Ever since the Florida Keys were settled two centuries ago, the island chain has been known for its residents’ adventurous seafaring spirit. Today, that spirit remains among the Keys’ most appealing attributes. And contemporary visitors can find it in museums and attractions, tales of sunken treasure and dive trips to famed shipwreck sites.

Many early settlers in Islamorada and Key West were wreckers — salvaging goods from ships that sank along the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef, which runs parallel to the Keys. While the wreckers’ strict code mandated rescuing crews and passengers first, they also profited from salvaged cargo. In the mid-1800s, wrecking made Key West the wealthiest city per capita in the U.S.

Keys visitors can relive that era at the Upper Keys’ Indian Key Historic State Park, a small island that was once a busy port established by wrecker Jacob Housman in the 1800s, or at the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum, featuring re-enactors and salvaged artifacts.

A century earlier, fleets of Spanish galleons regularly sailed past the Keys carrying goods and treasures from the New World back to Spain. Many sank in the area, including 13 ships from Spain’s 1733 fleet.

Among the galleons was La Capitana, the flagship of the 1733 fleet, which sank off the Upper Keys. In the late 1930s, pioneering diver Art McKee began salvaging the vessel’s remains — recovering cannons, silver and gold coins, weapons, navigational instruments and silver bars.

Dubbed the father of modern treasure diving, McKee also uncovered the sites of the Infante, Herrera, Chaves, San Pedro and San José. His exploits are chronicled in a remarkable exhibit at the Florida Keys History of Diving Museum in Islamorada.

The Keys’ most famous wreck is immortalized at Key West’s Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. The museum showcases artifacts and treasures from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, lost in a 1622 hurricane and discovered off Key West in 1985 by shipwreck salvager Mel Fisher. Items on display include gold chains, cannons, navigational instruments, coins and heavy silver bars.

Today’s adventurers can indulge their own seafaring spirit by diving the Keys’ Shipwreck Heritage Trail. Featuring nine wreck sites stretching from Key Largo to Key West, the trail was established by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to spotlight the island chain’s rich maritime history.

Its wrecks range from McKee’s San Pedro to modern cargo and military ships and artificial reefs. Among them is the Thunderbolt, intentionally sunk in 1986 some 4 miles south of Marathon in 120 feet of water.

Three other significant vessels also beckon Keys divers. The 510-foot Spiegel Grove, the third-largest ship ever intentionally sunk to create a new reef, is positioned about 6 miles off Key Largo in 130 feet of water. It has attracted divers, fish and other marine life since its 2002 sinking.

The 210-foot freighter Adolphus Busch Senior lies in Lower Keys waters approximately 5 miles southwest of Big Pine Key. Divers have been exploring the artificial reef since it was sunk in 1998.

The second-largest vessel ever to be sunk as an artificial reef is the 523-foot General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, scuttled in 2009 about 7 miles off Key West. Its hull rests on sand at depths averaging 145 feet, but its superstructure rises to about 45 feet below the surface.

Only a few ships that sank in Florida Keys waters carried gold or other rich cargoes. But from Spanish galleons to modern-day artificial reefs, they all offer treasured adventures for divers.

Captain Matthew “Matt” Bellinger grew up in Sandy Springs, Georgia, studied marine science at the University of Tampa, traveled as a divemaster after college and clearly remembers the “aha!” moment that prompted his move to the Florida Keys.

“It was during a dive trip visit to the original Mrs. Mac’s over conch fritters, fresh mahi-mahi and iced tea with lime,” Matt recalled. “I said, ‘I’m going to come to the Keys to live.’”

At age 27, Matt bought Ocean Quest Dive Center in Islamorada. He operated it until 1998, when he sold it to staff.

Today his company Bamboo Charters is known for family fishing charters out of World Wide Sportsman in Islamorada. The company specializes in family trips and fun day adventures as well as backcountry, tarpon and shark fishing excursions — and one targeting redfish, snook and trout.

Matt, who describes himself as “240 pounds of mama’s boy,” grew up in an outdoors-loving family of “water people” with four siblings at least 20 years older. He earned his dive certification in high school as a birthday gift from his parents.

