With a continued focus on marine conservation and the protection of the undersea environment, Destination Dive takes viewers on compelling underwater adventures across the Florida Keys. This iconic 125-mile island chain serves as a stunning backdrop — and a global epicenter for ocean restoration and preservation.

“The Florida Keys is an area teeming with amazing marine life and people who are passionate about protecting our oceans. Through their eyes, ‘Destination Dive’ shares unforgettable dive experiences and stories in unique and compelling ways,” said Mike Zimmer, the program’s executive producer. “Our audience will be captivated by the stories, the people and the visual beauty.” 

Episodes include:
Key Largo: Sunday, Aug. 10 at 8 a.m. ET/PT
Viewers will discover hidden underwater gems beloved by locals. The episode also explores the role of Coralpalooza in coral restoration — and an unexpected hero in seagrass protection: tube socks.

Islamorada: Sunday, Aug. 17 at 8 a.m. ET/PT 
Explore reefs and wrecks rich in history. Learn how the Trash Derby has grown into one of the region’s biggest conservation events, and meet the interns whose creative thinking is helping shade vulnerable corals from heat and sun.

Marathon: Sunday, Aug. 24 at 8 a.m. ET/PT 
Dive into some of the Middle Keys’ most iconic reef and wreck sites. This episode also highlights the rising popularity of shark diving, efforts to remove derelict lobster traps, and a look at coral recovery following bleaching events.

Big Pine Key: Sunday, Aug. 31 at 8 a.m. ET/PT
Experience the magic of shore diving from one of the Keys’ most scenic beaches. The episode also follows military veterans discovering healing and renewed purpose through diving.

Key West: Sunday, Sept. 7, 8 a.m. ET/PT
Explore the unparalleled concentration of shipwrecks near Key West, including the famed USS Vandenberg. This episode also examines how artificial reefs have transformed the marine ecosystem and bolstered conservation efforts.

“Destination Dive is the only dive show that focuses on the trailblazing work people are doing in the Florida Keys to restore and protect our oceans. We are thrilled to share the stories of the amazing work being done in this part of the world,” said Zimmer.

For a sneak peek and to stream full episodes, visit destinationdive.tv.

High-resolution images, captions, and photo credits are available at this link.  

For more information contact:
Mike Zimmer at mikezi007@aol.com

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Taking the plunge into the waters of the Florida Keys, home to one of the most unique reef ecosystems in the world. Destination Dive Season 4 follows divers and conservationists into these vibrant depths — Sundays at 8 a.m. ET/PT on Discovery Channel and Discovery+. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Tony Timpano/Florida Keys News Bureau)

The thriving beauty of the Florida Keys reefs is one of the living treasures of North America’s only coral barrier reef. Destination Dive Season 4 brings viewers face-to-face with this underwater wonder, sharing powerful stories of marine life, restoration, and the people fighting to protect it. Airing Sundays at 8 a.m. ET/PT on Discovery Channel and Discovery+. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Tony Timpano/Florida Keys News Bureau)

A stunning view of a healthy coral reef in the Florida Keys, where vibrant marine life thrives in every crevice. Destination Dive Season 4 explores these colorful ecosystems while spotlighting the conservation efforts working to protect them for future generations. Airs Sundays at 8 a.m. ET/PT on Discovery Channel and Discovery+. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Tony Timpano/Florida Keys News Bureau)

A breathtaking glimpse of Davis Reef in the Florida Keys, where schools of tropical fish glide through vibrant coral formations. Destination Dive Season 4 delves into this iconic reef and the individuals working to preserve its fragile beauty. Sundays at 8 a.m. ET/PT on Discovery Channel and Discovery+. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Tony Timpano/Florida Keys News Bureau)

KEY LARGO, Florida Keys – Florida Keys coral restoration groups and scientists from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary planted resilient, heat-resistant species of coral at Carysfort Reef Tuesday, commemorating the fifth anniversary of the sanctuary’s Mission: Iconic Reefs program.

