SCUBA, snorkeling

Key Largo, Florida

FATIGUED FROM LAND YACHTING? There are reefs and wrecks all along the Florida Keys, but Key Largo bests the competition with an unparalleled concentration and diversity of underwater attractions. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first underwater preserve in the United States, spans some 70 square miles and includes kaleidoscopic reef communities suitable for beginner and advanced divers. Even Jesus is encrusted in coral—the well-known Christ of the Abyss statue is one of Pennekamp’s most popular destinations for divers and snorkelers. The statue sits in water 25 feet deep. But even greater undersea riches await, with scores of reef sites accessible within a 20-minute boat ride from Key Largo. Sail On: For the best chance at solitude, hire a boat through Silent World Dive Center. Located in north Key Largo, its captains quickly reach sites that downtown shops deem too distant. Carysfort is one of the best-preserved and most remote reefs off Key Largo.