Located in Key Largo, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is the country’s first undersea park, encompassing nearly 70 nautical square miles, protecting a unique segment of the only living coral reef in North America.
The extensive patch of coral reef system in the park is comprised of 32 stony coral species and 14 octocoral species, which support a diverse variety of marine animals. The protected coral reef, large seagrass beds, and mangrove ecosystems of Key Largo are home to numerous species that are critically economically, culturally, and ecologically important.
Our Foundation is committed to making Florida’s Coral Reef accessible to all, including via the Pennekamp State Park’s underwater camera since 2022. Also known as the Coral Cam, it live streams from a coral reef inside the park. Viewers have the opportunity to see beautiful purple fan corals, blue angelfish, trunkfish, and hundreds more at the click of a button. On-site, the Coral Cam is also featured at a permanent kiosk inside the park’s visitor center. During the recent marine heatwaves, the camera also gave viewers a behind the scenes experience of the effects of high ocean temperatures on marine life.