The landmark program was established with the goal of strengthening and restoring seven iconic coral reef tracts in the Florida Keys. The bold undertaking encountered a major challenge due to a marine heat wave in the summer of 2023 that caused devastating mortality at many restoration groups’ in-water coral nurseries and areas of the Florida reef.

From that challenge, though, came hopeful discoveries regarding coral survival in the face of future climate change, researchers said, adding that coral reefs around the world are also confronted with such issues.

“They’re actually using genets, or clone lines, of coral that we know are resistant to heat stress,” said Dr. Katey Lesneski of the divers involved in the outplanting at Carysfort, located off Key Largo. “We’ve done a fantastic job across so many organizations of preserving genetic diversity which will be important in future outplanting efforts.”

Lesneski is the sanctuary’s Mission: Iconic Reefs research and monitoring coordinator. 

“So these individuals have been propagated from others that survived the heat stress event in 2023, whether out on the reef or in ocean-based nurseries,” Lesneski said, referring to the infant corals. “So we have a lot of confidence that the corals that are being returned to the reef today will continue to do well even in future warming conditions.”

The three organizations that aided in outplanting the young corals included Coral Restoration Foundation, Mote Marine Laboratory and Reef Renewal USA.

In the future, sanctuary officials hope to bring in more coral restoration organizations and research partners with additional concepts about how build upon information learned to date, according to Lesneski.

For more than 20 years, organizations in the Florida Keys have pioneered breakthrough efforts to restore coral.

“Florida’s coral reef provides billions of dollars in revenue annually,” Lesneski said. “And if we want generations in the future to enjoy these same benefits, we have to continue to do this work and preserve this very important resource.”

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 FTP Information*
Host: ftp://216.194.165.19/ 
UserID: floridakeys@news.fla-keys.com
Password: islands
Folder: News Video
Filename: KeysCorals.mp4
*Access and download files from the FTP site using dedicated software such as Fetch.

Ocean conservation, education initiatives and demonstrating positive impacts of citizen science in the Florida Keys and around the world are at the core of the mission for the nonprofit Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF).

The four-day festival features social events, ocean-themed seminars, coral reef dives, snorkeling excursions with REEF fish surveyors to share helpful fish species knowledge, and guided kayak eco-tours to search for wading birds and nearshore marine life.

REEF Fest events kick off Thursday, Oct. 17, with morning dive and snorkel trips with area operators. From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the REEF Campus, mile marker 98.3 in the Florida Keys Overseas Highway median, attendees can participate in an open-house gathering to meet and mingle, enjoy wine and craft beer, tour the interpretive center and walk a native plants trail.

Friday and Saturday, participants can again join morning dive, snorkel or kayak trips. Dedicated boat charters with Pirates Cove Watersports and Quiescence Diving Services are available for the Thursday, Friday and Saturday dive and snorkel excursions. A REEF representative is to be onboard with fish identification and survey materials. For paddlers, guided three-hour kayak tours with Florida Bay Outfitters can be booked Friday and Saturday mornings. Tours include all rental equipment, a lesson on paddling techniques, snacks, water and guide. Visit REEF.org/REEFfest/diving.

Friday and Saturday afternoons, marine conservation seminars are scheduled at the Murray Nelson Government and Cultural Center, mile marker 102 bayside. Sessions are to begin each afternoon at 2:30 p.m. and are free and open to the public. There is also an evening session at 6 p.m. Friday. Registration is requested. Visit REEF.org/REEFfest/registration.

A 5-6 p.m. Friday social hour is planned as well.

Seminars are to cover topics that include ways citizen scientists are contributing to marine conservation, how upside-down jellyfish serve as bioindicators, underwater photographer Stephen Frink’s look back at his five decades of diving experience in Key Largo, and the Diving With a Purpose organization’s work to restore coral ecosystems and document maritime history.

At Saturday night’s “For the Love of the Sea” open-air celebration, festivalgoers can connect with friends for dinner, drinks and a Keys sunset over Florida Bay. The 5-8:30 p.m. festivities are to be held at a waterfront venue next to Quiescence Diving Services, mile marker 103.6 on Key Largo's Blackwater Sound.

