The great florida reef is the only living coral barrier reef in the continental united states. Snorkeling coffins patch the donut the donut is just that, a round donut mound of rocks that sits in a bit deeper water, which makes it a better spot for divers than snorkelers. Grassy key is an island in the middle florida keys, between crawl key and. One of the best places to snorkel in the middle keys. Delta shoals here a vast network of coral canyons fan seaward from a sandy shoal, offering wonderful opportunities for both diving and snorkeling. Coffins patch sanctuary preservation area noaa florida keys. Aug 30, 2012 snorkeling coffins patch from marathon is worth doing. Informations on the diving spot of coffins patch marathon key. A lively reef, some coral and plenty of fish around courtesy of the boat crew feeding them.
Back home about coffins patch sanctuary preservation area buoys in coffins patch sanctuary preservation area. There were several charter snorkeling boats there so it was easy to find. Located in florida keys, the snorkeling in marathon key offers more than a halfdozen beautiful snorkel dive spots. There are six patches of reef, some with excellent snorkel depths. Like many of the reefs around this part of the florida keys, this location was named for a shipwreck supposedly a ship carrying coffins. The shallow patch reefs of the coffins patch sanctuary preservation area spa, located approximately four nautical miles off key colony beach, offer some of the best snorkeling in the middle keys. Snorkelers will especially appreciate the shallow elkhorn forests found throughout coffin s patch in less than 20 feet of water.
Out of all the coral reefs that make up this dive site, the stake is. Be sure to keep your eyes open for turtles and dolphins on the way. Marathon snorkeling tours at worldfamous sombrero reef people travel from all over the world to snorkel in the florida keys. Top snorkeling spots in the florida keys florida yacht. Best marathon key snorkeling best snorkeling dives. Coffins patch key colony beach 2020 all you need to know. The reef is relatively shallow but full of a verity of sea life.
Coffins patch is a great reef close to the marinas and no more then 30 feet deep, you can. The best marathon key snorkeling based on popularity are considered to be sombrero beach, sombrero reef, bahia honda state park, newfound harbor reefs, and coffins patch. Coffins patch is a shallow coral reef patch reef located within the florida keys national marine sanctuary jump to. Coffins patch is a patch reef in a notake zone sanctuary preservation area located south of crawl and grassy keys on the outer shelf behind the shelf margin fig. For anyone interested in underwater photography, this is florida coral reef dive site worth visiting. Snorkeling at looe key reef in the florida keys duration. Coffins patch is a shallow coral reef patch reef located within the florida keys national marine.
Spas encompass discrete, biologically important areas that help sustain critical marine species and habitats. It is a beautiful section of reef to which dive trips and snorkeling trips go. Dive with keys huka dive, jerry williams, marathon key, florida, usa. The shallow patch reefs of the coffins patch sanctuary preservation area. Snorkeling in the florida keys gopro hero 3 duration. We offer sombrero reef snorkeling trips as well as trips to coffins patch. This is a part of the florida keys nature preserve. Sanctuary preservation areas florida keys national. Visit coffins patch on your trip to key colony beach or united states. Several of the better snorkeling spots are nearby coffins patch including sombrero beach, sombrero reef, bahia honda state park, newfound harbor reefs, delta shoals and samanthas reef. The coffins patch area located approximately four nautical miles from hawks cay, offers some of the best snorkeling in the florida keys.
Also, in the marathon snorkeling areas, we can go to coffins patch. Coffins patch duck key, florida geographical place. Group snorkeling at coffins patch reef 2020 jet skis. Coffins patch is a great reef close to the marinas and no more then 30 feet deep, you can see. Other inshore and offshore patch reefs in the surrounding area remain open. Like many of the reefs around this part of the florida keys, this location was. These are the best spots to snorkel in the florida keys. Coffins patch is a collection of about six different patches of reef in a variety of. All florida keys snorkeling locations have something special to offer, but the reefs of the middle keys are fortunately some of the healthiest and vibrant of them all. Coffins patch is a great reef close to the marinas and no more then 30 feet deep, you can see small nurse sharks, barracuda, rays even eels read more date of experience. Overall, coffins patch is the 20th most popular snorkel dive spot of all 40 snorkeling dives in the florida keys.
