Commonly seen Sea Floor Dwelling Creatures while snorkeling or diving in the Florida Keys

Besides the fish and coral, you might be wondering what kind of Non-Fish Sea Floor and Bottom-Dwellers and other marine life are you likely to encounter in the Floida Keys? What do they look like? What are their names? Scrol down this page and see a master list of the most commonly observed Non-Fish Sea Floor and Bottom-Dwellers and other wildlife in the Sanctuary Protected Areas (SPA) of the Florida Keys. The Florida Keys are home to Earth's second largest coral reef, after Australia's Great Barrier Reef. There are so many amazing snorkeling and diving locations in the Keys and so much to see. You can also click here to see the Top snorkeling and diving locations in the Florida keys.

Commonly seen Non-Fish Sea Floor and Bottom-Dwellers and other marine life while snorkeling or diving in the Florida Keys

Below is a master identifier photo followed by notes and/or descriptions of each after it! That part will take time to fill out!

If you have access to a color printer, you can print out this PDF version of the table (it will open in a new window ready to print) below put it in a gallon size ziplock bag which makes it waterproof and take it along with you to identify the Non-Fish Sea Floor and Bottom-Dwellers . Of course, double check that your zip lock bag is sealed properly, if you want to go underwater with it or take a few backup copies

Top 50 most commonly seen fish and other marine life while snorkeling or diving in the Florida Keys

Sea Floor Dwelling Creatures in Florida Keys Snorkel Sites

Besides fish and coral, these popular snorkel locations (Looe Key Reef, Alligator Reef, Cheeca Rocks, Patch Reef, Molasses Reef, Hen and Chickens, John Pennekamp reefs, San Pedro Wreck Reef, Pickles Reef, Sombrero Key Reef, and Conch Reef) host a rich variety of invertebrates and other marine life on the seafloor and near the bottom. You can typically expect to see 10–20+ noticeably different types on a good snorkel, depending on conditions and luck.

Commonly Seen (Non-Fish) Reef animals, Sea Floor and Bottom-Dwellers

Sea Turtles (Green, Loggerhead) - Frequently glide over reefs or rest on the bottom; common at most sites, especially Cheeca Rocks and Looe Key.
Rays (Spotted Eagle Rays, Southern Stingrays) - Graceful swimmers or partially buried in sand; often spotted at Looe Key, Molasses, and Hens and Chickens.
Nurse Sharks - Docile bottom-dwellers resting under ledges or coral; seen at many reefs including Molasses and Alligator.
Spiny Lobsters - Antennae poking from crevices or under coral; common but more active at night.
Sea Urchins (Long-spined, Rock-boring) - On the seafloor or coral; watch for spines (numbers have fluctuated but are recovering in some areas).
Starfish / Sea Stars (various species) - Crawling on sand or coral; including cushion stars and others.
Sea Cucumbers - Soft, elongated bodies on the sand or reef; common in patch reefs.
Crabs (Arrow Crabs, Hermit Crabs, Sponge Crabs) - Scuttling among coral or in crevices.
Conch (Queen Conch) - Large shells on sandy patches (protected-observe only).
Sponges (Tube, Barrel, Vase, Finger) - Colorful structures providing habitat; very noticeable on many reefs.
Anemones - Attached to rocks or coral; sometimes hosting clownfish-like associations.
Brittle star
Octopus (camouflaged)
Nudibranchs, sea slugs
Christmas Tree Worms.

What to Expect by Site Type

Patch Reefs (Cheeca Rocks, Hens and Chickens, Patch Reef): Excellent for starfish, sea cucumbers, crabs, and conch on sandy areas between coral heads.
Barrier Reefs (Looe Key, Molasses, Alligator, Sombrero): More rays, nurse sharks, lobsters in deeper grooves, and diverse sponges.
Wreck Sites (San Pedro): Extra structure attracts lobsters, crabs, and eels hiding in debris.
John Pennekamp Reefs: High diversity including urchins, sea stars, and turtles.

Tips for Observation

Move slowly and hover above the bottom without stirring sand. Many creatures are well-camouflaged. Guided tours often highlight these invertebrates. All marine life is protected-look, photograph, but never touch or collect. Visibility and season affect sighting.

Print the identifer table and put it in a gallon size zip lock bag to take on the boat

All you need is a color printer. When you click here it will open the PDF of the image above, ready to print out in a portrait mode on a color printer. Once you print it you can simply take a pair of scissors cut off the white borders and slide it into a gallon size zip lock bag to make it waterproof. You could also use heavier card stock paper to make it stiffer.

What Influences Sightings

Conditions (such as water clarity, weather, currents, season), group size, and guide knowledge matter. Shallow calm days improve sightings; deeper or outer reefs offer bigger fish. All sites are protected: you may observe without touching or feeding. Guided tours (with ID tips) enhance the experience for some. These reefs deliver an experience like you are inside a giant aquarium, with constant color and motion.

Also see the Top 11 best snorkeling and diving locations in the Florida keys