The limited-seating dinner event is to feature passed appetizers, culinary stations, an open bar and a large silent auction. Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets to “For the Love of the Sea” in advance on the registration page. The $95 price per person increases to $105 after Sept. 27.

REEF Fest is to conclude Sunday, Oct. 20, with a guided nature tour at Key Largo’s John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Coffee and pastries are to be served before the tour. Visit REEF.org/REEFfest/conservation.

Event information: REEF.org/REEFfest or 305-852-0030

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Long before those vessels were sunk in Keys waters, countless ships met their demise due to hard-to-navigate shallow reefs and strong currents surrounding the subtropical island chain. Some of these lesser-known wrecks offer a unique look into Florida Keys history and an unforgettable experience for divers to add to their logbooks.

ISLAMORADA

The San Pedro, one of the Keys’ oldest shipwrecks, hosts a variety of sea creatures living amid ballast stones and coral heads. The 287-ton, Dutch-built ship sank in 18 feet of water just south of Indian Key near Islamorada during a 1733 hurricane. The ship was part of a Spanish treasure fleet attempting to sail from Cuba to Spain. Discovered in 1960, the San Pedro was heavily salvaged by treasure hunters, but its allure still draws divers and snorkelers to explore the site. Now protected as San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park, the wreck site is located one mile south of Indian Key. The colorful fish and soft corals that reside on the wreck make it popular with underwater photographers, snorkelers and novice divers. 

The Cannabis Cruiser was a 70-foot trawler used to smuggle drugs into the U.S. in the 1970s. The craft was scuttled five miles off the coast of Islamorada and about three miles from Alligator Reef Light when those on board feared getting caught by an approaching Coast Guard ship. Many species of fish and sea creatures such as moray eels can be found on the wreck.

MARATHON

Henry Flagler’s Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad, lauded on its completion as the most unique railway in the world, connected the Keys with mainland Florida and each other for the first time in 1912. Now portions of its structure lie submerged in 115 feet of water at a lesser-known site referred to locally as Marathon Reef or 7 Mile Bridge Reef, located approximately 3.2 nautical miles off Sombrero Beach.

Regarded as one of Marathon’s more challenging drift dives, the artificial reef site was created in July 1982. At that time, 4,500 tons of concrete and steel debris taken from the center swing span of the Old Seven Mile Bridge, also called the Moser Channel Bridge, were sunk.

Today those massive remnants provide refuge to abundant populations of large pelagic and reef fish, corals, colorful gorgonians, and plant and invertebrate marine life among the superstructure’s lateral bracing, fenders, gears and circular bearings that supported the bridge operator’s shed.

Divers can explore the concrete and steel rubble spread over 1.6 acres, rising off a flat sandy bottom as much as 30 feet in some areas.

KEY WEST 

Seventy miles west of Key West in the waters of Dry Tortugas National Park lies the Windjammer shipwreck. Windjammer is the nickname of an iron-hulled ship-rigged sailing vessel whose last assigned name was Avanti. It sank during a winter storm in 1907 while transporting lumber from Pensacola, Florida, to Montevideo, Uruguay.

The Avanti remains in excellent condition because of iron's resistance to corrosion. There are two main wreckage fields, with the bow section oriented east-west and the stern section aligned north-south, resting at a depth of 22 feet at Loggerhead Reef about 1,000 yards southwest of the Tortugas’ Loggerhead Key.

Today the wreck offers divers and snorkelers a haunting glimpse of a once-proud sailing ship. The Avanti is the park’s most complete wreck site and provides a breathtaking backdrop for a wide variety of colorful reef fish, coral and marine life.

For more information about diving in the Florida Keys, visit fla-keys.com/diving/. 

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With an emphasis on conservation and protection of the undersea environment, “Destination Dive” takes viewers on adventures as unique as the area it covers – the Florida Keys. The 125-mile-long chain of subtropical islands is the perfect setting for viewers to explore, and one of the global epicenters for conservation and regeneration.

“The Florida Keys is an area teeming with amazing marine life and people who are passionate about protecting our oceans,” said Mike Zimmer, the program’s executive producer. “Our audience will be captivated by the stories, the people and the visual beauty.” 