Spas have mooring buoys for boaters to use in order to prevent anchor damage to corals. Its home to myriad tropical fish, coral, and marine animals, and its where the spanish ship ignacio sunk in the 18th century. Coffins patch tile 4 systematic mapping of bedrock and. Photo by scooter hollingsworth coffins patch reef is. The reef is actually a collection of six distinct patch reefs as opposed one patch as the name implies. We spent over an hour snorkeling and fish watching as well as admiring the beauty. Yep, i had gathered that except for deep blue, the others went to looe key only and deep blue was just for sombrero and coffins patch. Coffins patch off key colony beach florida is shallow with lots of marine life making it perfect for snorkeling florida keys or novice divers. This reef lies within a sanctuary preservation area spa. Closer to the barrier reef with crystal clear waters, youll find more species varieties here than elsewhere. Map of buoys in coffins patch sanctuary preservation area. The reef is actually a collection of six distinct patch reefs as. Coffins patch key colony beach 2020 all you need to. The overall area is composed of 6 different reefs, each sporting a predominantly different coral.
This snorkel spot is made up of six different reef patches, but the most popular sites to explore are the stake and the donut. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Sanctuary preservation areas spas within florida keys national marine sanctuary protect shallow reefs along the reef tract. Diving and snorkeling in the florida keys gulf view. Snorkling coffins patch, key colony beach traveller. Florida keys snorkeling best snorkeling in the keys. With depths of 10 to 40 feet, this area is frequented by advanced and novice divers alike. Great water clarity, warm temperatures above and below the water line, and thousands of places to view the underwater world make this place a mecca for viewing corals and colorful fish.
Grecian rocks key largo or coffins patch near islamorada or duck key. No snorkeling destination in the region is more famous than marathons own sombrero reef, and with good reason. No coffins at coffins patch but it has great florida keys snorkeling when it comes to florida keys snorkeling and novice diving, coffins patch, a reef at marathon, is an amazing florida keys dive site. Seen are angel fish, butterfly fish, tangs and other tropical fish. Top snorkeling spots to experience in the florida keys the florida keys are one of the most beautiful and tropical places to visit, and definitely worth the trip. The 10 best snorkeling spots in the florida keys coastal. The florida keys beckon to snorkelers and divers from all over the worldand with good reason. We rented a pontoon boat and decided to go out to coffins patch. Coffins patch is a shallow coral reef patch reef located within the florida keys national marine sanctuary. Coffins patch throughout coffins patch are beautiful forests of elkhorn coral coffins patch, located just off marathon and duck key is another favored location for marathon snorkeling trips. Start your vacation right with some of the best florida keys diving and snorkeling. Coffins patch and sombrero reef are a notouchnotake national marine sanctuary protected area. Snorkel trips to the florida keys coral reef, marathon fl. Great snorkling on coffins patch coffins patch, key.
Snorkeling in the fl keys coffins patch bryangoprohero3. There are three snorkeling areas at alligator reefthe shallow patches next to the tower where the small mound of ship ballast stones sit, underneath the lighthouse itself and the much deeper waters with a rock wall where bigger fish tuck under for protection. Whether you live in florida, or anywhere else, the keys are a perfectly suited for fun weekend getaway or a full weeklong yacht charter vacation. Boulder coral, pillar coral, lobsters, eels, and jacks are some of the species divers can find along the group of six patch reefs that make up coffins patch, 3. Hop on a boat to coffins patch, four nautical miles off key colony beach, for some of the best snorkeling in the middle keys. You can snorkel in the usually calm waters of the atlantic, with average underwater visibility around 40 feet, often exceeding 60 feet.