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Benwood Wreck
SS Benwood | Fast Facts
- Type: Merchant cargo ship
- Date of Service: 1910-1942
- Depth: 25–45 feet
- Diver Level: Open Water
- Currents: Light to medium
- Coordinates: 25°03.160'N, 80°20.020'W, about 1 mile northeast of Key Largo, Florida
- Highlights: Intact bow, anchor from another wreck, large deck sections, vibrant marine life
- Great for: Beginner divers, snorkeling, underwater photography, training dives
Marine Life You'll See at the Benwood Wreck
Locals call the Benwood Wreck the “Turtle Hotel,” thanks to the array of turtle species that call it home.
You’ll also find lobsters, moray eels, damselfish, parrotfish, yellowtail snapper, grunts, nurse sharks, and goliath groupers — wildlife at its finest.
On any given dive, it’s a prime spot for underwater photography, with something new to capture around every corner.
Why the Benwood Wreck Is a Must-Dive in Key Largo, Florida
The Benwood Wreck, located just offshore of Key Largo near French Reef, is one of the area’s best-known shallow wreck dives. Abundant marine life, turtles, tropical fish, and natural sunlight filtering across the wreckage make it an especially great site for underwater photography.
Ready To Dive In?
That’s enough scrolling — time to book your adventure
Adventures are better with the right people — and the best crew. Join Sail Fish Scuba for daily guided scuba diving tours in Key Largo, Florida, and explore the Benwood Wreck, one of the most iconic Florida Keys dive sites. Experience the difference with our small groups and personalized attention, ensuring safety, professionalism, and an unforgettable dive. Dive among green sea turtles, tropical fish, and coral-covered wrecks, and enjoy complimentary underwater photography to make your land-dwelling friends jealous of the adventure you just lived.
Discover the Benwood Wreck – Top Dive Site in the Florida Keys
The Benwood Wreck is one of Key Largo’s most popular shallow wreck dives. Sunk during World War II, the wreck has become part of the reef and is now home to schools of tropical fish, moray eels, lobsters, and sea turtles. Its shallow depth, abundant marine life, and recognizable wreckage make the Benwood a favorite for divers and underwater photographers.
The Benwood Wreck is a great place to slow down and look closely. Its structure provides plenty of hiding places for some of Key Largo’s best-camouflaged marine life — the kind of creatures you can easily swim right past if you’re not paying attention.
Green sea turtles are a favorite sight on the Benwood Wreck, and divers will often find them tucked into the shelter of the wreck, seemingly taking an afternoon nap.
The Benwood is part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Shipwreck Trail, a collection of nine historic wreck sites throughout the Keys
Part of the fun of exploring the Benwood is looking closely—you never know when you’ll find an anemone tucked away among the wreckage.
Keep an eye out for porcupinefish while exploring the Benwood Wreck! These distinctive reef fish can often be spotted around the wreck and surrounding coral, with their large eyes, spotted bodies, and unmistakable spines making them a fun find for divers
The Benwood Wreck’s shallow depth and natural sunlight create excellent conditions for underwater photography. Schools of yellowtail and sergeant majors move throughout the wreck, making it one of our favorite Key Largo dive sites for capturing great underwater shots.
The Benwood’s shallow depth makes this historic Key Largo wreck accessible to Open Water divers, with plenty of wreckage and marine life to explore along the way.
Over the years, the Benwood has become part of the reef itself, with corals, sea fans, and sponges growing among the wreckage and providing shelter for countless reef fish.
This green sea turtle was spotted during a night dive at the Benwood wreck, affectionately known as the “Turtle Hotel” thanks to the frequent turtle sightings at this popular Florida Keys dive site. Join a Key Largo guided scuba diving tour with Sail Fish Scuba and discover why the Benwood is a favorite among marine life—and divers alike!
The Benwood Wreck is a favorite Key Largo dive site, known for its coral-covered structure, tropical fish, turtles, and abundant marine life. Explore it on a guided dive with Sail Fish Scuba.
A little underwater “Where’s Waldo” — keep an eye on the nooks and crannies of the Benwood Wreck, where sea turtles can be spotted resting among the wreckage.
Guided scuba diving tours with Sail Fish Scuba often head to the Benwood Wreck for night dives, thanks to the abundance of marine life encounters. Night dives run every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday — a chance to see green sea turtles, octopus, and nocturnal marine life in the heart of Key Largo’s waters.
A diver explores the historic Benwood Wreck with one of our professional dive guides. This shallow Key Largo wreck is accessible to Open Water divers, with coral-covered wreckage, abundant marine life, and a fascinating piece of World War II-era history.
In 2017, Hurricane Irma shifted enough sand to uncover a previously hidden anchor. This anchor is located off the starboard bow of the Benwood.
If turtles and wrecks are your vibe, the Benwood Wreck might be the dive for you! Green sea turtles and loggerheads are frequent visitors, often spotted cruising around or resting near the wreckage.
A curious sea turtle peeks out from under the wreckage of the SS Benwood, offering a magical surprise to divers exploring this iconic underwater site. Located off the coast of Key Largo, Florida, the SS Benwood is one of the most popular wrecks in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and a highlight of many guided scuba diving tours with Sail Fish Scuba.
Adventure awaits as scuba divers explore the iconic Benwood wreck on a guided tour in Key Largo. Known for its rich WWII history and thriving marine ecosystem, this shallow wreck dive is a must for anyone scuba diving in the Florida Keys. Experience expert guidance and underwater photography with Sail Fish Scuba on your next dive.
Explore the large anchor located in front of the Benwood wreck's bow on a guided scuba diving tour with Sail Fish Scuba in Key Largo, Florida. This anchor does not belong to the Benwood but to another nearby wreck.
We affectionately call the Benwood wreck the “Turtle Hotel” due to the abundance of sea turtle sightings tucked into the crevices and coral-covered wreckage. This iconic Key Largo shipwreck is a favorite among divers on guided scuba tours with Sail Fish Scuba, offering incredible opportunities to observe green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles in their natural habitat.
A school of tropical fish swims over the historic SS Benwood shipwreck during a guided scuba diving tour with Sail Fish Scuba in Key Largo, Florida — a top destination for wreck diving and marine life encounters in the Florida Keys.
We Might Not Be Your Dive Shop If...
You’re looking for a crowded cattle boat, prefer diving without a guide, or just want to be another name on the manifest. That’s not our style.
At Sail Fish Scuba, we keep our groups small, our dives always guided, and our trips personal.
There’s a reason we’re one of the top-rated dive shops in the Upper Keys. If that sounds like the kind of diving experience you’re looking for, come dive with us at Sail Fish Scuba, Mile Marker 103 in Key Largo.