He named Bamboo Charters as an “ode to his mother” after the bamboo forests of his home state. In the Keys, though, Matt is known for conducting onboard education about preservation and conservation of Florida Bay, its “sea grass prairies” and the delicate ecosystems of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

His fleet of three 25-foot Contender Bay Boats and a Parker 25 Center Console can comfortably accommodate families of two adults and four children.

The deep-voiced Matt is also known for his daily radio fishing reports on Sun103.1 and Thunder Country 100.3, two Keys FM stations.

He and wife Ana, an American Airlines flight attendant, live in Islamorada.

Keys Voices: When did you first come to the Florida Keys and why?

Matt Bellinger: I first came to the Keys Thanksgiving weekend 1981. I came to complete my dive certification as an open water diver.

KV: What aspects of the Keys environment or way of life matter most to you?

MB: The wild side of the Florida Keys. The hardwood hammocks, down to mangrove shorelines then continuing out to the reefs, along with the wildlife that inhabit this area because they’re all reliant on each other.

KV: Who or what inspired you to become passionate about respecting and protecting the Keys’ natural world?

MB: My parents and two high school science teachers fueled my wonder of the outside world. My father always stressed “Harvest only what you will eat that day and minimize any negative impact on the environment around you.”

KV: How does that passion influence your work or profession?

MB: My love and passion for the marine environment motivate me to educate my clients and imbue them, hopefully, with the same desire to protect this environment.

KV: What are some of the ways, personally or through your work, that you connect with and/or help protect the local environment and unique lifestyle?

MB: I take the approach on my boat that part of my job is to educate, inform and inspire my clients to learn and care more about this unique marine environment here in the Keys — as well as hopefully letting others know what a unique and fragile place this really is.

KV: What keeps you energized, challenged and focused on your path?

MB: Over the years, I’ve come to know individual dolphins and manatees. When I see “Croptop the Dolphin” or “Big Momma the Manatee,” it reinforces the need I feel to motivate people to become involved with and to care for this environment.

KV: What message do you want your actions and example to communicate to people you encounter?

MB: That people should try to minimize their negative impact on the environment around them.

KV: What’s your favorite natural or eco-friendly activity in the Keys?

MB: Snorkeling a mangrove shoreline or reef. On land I like to walk the trails at local state parks in Monroe County.

KV: What do you hope your positive environmental actions will accomplish?

MB: At the end of the day, I hope to motivate my clients to be inspired to learn more and care more about the environment here in the Keys and back home. Clients are seeking experiences together; more and more are also seeking education. We all have stewardship within us.

Summerland Key resident Dave Vaughan, founder of the Plant a Million Corals Foundation, is known worldwide for his “Eureka mistake” that led to a revolutionary coral fragmentation technique that enables the rapid growth of coral.

His technique is proving to be a vital tool in restoring and protecting the Florida Keys’ living coral barrier reef.

Dave is the pioneer of “micro-fragmentation” — the fragmenting or cutting of coral into small pieces of polyps. The process stimulates the rapid growth of coral tissue.

Throughout the Keys environmentalists, divers, citizen scientists and other volunteers are racing to replant resilient coral to replenish the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States through Mission: Iconic Reefs. The mission is an unprecedented effort to restore nearly 3 million square feet of the Florida Reef Tract at seven Keys reef sites.

Dave’s Plant a Million Corals’ land-based initiatives include development of transportable coral “nurseries in a box” (a 20-foot refrigerated shipping container) at the 4-acre bayside Summerland Farms. He ships the portable nurseries to exotic islands such as Mo’orea in French Polynesia, the Maldives and Puerto Rico and conducts about a week’s worth of training on-site.

Plant a Million Corals hopes to reduce the cost of replanting of each coral to $1, compared to $10 to $250 per coral currently spent by other nonprofit organizations. Dave’s foundation is funded through private donations and other foundations.

The scientist is also an author. His new book, “The Secret Life of Corals: Sex, War, and Rocks That Don’t Roll,” released in mid-November, is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and locally at Lower Keys Bait & Tackle and the National Key Deer Refuge Nature Center.

Dave, his wife Donna, daughter Dee Dee and son-in-law Jason Smause celebrated the official launch of Plant a Million Corals in early December.

Keys Voices: When did you first come to the Florida Keys and why?

Dave Vaughan: In 1975 I accompanied a research group to visit the (University of Miami’s then existing) Library of Seaweed at Pigeon Key.

