Florida Keys · United States · Reef · Channel & pass
Jeri's Joint
A sand channel running through spur-and-groove coral
Area photo: NOAA (Maya Walton) · Public domain
A spur-and-groove reef off Islamorada, interspersed with large coral heads and named for the sand channel, the joint, that runs through it. Typical depths are 35 to 65 feet, about 10.7 to 19.8 m, so the shallow spurs sit in easy water while the deep end of the site runs past the Open Water limit.
Where it is and how deep
24.8802° N, 80.5619° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The joint is the organising feature of the dive. Drop onto the reef, find the sand channel and use it as the line you work along, running out with the large coral heads on either side and coming back over the spurs rather than covering the reef at random. The channel gives a group of mixed experience something obvious to stay on, and an easy route back to where the boat is waiting.
Depth is the only thing here that needs settling in advance. At 20 m (65 ft) the far end of the site is past the 18 m Open Water limit, so either the group is certified for it or the dive turns before that point, and agreeing which before anyone gets in saves a conversation on the reef. The simplest profile is to take the deeper end of the channel early and shallow up along the spurs as the dive runs down.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
Season follows Florida Keys: Winter cold fronts (December-February) bring choppier seas and cooler water; April-August offers the calmest conditions, though hurricane season runs June-November.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Jeri's Joint?+
Typical depths range from 35 feet (10.7 m) to 65 feet (19.8 m). The shallow spurs suit any certification level; the deep end is past the 18 m Open Water limit.
Sources
- Jeri's Joint — Scubago
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