Episodes are to include:

Dive Like a Native: Sunday, Aug. 4, at 8 a.m. ET/PT
In this episode, viewers explore where Florida Keys locals dive and experience underwater gems they enjoy most. 

Wrecks -- Where Locals Love to Dive: Sunday, Aug. 11, at 8 a.m. ET/PT 
The episode chronicles some of the wrecks in the Florida Keys that locals love to dive, sharing each ship’s rich history and the stories it holds. The program also takes a deep dive to discuss how shipwrecks are beneficial to the environment. 

Volunteering to Help Our Oceans: Sunday, Aug. 18, at 8 a.m. ET/PT 
Viewers can meet people determined to make a difference by volunteering to help the marine environment in the Florida Keys. Find out how both residents and visitors are choosing to give back to the Keys’ underwater world. 

Groups Working to Restore Vital Ecosystems: Sunday, Aug. 25, at 8 a.m. ET/PT
The episode highlights organizations and programs making a difference in the Florida Keys. Viewers can learn how they help protect and restore vital ocean ecosystems.

What’s Being Done to Protect Keys Reefs: Sunday, Sept. 1, at 8 a.m. ET/PT
In this episode, the program explores what’s being done in the Keys to protect and save coral reefs. Segments will show innovative solutions researchers have created to protect and nurture corals and showcase the recovery that’s taking place.

“Destination Dive focuses on protecting our oceans,” Zimmer said. “I’m proud of the cinematography throughout our third season and the people whose stories we will share.”

For a sneak peek, visit destinationdive.tv.

For more information contact:
Mike Zimmer at mikezi007@aol.com

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Derby teams in two divisions are to hit the water to capture and remove as many non-native lionfish as possible. The Apex Predators division is designed with greater prize money for competitive divers, while Reef Defenders is a more casual division with less prize money but equally credible bragging rights.

Over $6,000 in cash and prizes is to be awarded to those scoring the most lionfish, the largest lionfish and the smallest, and to the winner of the golden fish raffle award.

Teams of two to four people can register online by Friday, July 12, for an early bird rate of $90 per team. Thereafter, registration is $120 per team until 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15.

A mandatory team captains meeting is set for Aug. 15 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the REEF campus, 98300 Overseas Highway in Key Largo. Remote attendance by team captains will be allowed this year, but all team members are encouraged to attend the in-person meeting. The meeting’s focus is lionfish ecology, the best collecting tools and safe handling techniques.

Derby participants can hunt from sunrise to sundown Friday and Saturday, Aug. 16-17, collecting lionfish by spearing, netting or by hook and line while scuba diving, snorkeling or free diving and following all federal and state fishing regulations. Participants can dive from a private vessel or with a professional dive operator.

“Invaders on Tap, a Lionfish Awareness Celebration,” is slated for 4-9 p.m. Saturday at Florida Keys Brewing Company, 81611 Old Highway in Islamorada. Open to the public as well as Lionfish Derby participants, it is to feature engaging activities, the Tacos Jalisco food truck, live music and family-friendly fun.

Although there is no scheduled hunting Sunday, Aug. 18, all fish are to be turned in to the scoring station at REEF between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m.  

Sunday’s festival activities, open to the public and set for 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the REEF campus, include team scoring and awards. Attendees can also enjoy games, educational demos and raffles for prizes.

REEF staff will provide lionfish fillet and dissection demonstrations, plus free lionfish ceviche samples. Although commonly served as ceviche or sushi, lionfish can be prepared like any other fish and is similar to halibut or grouper in texture and flavor.

The Lionfish Derby awards ceremony is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Winning teams do not need to be in attendance, but teams must arrange to pick up any prizes if they are not at the awards.

Founded in Key Largo in 1990, REEF has joined the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the Keys dive community to provide hands-on opportunities for “citizen scientist” recreational divers.

Lionfish hunters focused on sustainability can actively remove the invasive, voracious species that was introduced to Florida waters during the 1980s, lessening the pressure on existing reef fish ecosystems and providing a healthy new food source for human consumption.

