Looe Key is a coral reef located within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. It lies to the south of Big Pine Key. This reef is within a Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA). Part of Looe Key is designated as "Research Only," an area which protects some of the patch reefs landward of the main reef. The reef is named after the HMS Looe, which ran into the reef and sank in 1744. Approximate coordinates: 24°32′51″N 081°24′24″W / 24.54750°N 81.40667°W