Coffins Patch Reef or Sombrero Reef Snorkeling Marathon, FL

Snorkeling Marathon, FL is great and widely considered to be the pinnacle of Florida Keys snorkeling. The barrier reef found off the coast of Marathon is the 3rd largest in the world and is on average 3-4 miles offshore, making a trip for Marathon snorkeling a reasonably short boat ride from shore. Snorkeling Marathon, FL offers two Sanctuary Preservation Areas to explore on publically available trips for Marathon snorkeling, where the corals are considered to be the best for snorkeling in the Florida Keys.

Yes you can snorkel on Sombrero Beach Marathon, although you will not find abundant marine life and coral like you would on a trip to the reef. Snorkeling at the reef in Marathon is only accessible by boat. Snorkeling options accessible by land in Marathon are not considered to be great.

Snorkeling Marathon, FL with Marathon’s best water sports company, Solé Watersports, allows a peace of mind no other snorkeling tour operator can offer. Solé Watersports is the only Marathon snorkeling company to carry insurance that covers its guests while they’re in the water. Our vessels and equipment are state of the art and the best kept in Marathon. Our 45 foot Coast Guard Inspected vessel Helios is the smoothest riding Marathon snorkeling vessel. Its stable catamaran hull makes a trip to the reef a breeze, making you and your family feel safe and comfortable during your time snorkeling Marathon, FL. When it comes to taking your family Marathon snorkeling, there should only be one option. Neptune is our smaller catamaran vessel we use for private trips for up to 24 passengers. Neptune is the only coast guard inspected vessel in Marathon able to accommodate medium sized private groups for snorkeling. The only other private snorkeling trip options in Marathon are either for up to 6 passengers, or on a vessel that’s too large and too expensive for you and your family. With that being said, we also offer private snorkeling trips for up to 6 passengers on our 24’ Robalo dual console we call Rob 1. 

Coffins Patch Reef, located approximately 4 miles off the coast of Marathon, is a Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA), meaning no fishing or harvesting of any marine life is allowed. Mooring balls prevent anchors from damaging the coral that is closely monitored and studied at Coffins Patch Reef. With depths ranging from 5-20 feet, Coffins Patch Reef offers the best family friendly shallow coral snorkeling Marathon, FL has to offer. Sombrero Reef offers the chance to view breathtaking coral fingers but they are found at a deeper depth than the patch corals at Coffins Patch Reef. In 1733, the Spanish treasure galleon San Ignacio ran aground at Coffins Patch after encountering a hurricane on its trip from Havana, Cuba. The San Ignacio was rumored to have coffins aboard, where they would have been deposited at Coffins Patch when it ran aground. Although no coffins were ever found, Coffins Patch has one of the coolest names of the Sanctuary Preservation Area reefs found in the Florida Keys.

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.