While diving on a reef a mile offshore in Palm Beach, Florida I came across this very rare sight -- an American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) in salt water. American alligators can tolerate salt water, but only for a short span of time. Like their close cousin, the salt water crocodile, they have salt glands on their tongue that helps to excrete excess salt, but in the American alligator this gland is no longer functional.