A shipwreck.
A lighthouse.
The ghost of a marine lab.
And turtles—sometimes.
Today we’re visiting Loggerhead Key, the biggest island in the Dry Tortugas. This 49-acre stretch is a little slice of paradise, with beautiful beaches, lush vegetation, clear waters, winding trails, and breathtaking views. From 1904 to 1939, the Carnegie Marina Biological Laboratory conducted research here, but today only a few structures remain, including the lighthouse and the keeper’s house.
Oh, and then there’s Ray, the friendly National Park Service volunteer who insisted we tell you that the island does not exist.
Untouched beauty
Ray was quite an interesting character. He’s lived on Loggerhead Key for 15 years, tending to the island and lighthouse. He explained that if more and more tourists come, the park service will have to install sewer lines and a fresh water system more substantial than the saltwater purifier currently installed (and which currently does not work!). As soon as a place is discovered, it becomes overrun and loses its charm. He’d rather the wild beauty of this place remain untouched.
We don’t blame him. As he gave us a private tour of the island, we saw why he loves it so much.
What can you do on Loggerhead Key?
Except for Ray, Loggerhead Key is uninhabited, making it the perfect haven for wildlife. Turtles are especially popular here; after all, the key is named for the Loggerhead turtle. Sea turtle eggs usually hatch between June and November, so be sure to time your visit accordingly if you want a better chance of spotting these amazing creatures. Sadly we came in the wrong season for that!
Loggerhead Key also has a great network of trails; getting in a good walk is a nice change from hours on a small, swaying boat. Day visitors and campers do come here, but the island is only accessible by private boat. You can also reach it by bringing your own kayaks/canoes onto the Garden Key ferry, assuming there is space.
If you like to snorkel or free dive, the Loggerhead Reef is a pretty epic spot. Not every snorkel hotspot has a shipwreck! Check out the video and our up-close look at the Windjammer Wreck. Although only discovered in 1971, this iron-hulled ship once named Avanti has lain beneath these waters since the early 1900s, housing tropical fish, spiny lobsters, and several species of coral.
And it’s not every day you get to go snorkeling with friends! There’s something special about friendship within the boating community; we’re thankful for our new friends Matt and Marsha who hosted us on their boat and accompanied us on this day trip to Loggerhead Key. It was one of those days that gave us everything we’d hoped for when we started this adventure—a chance to explore a new place and its fascinating inhabitants.
Tune in next week as we travel to the Bahamas!! We are SO excited to finally get there!!!