KV: What aspects of the Keys environment or way of life matter most to you?

DV: The coral reefs providing protection for our community, food for our families and jobs for our economy. Our light green flats and deep blue ocean, where fishermen share their love of the water, and the mangrove forests keeping our inshore coastline in place all depend on the coral reefs.

KV: Who or what inspired you to become passionate about respecting and protecting the Keys’ natural world?

DV: Growing up I was fascinated with Jacques Cousteau and his undersea world. His work motivated me to pursue marine science. While working for Mote Marine Laboratories in Sarasota, I was inspired by two founders, Eugenie Clark and Sylvia Earle, who influenced me to move to the Keys and help with their coral restoration efforts.

KV: How does that passion influence your work or profession?

DV: I came to the Keys to work with coral research, but here I discovered technology used all over the world to grow and restore corals at 25 to 40 times faster than they would normally grow. Our facility, solar powered and off the grid, is developing ways to make coral restoration accessible and affordable to technicians and communities all over the world. It’s a global education, training and production hub for restoration — with a capacity of producing 1 million corals per year within two years.

KV: What are some of the ways, personally or through your work, that you connect with and/or help protect the local environment and unique lifestyle?

DV: Through my commitment to the coral reefs, here and internationally.

KV: What keeps you energized, challenged and focused on your path?

DV: Hope! At my start in coral restoration, we would almost need therapy at the end of meetings because the technology was so slow. When I discovered micro-fragmentation, we realized that with all the stressors on the reef, we now had a tool that would bring that timeline into months and years.

KV: What’s your favorite natural or eco-friendly activity in the Keys?

DV: Being on or in the water! I love to take our solar-powered dingy out on weekends and cruise over the sponge beds in front of our cove.

KV: What do you hope your positive environmental actions will accomplish?

DV: Environmental action in coral restoration will also trigger a reverence for the environment. Our kids can see the kind of Florida Keys life that I’ve been able to experience and enjoy.

KV: What message do you want your actions and example to communicate to people you encounter?

DV: Coral reefs are awesome. There is HOPE.

A group of 15 young rescued sea turtles (one of them a tiny baby) was recently released in Gulf Stream waters off Key West by a dedicated duo from the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital — and they were assisted in this worthy endeavor by members of a powerboat racing team who were on the island to compete in the sport’s world championship.

The released reptiles included a juvenile green sea turtle dubbed “Ian” for Hurricane Ian, whose tropical storm-force winds brushed the Key West area in late September.

The little guy was found buried in about a foot of seaweed by a family cleaning up around a boat ramp after the storm — so 8-year-old Khannan Mellies and his family promptly named their unexpected “guest” Ian and reached out to the Turtle Hospital.

The Turtle Hospital’s manager, Bette Zirkelbach, reported that Ian and three other green sea turtles, three hawksbills and eight loggerheads were all released Nov. 12 into a sargassum weed line about 20 miles off Key West in the Gulf Stream. (Sargassum acts as camouflage for young turtles, so it’s an ideal habitat for their stage of life.)

According to Bette, Ian and most of his cohorts were “washbacks” — a term for turtles washed ashore from the Gulf Stream by a storm’s wind and water action. All were cared for at the Turtle Hospital after being found.

The turtles were carried to the release point by a fleet mate of the 39-foot TS Motorsports MTI powerboat that was competing in the 450R Factory Stock class in Race World Offshore’s 2022 Key West Offshore World Championship.

Helping with the release were Taylor Scism, driver of the boat during the championship series; her father Randy Scism, a veteran powerboat racer; Captain Jack Carlson; and Turtle Hospital founder and director Richie Moretti.

The world’s first veterinary facility of its kind, the Turtle Hospital has been rescuing, rehabilitating and returning turtles to the wild for over 30 years. It’s located in Marathon, at mile marker 48.5 on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway, and visiting it provides an inspiring example of environmental passion in action.

Daily educational tours introduce visitors to the resident sea turtles (some are recovering “patients,” and some are permanent inhabitants whose conditions make their release impossible), as well as the hospital’s healing programs for loggerhead, green, hawksbill and Kemp’s ridley turtles.

In addition to their curative efforts, founders and staff work tirelessly to raise public awareness about sea turtles and their needs, collaborate with state universities on sea turtle research, and work toward environmental legislation that makes the beaches and water safer and cleaner for their charges.

