USS Spiegel Grove

The Spiegel Grove's story is half the dive: the 155 m landing ship dock sank prematurely and rolled in 2002, was wrestled onto her side, and then Hurricane Dennis in 2005 did what salvage crews could not, setting her upright on the sand. She is enormous - divers speak of visiting neighborhoods rather than seeing the ship - with cranes, a cavernous well deck, and passageways prepared for trained wreck divers. Superstructure begins around 14-18 m, the sand lies at roughly 40 m, and goliath groupers the size of loveseats guard the shadows while barracuda hang in the current above. Multiple moorings, multiple dives, and most Key Largo regulars still have not seen all of her.

The moment you come for: One of the largest ships ever intentionally reefed, resident goliath groupers, the hurricane-righting story

Topography: 155 m landing ship dock upright on sand at about 40 m

Current: Current over the wreck varies from slack to ripping; descend and ascend on the mooring lines.

Hazards: Depth, current, and a genuine overhead environment for anyone leaving the exterior; monitor gas and deco margins.

Conservation: An FKNMS artificial reef; mooring buoys mandatory, artifact removal prohibited.

Nitrox: Worth it here — profiles sit in the range where enriched air meaningfully extends no-stop time (with the training to use it).