Diving

Divers can vie for prize money while helping preserve native reef fish populations during a fun, competitive Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 9-12, sponsored by Reef Environmental Education Foundation.

Divers interested in viewing the underwater phenomenon of coral spawning can join Florida Keys dive operators during select coral spawning charters — twilight trips to shallow reefs on or around the full moons in August and September to watch the reproductive action along the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef.

An extensive public awareness initiative has begun to help leisure Florida Keys travelers and residents have an enjoyable, safe and non-impacting experience during both the two-day lobster sport season and the traditional lobster harvesting season.

In Islamorada, the History of Diving Museum’s newest exhibit titled “Diving in Pop Culture” is on display through Dec. 31, and explores the underwater world as portrayed in advertising, entertainment and mainstream culture.

Divers and snorkelers can explore a portion of the continental United States’ only coral barrier reef while enjoying a sub-sea concert that promotes reef preservation Saturday, July 10, in the Lower Florida Keys.

In recognition of World Oceans Day promoting ocean preservation, Key Largo’s Coral Restoration Foundation is hosting its annual Coralpalooza Saturday and Sunday, June 5-6. This year’s event is a combination of in-person reef diving and virtual learning.

If exploring the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef is on travelers’ bucket lists this summer, the “Florida Keys Reef Explorer” undersea adventure giveaway offers an ideal chance to win a trip to discover the dynamic ecosystem.

Impassioned divers return to the Florida Keys to find a deeper connection to the underwater environment, often turning a recreational hobby into productive missions to complete much-needed work during coral restoration dives.

Readers of Scuba Diving magazine have named the Florida Keys & Key West among the World’s Best/Readers Choice Awards for 2020, ranking the island destination as either number one or in the top five in several dive categories.

Divers can help preserve the Florida Keys’ native reef fish populations during the fun, socially distanced Reef Environmental Education Foundation 2020 Lionfish Derby. Scheduled Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 10-13, the derby challenges participants to capture and remove as many non-native lionfish as possible from Keys waters.