The longstanding relationship between the hospital and Florida Keys powerboat race organizers was built on a mutual desire to safeguard the sea turtles, manatees and dolphins that inhabit Keys waters. Before and during each race in the annual championship series, Richie and Bette scan the racecourse from a helicopter to spot any marine wildlife that might be on or near it.

Race World Offshore’s Key West Offshore World Championship wrapped up Sunday, Nov. 13 — and TS Motorsports, with Taylor Scism driving and legendary racer John Tomlinson as throttleman, won the championship in their class.

But despite that impressive victory, the biggest “winners” during the team’s Key West sojourn were clearly Ian and his fellow turtles — who are beginning a new life in the Gulf Stream, thanks to the good-hearted racers and the dedicated group from the Turtle Hospital.

More than half a century ago, Captain Gainey Maxwell conceived a way to encourage people to visit and fish Florida Keys waters — and then come back to do it again. He called it the Key West Fishing Tournament.

The captain, who passed away several years ago after a life rich in experience, had an impressive set of credentials by the time he founded the tournament in 1965. A Navy veteran who ran fishing boats while he served, he subsequently skippered the Lookout III, a 50-footer with two staterooms for overnight trips.

He formatted the tournament in part to showcase the incredible variety of species awaiting anglers in Keys waters.

“I started it to get people interested in coming back and catching different fish,” Captain Gainey said during a 2015 interview. “We’d go fish over wrecks or in shallow water just to change and get different kinds of fish.

“The main thing is just to enjoy it and have fun doing it,” he added.

Today, an impressive 46 backcountry and offshore species are targeted during the free-entry tournament’s eight-month span. The 2023 challenge begins Dec. 1, 2022, and continues through July 31, 2023.

With divisions for men, women, junior anglers ages 10 to 15 and Pee Wees under 10 years old, the event provides a test of skill for seasoned anglers while developing newcomers’ interest in the sport.

It’s also known for motivating parents to introduce their favorite on-the-water activity to their kids. Family members from several generations sometimes compete together, bonding over the shared pursuit.

Among the most motivated young anglers is Miami’s Julia Bernstein. Fishing in the Pee Wee division in 2021, when she was 10 years old, she eclipsed her competitors to earn the division’s Master Angler award — for achievements including a remarkable 104 releases. Her catches included a 23.8-pound Jack Crevalle on 30-pound line that earned a tournament weight record, a 24.8-pound barracuda on 20-pound line that earned divisional “heaviest fish” honors, four other “heaviest fish” winners and three division leaders.

Julia continued her winning streak in the 2022 tournament, then competing in the junior division and earning the division’s out-of-county Master Angler designation with accomplishments that included 41 releases. Notable among them was a 20-pound permit caught on 12-pound line.

In the 2023 challenge as in past years, anglers that post the heaviest catch of each of 33 species earn recognition and trophies. Six different line classes and three artificial casting categories further heighten the competition.

Other awards recognize the most releases of barracuda, blue marlin, bonefish, dolphin fish, permit, sailfish and tarpon. In keeping with the Keys’ eco-conscious ethic to protect the fishery, the tournament strongly encourages the release of game fish and will not recognize any killed sailfish, marlin, spearfish, tarpon, redfish, warsaw grouper or shark for award purposes.

The respected tournament draws at least a thousand entries each year, and entrants can fish from a boat, bridge or land. Visiting and resident fishing aficionados can enter their catches at a tournament weigh station in the Lower Keys or Key West — OR they can enter by submitting photos of their fish at this link.

All participants receive certificates noting their catches and qualify for a variety of awards, including the coveted Master Angler titles.

Now celebrating its 58th anniversary, the Key West Fishing Tournament still adheres to the principles and purpose that Gainey Maxwell established for it in 1965.

“Gainey Maxwell had a vision to organize a tournament to promote the diverse sportfishing in the Keys,” said current tournament director Doris Harris. “Now, more than 50 years later, the event upholds his goal of showcasing the Keys fishery and providing a positive angling experience.”

Caitlyn “Caiti” Currie, who captains Key Largo water excursions for Pirates Cove Watersports and for school groups out of MarineLab at the Key Largo Undersea Park, is passionate about keeping the Florida Keys’ aquamarine waters clean.

