Once you’ve ticked off the many impressive sites in Key Largo, Islamorada and Marathon, you’ll arrive in yet another natural Florida Keys wonderland — the Lower Keys. A stunning swath of the archipelago that curves gently westward on its way to the end of the road in Key West, the Lower Keys is a destination all its own. And there’s tons of fun to discover here, both below the water’s surface and above.

All the elements of an idyllic dive vacation in the Florida Keys come together where the Overseas Highway comes to a dramatic finish in Key West. Here, you’re at the southernmost point of the United States, and worlds away from the mainland when it comes to attitude and stress level — after all, Key West is closer to Cuba than Miami. The United States is at its most Caribbean here, and not just in the pastel-hued bungalows and crystal-clear waters, but in Key West’s casual approach to life as a whole too. The Florida Keys’ dining scene is at its most sophisticated and diverse here. And if you think the diving opportunities dwindle out at the end of the road, you’d be dead wrong. One of the most exciting wrecks of the Florida Keys Wreck Trek awaits divers who descend on the General Hoyt S. Vandenberg. And day-trippers can head offshore from Key West to one of the most fascinating national parks in the United States within the islands of the Dry Tortugas. Read on for more ways to maximize your time diving and simply enjoying all the pleasures of Key West.

Beneath the aquamarine waters surrounding the Bahamas chain lies a silent fleet of shipwrecks. The vast majority of them are buried beneath the sand and reef, strewn across the sandy seabed like lost treasure. They have made the Bahamas famous, rightfully earning the sobriquet, “Wreck Capital of the Caribbean”.

There are thousands of them and most will be left undisturbed forever. But about 50 or so are accessible to divers. Most of these are scattered around the southwest coast of New Providence Island, more than 40 of them sunk over the past four decades by Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas just a short boat ride from the dock. With names like Port Nelson, Sea Trader, Vulcan Bomber, Steel Forest or Twin Sisters, they beckon to underwater explorers searching for adventure, mystery and a taste of a rich maritime history.

For pure visual impact, few underwater experiences surpass the excitement and beauty of descending into the depths and watching a ghost ship with its distinctive lines and bulk slowly but steadily materialize out of the blue, literally.

The beauty of liveaboard scuba diving with Explorer Ventures, lies not only in the ease of accessing the world’s best dive sites, but the simplicity of having your hotel, amenities, restaurant and dive facilities close by at all times. A comfortable and customized liveaboard vessel, the Turks and Caicos Explorer II puts you right on the doorstep of some of the Caribbean's most exquisite, and famous dive sites. Shore-based stays mean you spend most of your time commuting to these hard to reach dive sites. On Explorer Ventures liveaboard, you're only a giant stride away from discovering this dramatic underwater scenery, and you can dive up to 5 times a day! No fuss!

The SeaLife DC2000 is a versatile underwater camera. New photographers will appreciate its automatic and underwater shooting modes, simple menu navigation and effortless piano key controls.

Great wide-angle images can show dramatic reefscapes, depict the fast action of swimming dolphins, or present the eerie vibe of a deep shipwreck.

The island of Bonaire has one of the highest rates of repeat visitors in the Caribbean. Sand Dollar Condominiums wants to ensure even the most seasoned traveler will have something different to discover on their next visit to the island.

Pro Dive International offers unforgettable experiences in Mexico.

This remote, tropical eastern Pacific island offers underwater thrills found nearly nowhere else on Earth.