First U.S. undersea park was actually in San Diego, not Key Largo – San Diego Union-Tribune

Re “8 scenic road trips to explore America” (Sept. 21): The last of the eight drives discussed in this very nice travel article is the 113-mile Overseas Highway in Florida. The article mentions this trip allows visitors to “explore the country’s first undersea park” in Key Largo. That park was created in 1963, six years after San Diego created the San Diego Marine Life Refuge, which ultimately became today’s San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park.

Forgive my civic pride in knowing that we beat Florida to this distinction.

— Steve Weathers, Mission Valley