Through Pirates Cove, located at Reefhouse Resort & Marina, Caiti enjoys captaining boats for and participating in Dive Against Debris trips.

Like many Keys environmentalists, she holds two jobs to be able to do meaningful work that she loves. At MarineLab — a Marine Resources Development Foundation program on Largo Sound at the park housing Jules’ Undersea Lodge — she educates student groups of all ages about Keys ecosystems.

The landlocked native of St. Louis, Missouri, packed her bags for Key Largo about 10 years ago. Previously she had studied marine archaeology at Southeast Missouri State University and conducted educational field research at the Sanisera Archaeology Institute in Menorca, Spain.

Caiti immediately landed a boat mate’s position at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. A couple of years later, she began studying for her captain’s license and earned it at age 25.

Her seven-year stint at Pennekamp ended when the coronavirus pandemic struck, and Pirates Cove offered her a captain’s job.

During her limited spare time, Caiti enjoys her two Labrador–Australian shepherd–mix dogs and performing with the Key Players theatrical troupe.

Keys Voices: When did you first come to the Florida Keys and why?

Caitlyn “Caiti” Currie: In 2013. I realized after college that I hated the cold weather too much, so I wanted to be somewhere it was warm all year round and where there were shipwrecks. I like water, warmth and buried treasure.

KV: What aspects of the Keys environment or way of life matter most to you?

CC: I really like how most everyone down here loves to do some activity on the water. Whether paddling, snorkeling or fishing, everyone likes to get out and enjoy our unique ecosystems. Not only do they enjoy it, they care about it! Our local community really gets involved in helping take care of our reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves.

KV: Who or what inspired you to become passionate about respecting and protecting the Keys’ natural world?

CC: Working on snorkel boats, glass-bottom boats and running eco-tours has allowed me to see firsthand how our ecosystems have been affected over the years. I can’t imagine what they looked like 50 to 60 years ago!

KV: How does that passion influence your work or profession?

CC: I try to make sure the companies I work for care about our environment and conditions as much as I do, if not more so.

KV: What are some of the ways, personally or through your work, that you connect with and/or help protect the local environment and unique lifestyle?

CC: Damage to our different ecosystems has encouraged me to educate visitors on how to properly interact with the environment they’re in, so that it can be enjoyed for years to come.

KV: What keeps you energized, challenged and focused on your path?

CC: My peers and co-workers constantly keep me energized about helping to educate others. Where I work, mainly at Pirates Cove Watersports, we do multiple Dive Against Debris trips throughout the year to help clean up the oceans. At MarineLab, we take school groups out to experience the different ecosystems and learn about them in depth.

KV: What do you hope your positive environmental actions will accomplish?

CC: The more we educate our visitors, the better our reefs can be in the future as more people realize the impact they can have on our beautiful and unique reefs — just with their everyday habits.

KV: What message do you want your actions and example to communicate to people you encounter?

CC: To encourage others to be appreciative of our environment down here and help us to preserve it.

KV: What’s your favorite natural or eco-friendly activity in the Keys?

CC: I’m not sure if I could pick a favorite activity! It’s a tie between diving and snorkeling.

The continental United States’ only contiguous living coral barrier reef, which parallels the Florida Keys, hosts huge populations of tropical fish and other creatures. Purple gorgonians, giant boulder corals, elegant finger corals, colorful shrimp, shy and skittish lobsters, bashful nurse sharks and rays provide an incomparable display of undersea life to divers and snorkelers.

The Keys reef is easy to get to and easy to navigate, while the warm clear water makes a long dive comfortable and enjoyable.

Around Halloween, however, the region’s underwater beauty goes hand in hand with offbeat fun.

That’s because Halloween in the Keys brings a popular yet unusual event: the Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest (yes, involving actual pumpkins) in Key Largo waters. (Key Largo, by the way, is the northernmost part of the island chain and is renowned as the Dive Capital of the World.)

Set for Saturday, Oct. 29, the contest is now in its 24th year and features intrepid “artists” descending approximately 25 feet beneath the surface. Their task: transform orange pumpkins into masterful sculptures incorporating frightening facial features, playful denizens of the sea or traditional toothy grins.

