Diel vertical migration (DVM) of spiny lobster (Panulirus spp.) phyllosoma larvae may be a key component in the biological-physical coupling which affects their transport and survival in the Florida Keys. Light is often invoked as the most important factor to influence DVM (AngeI 1985). In this study, we describe the diel changes in the vertical distribution of Panulirus spp. phyllosomata. We then use a computer model to hindcast irradiance in the water column associated with the vertical distribution patterns, and explore the possible correlation between them. The ability to predict the vertical distribution of phyllosomata with a light model will be useful in quantitative sampling and in the modeling of larval transport and recruitment mechanisms.Durante un muestreo de zooplancton (Programa SEFCAR: SouthEastem Florida and CAribbean Recruitment) en los cayos de la Florida, se encootro que las larvas filosomas de Panulirus spp. (80% estadíos I-II) migran verticalmente de 20-40 m en el día a 0-20 m durante la noche. Hubo cierta coincidencia entre profundidades de "isolúmenes" generados por un modelo de computadora, y la distribucíon vertical, aunque ésta no es estadísticamente significativa, tal vez debido a la heterogeneidad espacial y física. Los mecanismos que controlan la migración vertical diaria posiblemente también son complejos.