5.0(2 Reviews)Eagle Wreck Dive | Florida Keys Adventure
5.0(2 reviews)
Shared Trip
Scuba Diving
Advanced wreck dive on 287-foot Eagle freighter at 110 feetEncounter barracuda, grouper, jacks, and occasional reef sharksFridays 7:45 AM with guided dives and equipment included
You're looking at one of the Keys' most legendary dives — the Eagle wreck off Islamorada. This 287-foot freighter sits perfectly upright in 110 feet of crystal-clear water, and it's become a magnet for marine life that'll blow your mind. We're talking massive schools of fish, curious barracuda, hefty grouper, and if you're lucky, some reef sharks cruising by to check you out. This is advanced diving at its finest, and our Friday morning trips give you the best visibility and calmest conditions of the week.
The Eagle has been down there since 1985, and Mother Nature has turned this steel giant into a living reef that's absolutely covered in coral growth and sponges. When you drop down that mooring line at 7:45 AM, you'll hit the deck around 80 feet before working your way deeper to explore the holds and superstructure. The wreck is completely penetrable for certified wreck divers, but even staying on the outside gives you plenty to see. Schools of yellowtail snapper and grunt swirl around the structure like underwater tornadoes, while green moray eels peek out from the darker recesses. The visibility here averages 60-80 feet on a good day, and trust me, most days are good days on the Eagle. Our guides know every inch of this wreck and will show you the best photo spots and the areas where the big fish like to hang out.
This is an advanced dive, plain and simple. You'll need to be comfortable with deeper profiles and managing your bottom time carefully since we're hitting that 100-110 foot range. We guide all our dives at a 1:6 ratio, so you're getting personalized attention from dive professionals who know these waters inside and out. All your tanks and weights are included, plus we've got hot freshwater showers on the boat — a game-changer after spending time in salt water. We provide fresh fruit onboard and have ice coolers with drinking water, though bring your own refillable bottle to stay hydrated. The Giant Stride, our dive boat, is set up specifically for wreck diving with easy entries and plenty of space to gear up. Advanced Open Water certification is the minimum here, but honestly, if you've got some deep diving experience under your belt, you'll get way more out of this dive. We run a tight operation with safety as the top priority, but we also know how to have fun down there.
"Always a good time diving with Key Dives. Great Staff and the Giant Stride is a great boat!" - Duane
"So much fun! Key Dives staff is the best!!" - Laura
Barracuda are the real showstoppers on the Eagle wreck. These silver torpedoes cruise around the superstructure in groups, sometimes forming walls of fish that part as you swim through. They're curious but harmless — they might follow you around for a bit, checking out your gear with those intense stares. Great barracuda can reach 4-5 feet long out here, and seeing them against the backdrop of the wreck structure makes for some seriously dramatic underwater photography. They're most active in the morning hours, which is exactly when we're diving.
Goliath grouper are the gentle giants you'll encounter around the Eagle, especially during summer months from June through September when they gather to spawn. These massive fish can weigh several hundred pounds and have zero fear of divers — they'll often swim right up to you with that curious, almost dog-like expression. They're protected, so no touching, but getting eye-to-eye with a fish that's bigger than you is something every diver should experience. The Eagle's structure provides perfect ambush spots for smaller black and gag grouper too, which hang out in the shadows waiting for an easy meal to swim by.
Reef sharks, particularly Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks, treat the Eagle wreck like a cleaning station and resting spot. The Caribbean reef sharks are sleek and fast, usually cruising the outer edges of the wreck in the blue water. They're completely harmless to divers but give you that heart-pumping moment when you spot one gliding through your peripheral vision. Nurse sharks are the laid-back cousins — they often rest under the wreck's overhangs during the day, looking more like underwater logs until they decide to move. Both species are year-round residents, but you'll see more activity during the warmer months when baitfish are thick around the structure.
The Eagle wreck isn't just another dive site — it's a destination that keeps advanced divers coming back for more. Every descent reveals something new, whether it's a massive school of jacks that wasn't there last time or a new coral formation growing on the deck. Our Friday morning schedule gives you the perfect start to your weekend, and with our multi-dive packages, you can save serious money while exploring more of what the Keys have to offer. The 5-dive package drops your cost to just $92 per trip, and even the 3-dive option saves you money at $97 per trip. Plus, that $2 from every dive goes directly to coral reef restoration — so you're not just exploring these reefs, you're helping preserve them for the next generation of divers. Book your spot on the Eagle wreck dive and see why this 287-foot artificial reef has earned its reputation as one of the top wreck dives in the Florida Keys.
The 42-foot Newton dive boat cuts through Islamorada's crystal-clear waters with plenty of room for your Eagle wreck adventure. Built for serious diving, this spacious vessel keeps trips comfortable with just 18 divers max, though she can handle up to 25 when needed. Her sturdy design handles the deeper waters where the Eagle rests at 110 feet, while the onboard hot water showers feel amazing after your dive. The boat's equipped with everything serious wreck divers need – tank storage, gear areas, and a cooler setup for the fresh fruit they serve. Captain and crew know these waters inside out, getting you to the wreck site efficiently so you can spend maximum time exploring the coral-covered freighter. The Newton's stable platform makes gearing up easy, and her size means you're not cramped during the surface interval. Perfect dive boat for tackling one of the Keys' most famous wrecks.
5.0 out of 5.0Always a good time diving with Key Dives. Great Staff and the Giant Stride is a great boat!
So much fun! Key Dives staff is the best!!
Islamorada, FL