As well as design challenges, participants must contend with two other elements. First, hollow pumpkins are naturally buoyant. In other words, they tend to float — which means subsea sculptors must work with a potentially moving target AND keep it from drifting away.

Second, as seasoned pumpkin carvers know, hollowing out the gourds’ interior reveals seeds and stringy “guts.” These float too, and often attract quick-swimming reef fish that move in for a closer look and a nibble on the intriguing tidbits — so dodging finned “spectators” becomes part of the artistic process.

Each year, however, the pumpkin carvers not only persevere but report having a great time — competing to craft the most innovative creations to win prizes and bragging rights.

Previous years’ pumpkin entries have featured everything from traditional triangle eyes and toothless grins to shark-mouthed sneers, dolphin silhouettes and many other sea creatures. One crafty past competitor even came up with a “fishy” skeleton.

Certified divers can join in the Oct. 29 competition with Amoray Dive Resort, located at mile marker 104.5 in Key Largo. The two-location dive includes tanks, weights and a pumpkin ready for carving. Reservations are an absolute MUST.

Once the carving is complete, the top pumpkin chosen by the experienced judges (who double as the crew of the Amoray Diver dive boat) earns its creator a complimentary dive trip for two.

If you’re an advanced- or wreck-certified diver, Key Largo waters also offer another one-of-a-kind underwater adventure: the chance to dive on the 510-foot U.S. Navy ship Spiegel Grove, the world’s third-largest ship ever intentionally sunk to become an artificial reef. The vessel has enthralled trained divers since June 2002, when the Key Largo community rallied to sink it as the backbone of a new reef ecosystem.

Designed to carry cargo and craft for amphibious landings, the Spiegel Grove operated from 1956 until its decommissioning in 1989, and helped enforce America’s Cold War strategy by rushing troops and equipment to support friendly governments.

Today, the venerable vessel rests in 130 feet of water about six miles off Key Largo. Enveloped by delicate corals and invertebrates, the top deck is about 60 feet below the ocean’s surface.

The ship is so wide that, on many days, the view of the superstructure will fade into a green-blue abyss. On the clearest days, however, the sandy bottom is visible.

For wreck divers who intend to enter the upper deck areas of the Spiegel Grove (which were specially prepared to lessen the risk of such activity), knowledge and proof of certifications regarding diving in overhead environments is required.

Whether you’re coming to the Florida Keys to carve a pumpkin underwater, explore a unique reef ecosystem or embark upon an only-in-the-Keys shipwreck dive, you’ll find plenty of professional dive operators to help you immerse yourself in the underwater realm. For more information, just click here.

In the unforgettable “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, the buccaneers were guided by a code of conduct that was originally created by the Brethren Court of pirate lords. Theoretically, its rules were strict and unbending — but before the end of the first film, heroine Elizabeth Swann convinced the crew of the pirate vessel Black Pearl that “they’re more like guidelines, anyway.”

Though buccaneers are few and far between in the Florida Keys (sometimes called America’s Caribbean), Keys residents and others who love the island chain are definitely guided by a code of conduct.

This code was designed to protect a treasure richer than any pirate gold — the region’s amazing natural environment. The Florida Keys are paralleled by the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef, which is often called the third largest in the world. Much like a tropical rainforest, the reef ecosystem supports an incredibly diverse population of plants and animals.

The entire land mass of the Keys is surrounded by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which was established in 1990 by the U.S. government. Visitors to the island chain will also find land-based refuges where birds, wildlife and their habitats are protected — including the Lower Keys’ National Key Deer Refuge that’s home to shy, soft-eyed miniature deer the size of large dogs.

So what exactly IS the code of the Keys?

Its core is the 10 Keymandments. Unlike the Bible’s 10 Commandments, which advise people what NOT to do, the Keymandments advise travelers what they CAN do to have a meaningful, memorable vacation while respecting and helping preserve the Keys environment.

Lighthearted yet educational, they’re guidelines for enjoying a sustainable travel experience in the laid-back subtropical spot.

ONE: Plant a coral (or adopt one of the cute little things, but don’t touch them on the reef).

TWO: Support the wildlife (volunteer food, funds or time to a local wild bird center).

THREE: Take out the trash (especially if it’s floating in the water).

FOUR: Capture a lionfish (any time and any size — we can show you how).

