Skip to content
Map of Alligator Reef / USS Alligator Shipwreck
Add the first photo
Boat entry

Alligator Reef / USS Alligator Shipwreck

Florida, United States
Open Water suggested1–8 m depthBoat entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Alligator Reef / USS Alligator Shipwreck at a glance

Alligator Reef / USS Alligator Shipwreck is a boat dive site in Florida, United States with depths of 0.9–7.6 m (3–25 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see barracuda, corals, and nurse shark. Recent reports put the water around 31°C (88°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 3h ago
0.2 mwaves — under half a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 31°C · seasonal avg 31°C

Site hazards: Boat traffic, shallow coral contact, sun exposure, occasional current, protected cultural resources, and no anchoring/removal/disturbance rules.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Fri
Sun7:00–21:00
Mon7:00–21:00
Tue7:00–21:00
Wed7:00–21:00
Thu7:00–21:00
Fri7:00–21:00
Sat7:00–21:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 6:22 · Sunrise 6:47 · Sunset 20:10

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 2.7 km from site · graded 3h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

What Divers Say

Known for: corals, reef fish
Best time: Year-round; calmer seas and clearer water are often best in late spring through early fall outside storm events.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. Jan85%23°C0.7 m
  2. Feb88%24°C0.7 m
  3. Mar86%25°C0.8 m
  4. Apr83%26°C0.8 m
  5. May98%29°C0.6 m
  6. Jun98%30°C0.6 m
  7. Jul99%31°C0.5 m
  8. Aug96%31°C0.6 m
  9. Sep97%31°C0.5 m
  10. Oct76%28°C0.8 m
  11. Nov77%26°C0.8 m
  12. Dec71%24°C0.8 m

July hastypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

  • barracudaOccasionally seen
  • coralsCommonly seen
  • nurse sharkOccasionally seen
  • reef fishCommonly seen
  • sea turtleOccasionally seen

Fills & rentals nearby

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Site details

Shallow reef and protected historic wreck area near Alligator Reef Lighthouse off Islamorada. Divers and snorkelers visit coral habitat, fish life, and ballast/wreck remains traditionally associated with USS Alligator, while acknowledging some uncertainty about exact wreck attribution. This is a boat-access Sanctuary Preservation Area style dive/snorkel site, not a shore dive.

boatreefwreck

Boat traffic, shallow coral contact, sun exposure, occasional current, protected cultural resources, and no anchoring/removal/disturbance rules.

Reviews

No reviews yet — this site is waiting for its first. Dived here? Your rating and a few lines help the next diver.

Spot something off?

Help keep this listing accurate for the next diver.