’s native plants, animals, and habitats including the sea.

Two of my favorite exhibits are the mock-up of the Aquarius and the Mote Marine Laboratory’s Living Reef Exhibit. The Aquarius is an underwater laboratory in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary where scientists live and work for 10-day periods.  It is fascinating and you can check out videos and live webcams on their website.  You can even watch live outside the Aquarius where you’ll see tropical fish swimming at a depth of 55 feet and occasionally you might be lucky enough to see one of the aquanauts swim by!

The Mote Marine Laboratory’s Living Reef Exhibit has a 2,500-gallon reef tank containing beautiful living corals and tropical fish. There are also additional displays that feature the coral reef habitat. The world’s third largest living coral reef is off the coast of Key West.

After you’ve visited the Eco-Discovery Center, you truly have a better appreciation of enjoying the National Marine Sanctuary that surrounds Key West as well as the other Keys.  Whether you decide to dive, snorkel, fish, swim, or boat, you will see incredible natural beauty.  I encourage you to check the suggestions listed on the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary website to help you better enjoy and protect this unique environment.

How fortunate we are in Key West to not only live in an island paradise, but to also be surrounded by the National Marine Sanctuary!  Let me assist you in finding your home in this perfect environment. Give me a call today.  Margarita Villoch: 305-304-8505.

photo courtesy of NOAA Photo Library – flickr