FIVE: Leave a digital footprint (share pictures with fans, friends and followers).

SIX: Hike it, bike it or hoof it (it’s low on eco-impact and high on fresh tropical air).

SEVEN: Catch dinner (and release all the fish you know you can’t eat).

EIGHT: Use a mooring buoy at dive sites (save your back and leave the anchor alone).

NINE: Conserve vs. consume (reduce, reuse and recycle even on vacation).

TEN: Get off the beaten path (you can hike, bike, walk, kayak or paddleboard along Keys trails).

While the code of conduct in the “Pirates” films proved to be somewhat elastic, the Keys code should be followed at all times by everyone who cares about the area’s environment. In fact, the Keymandments are a modern-day addition to more than a century of efforts to preserve it.

Discovering the island chain’s natural world is easy with a knowledgeable local eco-tour guide or watersports operator — whether on a kayaking paddle through tranquil waters and surreal mangrove tangles, an excursion to view dolphins in the wild, or a dive or snorkeling trip in America’s first underwater park.

To explore eco-adventures in the Florida Keys, just click here. And don’t forget … to protect and preserve the Keys’ environmental treasures, always follow the code.

George Bellenger, who co-founded Key West Eco Tours with wife Carla in 2006, believes that even a five-minute commitment helps to preserve the Florida Keys’ natural backcountry and dense mangrove islands.

The company operates from the Geiger Key Marina fish camp and RV park’s Geiger Key Paddle Hut in the Lower Keys — and prides itself on educating clients about the backcountry and teaching respect for the Keys environment.

On each tour, guides and participants take part in a “5 Minute Project,” spending five minutes removing debris from the water and mangroves.

George landed in Key West after attending the University of Delaware, discovering a subtropical paradise where rent was affordable and residents didn’t need a car.

An avid kayaker, diver, windsurfer and sailor, George worked for Tropical Watersports as an instructor, teaching windsurfing and Hobie sailing at Smathers Beach. Over the years, the watersports enthusiast closely bonded with Key West’s island community and even ran for mayor twice.

A native of Wilmington, Delaware, he met future wife Carla, who hails from Alabama, on a random Key West walk in the 1990s.

“She liked my dog JoJo, the wonder dog,” George recalled.

He’s recognized for launching the Havana Challenge, the first permitted regatta since the U.S.-Cuba embargo, with government-authorized sailing from Key West to Havana. His goal was to bring boating enthusiasts from both countries together, bridging cultures through traditional maritime heritage.

George’s adventures in Cuba, where he’s visited about 30 times, were documented in Men’s Journal.

He and Carla each hold U.S. Coast Guard charter captain certifications. And their son, George Robert, is a senior at SUNY Maritime College (Maritime College, State University of New York) and is pursuing a career in nautical operations.

Keys Voices: When did you first come to the Florida Keys and why?

George Bellenger: A job offer first brought me to Key West around 40 years ago. Even back then, people told me I should have been here 10 years earlier!

KV: What aspects of the Keys environment or way of life matter most to you?

GB: Initially, the way of life and cast of characters kept me hanging around the Keys until I eventually discovered the unbound natural world on and around the island. Then I was hooked.

KV: Who or what inspired you to become passionate about respecting and protecting the Keys’ natural world?

GB: Earth Day, 1971. The Boy Scouts announced a new merit badge, S.O.A.R. (Save our American Resources), to inspire thought and action to protect the environment. Our troop, when I was 11, scoured the Brandywine River’s muddy banks, pulling out mostly tires.

KV: How does that passion influence your work or profession?

GB: Every day provides an opportunity to exert a positive influence on the world around us.

KV: What are some of the ways, personally or through your work, that you connect with and/or help protect the local environment and unique lifestyle?

GB: Thirty years ago, I wrote a phonetic Reef Relief awareness talk, highlighting dive safety and equipment protocols in six languages. Reef Relief published and still distributes it. I also initiated and led a Keys citizen response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. I’m currently a founding board member of the Crocodile Foundation, dedicated to preservation of the endangered American crocodile. We’re hoping to build nesting boxes away from civilization and relocate nuisance crocs into a preserve abutting Crocodile Lake.

KV: What keeps you energized, challenged and focused on your path?

