Its predominant feature is a 5 to 10 foot high ledge that runs for the length of the reef. Massive schools of bluestriped grunts, tomtate grunts, spanish grunts, and cottonwicks find shelter from predators under the ledge. Schools of Yellow goatfish, French grunts, and porkfish mix with other schools for greater protection. They orient themselves en masse headfirst into the current, only shifting when a predator or diver makes them nervous. Moray eels are here in abundance, as are nurse sharks.
Sergeant majors build small purplish nests on the sand bottom here, which they vigorously defend.
A small Buddha statue was placed at Davis Reef in 1989. Offshore of Davis, the sea drops to 80 or more feet. This popular fishing spot may reward the adventurous diver with gear dropped overboard. Fishing and lobstering as well as any other collection activity is strictly prohibited. Note that collection of any kind of coral or conch anywhere in Florida is strictly forbidden by state law.