Dive Neptune Memorial Reef in Miami, Florida
Explore a sunken memorial city just 3 miles off Key Biscayne. Shallow, scenic, and unlike any other dive in Florida.
3.25 Miles
off Key Biscayne
About 45ft
shallow depth
Boat Dive
from Crandon Marina
Certified
Open Water Level
Just a short boat ride from Key Biscayne, a sunken city waits beneath the Atlantic and it’s unlike any other dive in Florida. Gates, pathways, and statuary rise from the sand, now covered in coral and swarming with reef fish.
What Is Neptune Memorial Reef? Miami’s Underwater Cemetery and Artificial Reef
Neptune Memorial Reef is an underwater memorial and artificial reef, conceived as a cemetery beneath the sea. It was designed to become one of the largest artificial reefs in the world, and it continues to grow. Cremated remains are incorporated into the reef’s structures, then marked with memorial plaques.
The design was inspired by the Lost City of Atlantis, with gates, pathways, benches, and statuary. Since opening in 2007, its structures have become a habitat for coral and reef life.
See the reef for yourself
Watch our Neptune Memorial Reef dives on the Diver’s Paradise YouTube playlist!
What to Expect When Diving Neptune Memorial Reef
The reef sits at roughly 40 feet (12 m). Recent diver reports from our own trips list maximum depths in the low 40s, which means plenty of bottom time and good light for photos.
Expect to drift slowly through the “city”: past the gates, along the pathways, and among the statues, now encrusted with coral and sponges. Schools of reef fish gather around the structures, and the site is a favorite for photographers. Typical visibility is good but varies with the day, commonly somewhere between 30 and 65 feet. Currents here are generally mild.
This is an active memorial, so we ask every diver to move with care. Look, don’t touch. Keep buoyancy controlled, stay off the structures, and leave everything as you found it. Fishing is not permitted on the site.
Where Is Neptune Memorial Reef Located?
The reef is 3.25 miles east of Key Biscayne, and it can only be reached by boat. Diver’s Paradise is based at Crandon Marina, right after you cross onto Key Biscayne, so we’re among the closest operators to the site. The ride out is short, and the Miami skyline makes a great backdrop.
Can Anyone Dive Neptune Memorial Reef?
All ceritifed divers can experience Neptune Memorial Reef! The minimum certification level for independent scuba divers is PADI Open Water Diver (or an equivalent certification), making this a great dive for newer and experienced divers alike. If it’s been a while since your last scuba dive, ask us about a refresher before your trip!
Not certified yet? You can still join us through Discover Scuba Diving, a one-day introductory experience where you’re closely guided by a certified instructor.
Freedivers are welcome too! Freedivers must bring a dive buddy and use a dive flag and float for safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
About 45 feet (12 m), with maximum depths on dives typically in the low 40s.
Yes, scuba diving here requires an open water certification.
Yes! The shallow depth, mild conditions, and large structures make it one of Miami’s more accessible dives.
By boat only. We depart from Crandon Marina on Key Biscayne, and host scuba diving trips 5+ times a week.
It’s an underwater cemetery and an artificial reef in one. Cremated remains are incorporated into Atlantis-inspired structures, such as gates, pathways, and benches, and today they’re packed with coral and fish, some of the richest marine life you’ll see on a Miami dive. Certified divers can visit and see it up close.
Yes! Divers are welcome, and the reef was designed to be visited. We simply ask for respect: no touching, no disturbing the structures, and calm, careful diving.
Tons of reef fish and coral growth around the statues and structures. Sightings vary by season and day, but common sightings include: manta rays, barracudas, nurse sharks, eels, and crabs.
No. Fishing isn’t permitted at the site.
Yes. Neptune Memorial Reef, 3.25 miles off Key Biscayne, is a memorial site and artificial reef where cremated remains are incorporated into the reef’s structures and marked with memorial plaques. It opened in 2007 and is also a beautiful dive site open to certified divers.
Memorialization is arranged through Neptune Memorial Reef directly, not through dive operators.
If you’re a certified diver who wants to visit the reef, you can book a dive with us!