GB: We collaborate with the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Turtle Hospital, Reef Relief and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to mitigate and affect positive change. Caring about future generations keeps me in the game every day. Good news helps. As an example: the terrific work Mote Marine Laboratory is doing replanting corals.

KV: What do you hope your positive environmental actions will accomplish?

GB: To inspire future leaders. Saving the planet from environmental degradation is a multigeneration endeavor. Our generation is just “passing the torch.”

KV: What message do you want your actions and example to communicate to people you encounter?

GB: Don’t give up. Every little bit helps. Together we do make a difference.

KV: What’s your favorite natural or eco-friendly activity in the Keys?

GB: Kayaking, of course!

Whether you’re a shipwreck fan, treasure seeker or history buff — or simply enjoy fascinating tales of real-life adventure — you should definitely be in Key West Sept. 2-6.

Why? To help commemorate the 400th anniversary of the sinking of the Spanish treasure galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha.

The Atocha sank during a September 1622 hurricane in the Florida Straits southwest of Key West, where it remained until its discovery by shipwreck salvor Mel Fisher and his crew in 1985.

They uncovered the priceless “main pile” of the Atocha’s treasure and artifacts after an exhaustive 16-year search. Underwater archaeologists and divers recovered quantities of gold and silver coins and bars, contraband emeralds, religious and secular jewelry, cannons and other weapons, pottery and rare navigational instruments from the Atocha site.

The discovery was internationally hailed as the shipwreck find of the 20th century. The salvage team, which included Mel’s wife Deo and their children, was nicknamed the “golden crew.”

In September 2022, history and shipwreck buffs can mark the historic anniversary with cultural and adventure-filled events featuring members of the Fisher family and the fabled crew.

The Sept. 2-6 commemoration, called Mel Fisher Days, takes place at a number of Key West locations. It honors the legacy of Mel Fisher as well as the Atocha and other vessels from Spain’s 1622 fleet that were lost in the Florida Straits.

An opening ceremony and Atocha-themed film screening are set for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at Key West’s Tropic Cinema. Events are to be guided by Kim Fisher and Taffi Fisher Abt, son and daughter of the late Mel and Deo, who are carrying on the family’s shipwreck searches and heritage.

On Saturday, dive and treasure enthusiasts can meet members of the “golden crew” during a late afternoon gathering and charity fundraiser at the Schooner Wharf Bar, a waterfront watering hole and traditional hangout for the Fisher team.

(Charity fundraising, by the way, is a vital part of Mel Fisher Days. To date, the annual celebration has raised nearly $175,000 for organizations devoted to children and their health and wellbeing.)

Highlights of the Schooner Wharf gathering include the debut and book signing of “Today’s the Day — The Mel Fisher Story” by veteran Florida Keys journalist Wendy Tucker, who helped tell the world about the Atocha find. The presentation of the prestigious Mel Fisher Lifetime Achievement Award, plus auctions, games and contests round out the attractions.

Mel Fisher Days’ centerpiece is Sunday’s daylong 1622 Fleet 400th Anniversary Speakers Symposium at the Key West Marriott Beachside Hotel. Noted experts on the Atocha and 1622 fleet will share insights on topics including the fleet’s storied history, marine archaeology, shipwreck artifact conservation and the latest research on the tens of thousands of silver coins recovered from the Atocha. And attendees won’t want to miss Taffi Fisher Abt’s personal presentation titled “Living the Dream.”

That evening, ticket holders can join the Fisher family and the symposium speakers for a banquet on the hotel beach.

Events Monday, Sept. 5, include an all-day Fisher family meet-and-greet and book signing at Mel Fisher’s Shipwreck Treasures on Duval Street. Featured author Wendy Tucker will be joined by nearly a dozen other treasure-related authors during the day — including internationally acclaimed shipwreck coin expert Carol Tedesco.

The commemoration concludes Tuesday, Sept. 6, after the unveiling and installation of a memorial plaque at Key West’s Mallory Square. The plaque salutes the spirit of adventure displayed by Mel Fisher and his “golden crew,” and honors those who died when the 1622 vessels sank exactly four centuries before.

Don’t miss the opportunity to mark the 400th anniversary of an iconic moment in Key West history — and pay tribute to one of the island’s legendary characters. For a complete schedule of Mel Fisher Days events, click here.