Off the south end of Big Pine Key lies this wonderful Sanctuary Preserve Area (SPA). SPAs are areas in the ocean that area federally protected from fishing, lobstering, collecting, etc and are usually found around reefs of some sort. Unfortunately for kayakers most of these sites lie at least 3 miles off shore but this is an exception (the other is Cheeca Rocks). Located just a few hundred yards from the nearest shore are the big yellow/orange buoys denoting a SPA and within their bounds are several white mooring buoys. Be sure to tie your kayak to the buoys and not to drop an anchor in this protected zone. While this reef is only a few hundred yards off shore, the paddle to reach it is a bit further. The nearest shore is private islands (the attractive beach that appears uninhabited is own by the Boy Scouts). The closest road access and launch point is found by heading to the end of Long Beach Drive on the east side of Big Pine Key. Look for signs for the Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge and you will easily locate Long Beach Drive. If you head all the way to the end of the road you will find a rough dirt track leading to a muddy beach. Feel free to park at the edge of the pavement and portage your kayak to the water. Once in the water paddle to the right along the shore as Big Pine Key gives way to smaller islands. If you head between the island you will find yourself in Coupon Bight, a popular place to view Key Deer, shore birds, etc (as well as the pair of Horseshoe crabs pictured above). You will want to stay to the outside of the islands. Once you find yourself past the homes built along the shore start looking off shore slightly for the marker buoys or the navigation marker (this will be an orange placard on a post). Once you spot either of these markers then head straight for them. Tie up the one of the white mooring buoys and dive in to snorkel. You may also see several commercial snorkeling tour boats tied up to the mooring buoys.
The closer group of mooring buoys has slightly better snorkeling than the farther buoys, but any of the spots are acceptable. Sometimes commercial snorkeling boats may pull up to this area and recreational boaters are in the area so be sure to have your dive flag displayed. The reef is in two main patches so be sure to swim around the whole area to see everything! Watch for stingrays and nurse sharks resting on the bottom as we have seen huge members of both these species. There are of course all the usual reef fish and we once saw a pair of large porcupine fish cavorting among the reef and practically crashing into us as they played. Our underwater still camera was on the fritz