Molasses Reef

As you approach Molasses Reef, near the southern-most border of the National Park Sanctuary and Pennekamp Park, you may encounter a virtual "parking lot" of dive charter boats, snorkeling boats, luxury yachts, inflatable dinghies and other assorted floatsum tied up to the 40 or more mooring buoys surrounding the 100 foot tower that marks this very large reef.

Molasses is the most popular reef in the Florida Keys for good reason. Beautiful, lush coral formations interspersed with white sandy patches, featuring lots of mini-caves and countless ledges -- the ideal spot to find many small fish, lobsters, crabs, moray eels, angelfish, filefish, jawfish -- this list goes on.

Marine Sanctuary officers at Molasses Reef keep a vigilant eye on divers above and below the water, reminding everyone that simply touching the coral can easily kill a delicate colony of animals.