Snorkeling Marathon, FL at Coffins Patch Reef offers the best of shallow water coral viewing without getting too close for comfort. The shallow patch corals break up larger swells and the coral doesn’t get within 5 feet of the surface, so there’s a low chance someone will come into contact unless a larger person stands up. There is a stake sticking up out of the water in the center of Coffins Patch Reef, which is rumored to be a part of the Spanish Galleon San Ignacio that ran aground there. Regardless of the origin of the stake, it offers a nice perspective of where the center of the reef is if the tide manages to move you or your family unknowingly. Simply pop your head above the surface, find the stake, and swim accordingly to adjust your position in relation to your vessel and the snorkeling area. The boulder corals, which are a predominant feature here, range in depth from about 15-20 feet at the edges and 5-10 feet at their peaks. This allows for more experienced snorkelers to practice some freediving to observe the marine life hiding under the coral near the sandy bottom, while less experienced snorkelers can find plenty of fish and coral well within view in the shallower areas on top of the boulder corals. Coming with your family? Coffins Patch offers something for everyone and can provide a pleasant experience with most visibility conditions, whereas visibility is a larger deciding factor when heading to Sombrero Reef.
Sombrero Reef is approximately 4 miles offshore on the Atlantic side of the south tip of Marathon, FL. It is well known for its coral fingers that run N-S on the South end of the lighthouse. They offer large coral formations that range in depth from approximately 15-40 feet deep. Holding your breath to take a dive down makes you realize why Marathon is known to offer some of the best snorkeling in the Florida Keys. Taking a trip to Sombrero Reef without seeing these large finger coral formations would make the trip a waste. Visibility is a deciding factor for whether or not you will be able to get a good look at the finger corals, as most vacationers in the Marathon area are not able to dive down to the depths necessary if visibility is low. Snorkeling the shallow area around the lighthouse can be considered too close for comfort depending on the state of the tide and doesn’t have a lot to offer in terms of marine life and coral. This area is largely bland, shallow, and rocky when compared to the finger corals. Most commercial snorkeling and dive vessels moor near the finger corals anyway, so going out of your way to head to the lighthouse would be a waste of time. Most Marathon Snorkeling trips take you to Sombrero Reef, so wind, tide, and visibility can make or break your journey to snorkel at Sombrero Reef. Deeper water around the lighthouse generally allows for larger swells which can prove to be challenging for beginner snorkelers.