John Pennekamp - Molasses Reef
Posted by: 
tiki-4
N 25° 00.650 W 080° 22.450
17R E 563147 N 2766293
United States first undersea park, created in 1963.
Waymark Code: WM11CJ
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 12/12/2006
Views: 216
The park, combined with the adjacent Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, encompasses 178 nautical square miles of coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove swamps. These areas were established to protect and preserve the only living coral reef in the continental United States.
State Park
Molasses Reef is located near the southern boundary of the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary and marked by a 45-foot steel light tower. Thirty-three mooring buoys designated with the letter "M" (M1-M33) mark unique dive sites on the reef. Molasses Reef has become one of the most frequently visited dive sites in the entire world. It has been estimated that each year up to 250,000 divers enjoy the beautiful reef relief, clear water visibility, and the prolific marine life for which Molasses Reef is famous for.
The primary source for this data is here:
FLKeysDiving.com
If you take the state concessionaire's trip (PADI 5-Star Gold Palm facility offers two-location, two-tank, two different location dives, twice daily, at 9:30 and 1:30) for $45.00.
If you have your own boat, the closest ramp to launch is from inside the park and it is a 9 mile trip out one way. Ramp fee was 10.00 and of course, either way one goes, they have to pay the park enterance fee.
There is a geocache nearby:
GCN75J