Event details and REEF information: REEF.org/derby or 305-852-0030

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One of the world’s largest coral restoration efforts, Coralpalooza helps raise awareness about the importance of preserving and conserving the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef, which parallels the Florida Keys. It is planned each year around World Oceans Day, commemorated internationally on June 8.

Hundreds of recreational divers from across the United States are to join the effort to care for coral Thursday through Saturday, June 6-8. Hands-on dive activities include helping CRF staff and interns in underwater coral nurseries.

Although the 2024 dive days are sold out, Coralpalooza offers exciting free-admission land events that are open to the public.

Land-based events in the Keys begin with a Sips and Science gathering set for 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, at the CRF Exploration Center, 5 Seagate Blvd. in Key Largo. Attendees can enjoy complimentary beer, wine and other beverages while listening to speakers discuss the science of saving coral reefs.

To mark World Oceans Day itself, CRF is to host an unforgettable day of fun, learning and making a difference for coral reefs at a land-based extravaganza at the CRF Exploration Center.

Set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., activities are to include hands-on reef outplanting demonstrations; virtual reality dives that enable participants to immerse themselves in a virtual coral reef without getting wet; create-your-own-reef art activities; multiple hands-on learning stations and fun photo ops.

Divers interested in participating in Coralpalooza’s dive activities next year can register to receive a first-alert email shortly before the 2025 registration opens.

Event information: coralrestoration.org/coralpalooza-2024, facebook.com/CoralRestorationFoundation

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With sponsorship from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s Goal: Clean Seas initiative, certified divers can sign up for free dives to clean up submerged debris. Individuals can sign up at participating dive shops from Key Largo through Key West, and each diver receives one raffle ticket per dive for a chance to win gear and other prizes.

Crews on land are to focus on cleaning shorelines and inland areas. Participants also can collect debris using their own boats. Private boat and land-based teams have opportunities to win cash prizes. All teams are to submit their most unique “found” item for a special prize package.

Training for proper removal and permit details are to be covered at a mandatory team leaders’ meeting from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at Bud N' Mary's Marina, mile marker 79.8 oceanside in Islamorada.

Collection is to take place Friday and Saturday, May 3-4, from sunrise to sunset.

All debris is to be weighed and catalogued, with prizes awarded to top collectors and raffle ticket holders at the Trash Derby Festival set for noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 5, on the Great Lawn at Islamorada’s Founders Park, mile marker 87 bayside.

The free, family-friendly festival is open to the public with attractions including live music, raffles, a silent auction, games and activities, environmental vendors and exhibits by local organizations helping to restore Keys reefs. 

All cleanup activities are permitted by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 

Event information and dive trip signup: icaretrashderby.com

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Every day, through continued education and shared information, Keys dive operators help enforce guidelines ranging from boat etiquette to strict “no touch” rules for everyone visiting the coral reef within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Many dive shops stick to a ratio of one guide per six divers when they’re in the water, ensuring that divers employ proper reef etiquette. This procedure is especially important with beginning divers such as open-water students, or newly certified divers just learning to control buoyancy underwater. 

Following are some common etiquette procedures for divers:

• Avoid wearing gloves except when diving on shipwrecks.

• Perform weight checks on the surface.

• Trim weights correctly during the dive, taking weight off during the dive or redistributing the weight on the belt.

• If you’re a new diver, make sure you understand your dive operator’s demonstration of the proper neutrally buoyant position, how far to keep off the reef, and the correct swimming kick style.

• DO NOT touch coral; understand that even lightly brushing coral can be damaging.

• NEVER stand or rest on corals. If you need to rest, lie on your back or float in a sitting position.  

• Choose sunscreen that doesn’t contain chemicals — including oxybenzone and octinoxate — that are harmful to reef organisms.

• If you’re on a private boat, DO NOT anchor on the reef.

• If you’re on a private boat, make sure everyone aboard is aware of dive flag etiquette and adheres to safety practices — including slowing down in areas where another vessel is displaying a dive flag, paying close attention to currents, staying close to the boat and having someone who knows how to operate it remain onboard at all times.

