Aquarium
Aquarium is one of the more unusual reef layouts in Islamorada. Two separate patch reefs at 25 feet, with the sand flat between them creating natural channels and crevices that Spiny Lobster favor heavily during season. Good fish life year-round, exceptional lobster hunting when the season opens.
About Aquarium
Most patch reefs in the Florida Keys are a single structure — one coral formation rising from the sand, surrounded by open water. Aquarium is two. The site consists of a pair of separate reef patches close enough to explore on a single dive but distinct enough that each has its own character, its own ledges, and its own resident population of marine life.
The gap between the two patches is part of what makes the site productive. Sandy channels and open seafloor between coral structures are exactly the kind of habitat that Spiny Lobster gravitate toward — they tuck into the undercuts and crevices at the base of the reef edges where the coral meets the sand, and the double-patch layout at Aquarium means there's twice the edge habitat of a typical single-formation reef. During lobster season, from August through March, this site is one of FKDC's go-to stops on the Lobster Charter. Outside of season, it remains a solid dive for reef fish, eels, and the kind of unhurried shallow-water exploration that suits newer divers and photographers equally well.
Marine Life
- Spiny Lobster
- Nurse Shark
- Green Moray Eel
- Yellowtail Snapper
- French Grunt
- Sea Turtle
- Parrotfish
- Queen Angelfish
- Southern Stingray
Best Conditions
Best Season
Year-round — lobster season Aug 6 through Mar 31
Ideal Conditions
Calm and shallow — accessible for all experience levels. Particularly productive during lobster season.
Current
Minimal — gentle and easy to navigate
Water Temp
75–85°F depending on season
Trips That Visit Aquarium
Book Your Charter Online
Morning and afternoon charters run year-round from Three Waters Marina. Whether you're booking a charter, a course, or just have questions — we're here.