• When booking a dive or snorkel excursion, look for a professional Blue Star operator. The Blue Star program was established by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to recognize operators who are committed to promoting responsible and sustainable diving and snorkeling practices.

When divers are educated in safety procedures and reef responsibility, everyone involved benefits — as does the Florida Keys’ treasured underwater environment.

For more information on diving in the Keys, visit fla-keys.com/diving.

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Dive operators in the Keys are focused on maintaining the highest level of safety standards for their crews, boats and dive gear. Among the crucial safety factors for successful and enjoyable diving, however, is your own physical health.

Before You Dive

One of the most significant things a person can do to enhance his or her dive safety, before submerging, is to be physically fit. This doesn’t mean you should run three miles two weeks before going on a dive vacation. Instead, divers of any age should embrace a fitness lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Aerobic exercise — walking, running, using a treadmill — is important to get your heart beating. Swimming in a pool, outdoor or indoor, can also be a year-round activity to maintain physical strength and endurance.

From a physical standpoint, what is required of a diver? Most fundamentally, to get back to the boat at the end of the dive.

You may be forced to go beyond your normal personal limits during a dive if the waves kick up, there’s current, or you end up tired and too far from the boat when you surface. Divers must be prepared to operate at a certain level of safety and efficiency. 

The condition of your dive equipment is equally critical. Have it inspected and professionally serviced to ensure that it’s operating correctly — especially if it has been at least a year since your last dive.

Are you current with your certification level? Enroll in a refresher course in a pool, lake or quarry at home if you haven’t been diving in a year or more. Dust off the cobwebs and get comfortable again with your gear. It’s a modest investment of time and money to improve upon underwater skills and, more importantly, boost your diving confidence.

When You Dive

Now that you’ve booked a Florida Keys dive vacation, how can you be a better, safer diver once you get on the boat? Keys dive charter operators offer some important tips.

Dive within your certification level. If you’re an open-water diver, you’ll want to enjoy one of the Keys’ wonderful shallow reefs. If you’re an advanced open-water diver or higher, the Keys have deeper shipwrecks to explore as well.

Listen closely to the dive boat crew’s safety briefing. Not all Keys dive operators provide a dive guide. It’s important to understand the crew’s thorough review of how best to get off and on the boat as well as navigating the dive site, potential currents, hand signals and monitoring not just your air supply but also your dive buddy’s.

In the event a dive accident occurs, the Florida Keys are equipped with emergency medical services including a hyperbaric chamber. Any advanced medical treatments needed are readily accessible on mainland Florida, with an air ambulance available for emergency transport if required.

For more information about dive opportunities and sites in the Florida Keys’ five districts, as well as environmental protection tips for divers, visit fla-keys.com/diving/.

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Ocean conservation, education initiatives and demonstrating positive impacts of citizen science in the Florida Keys and around the world are at the core of the nonprofit Reef Environmental Education Foundation's mission.

The four-day festival features a full slate of social events, ocean-themed seminars, coral reef dives, snorkeling excursions with REEF fish surveyors to share helpful fish species knowledge, and guided kayak eco-tours with Keys operators to search for wading birds and nearshore marine life.

REEF Fest events kick off Thursday, Oct. 19, with morning dive and snorkel trips with area operators. From 4 to 7 p.m. at the REEF Campus, mile marker 98.3 in the Florida Keys Overseas Highway median, attendees can participate in an evening open house gathering for conservationists to meet and mingle, enjoy wine and craft beer, tour the interpretive center or walk a native plants trail.

Friday and Saturday, participants can again join morning dive, snorkel or kayak trips. Dedicated boat charters are reserved for the Thursday, Friday and Saturday dive and snorkel excursions. A REEF representative is to be onboard with fish identification and survey materials.

For paddlers, guided three-hour kayak tours can be booked Friday and Saturday mornings. Tours include all rental equipment, a lesson on paddling techniques, snacks and water, and guide. Visit fla-keys.com/keylargo or 800-822-1088

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