Sombrero Reef is a coral reef 8 miles offshore from Key Colony Beach. Launch your private boat from the free 33rd Street Public Boat Ramp or book a catamaran tour from Marathon. Tie your boat off on one of the 11 mooring buoys on the South side of the 142 foot Sombrero Key Lighthouse.
How deep is the water at Sombrero reef? With depths of 6-25 feet, Sombrero welcomes divers and snorkelers to view brilliantly colorful marine life among magnificent coral spurs – long fingers separated by white sand. There’s also an eight-foot-tall natural coral bridge, known locally as The Arch. It’s the perfect setting for an underwater portrait.
Consequently, Do you need a boat to snorkel Sombrero reef? Be advised that it is an open water journey for the entire trip. You can also bring your own boat or rental, or take part in a charter or a snorkeling/diving tour. With a depth ranging from 2-30 feet, Sombrero Reef is a favorite spot of saltwater divers and snorkelers of all experience levels.
Is it safe to snorkel in Florida Keys? Is it safe to snorkel in the Florida Keys? Any water sport comes with some level of danger, and snorkeling is no different. The coral reefs are living, and dangerous sea creatures, as well as other dangers can be in that environment. But overall, snorkeling in the Keys is fairly safe.
FAQ
Is there a reef at Sombrero Beach?
Sombrero Key Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA) has a spur-and-groove reef formation with stands of elkhorn coral. It is located 3.5 nautical miles seaward of Boot Key and is named for the historic Sombrero Key Light in the northern corner of this triangular SPA.
Can you take your own boat to Sombrero reef? Be advised that it is an open water journey for the entire trip. You can also bring your own boat or rental, or take part in a charter or a snorkeling/diving tour. With a depth ranging from 2-30 feet, Sombrero Reef is a favorite spot of saltwater divers and snorkelers of all experience levels.
Can you fish Sombrero reef? Fishing by any means; removing, harvesting, or possessing any marine life. Catch and release fishing by trolling is allowed in Conch Reef, Alligator Reef, Sombrero Reef, and Sand Key SPAs only.
What is the deepest part of the ocean in Florida? It is 93 mi (150 km) wide at the narrowest point between Key West and the Cuban shore, and has been sounded to a depth of 6,000 feet (1,800 m). The strait carries the Florida Current, the beginning of the Gulf Stream, from the Gulf of Mexico.
Are you allowed to anchor at Sombrero reef?
Anchoring on hardbottom is allowed. Except in officially marked channels, operating a vessel at more than 4 knots/no wake within 100 yards of residential shorelines, stationary vessels, or navigational aids marking reefs. Operating a vessel at more than 4 knots/no wake within 100 yards of a “divers down” flag.
How far out is Sombrero Lighthouse? It is a 142-foot (43 m) tall red painted tower. It has two platforms. The lower one, 15 feet (4.6 m) above the water, held water and fuel tanks, the generator (after the light was electrified), boat hoists and a workshop. The upper platform, 40 feet (12 m) above the water, held the quarters for the staff.
Are there alligators in the Keys?
American Alligators are very rare in the Keys since they do not like high salinity water. They are generally limited to the few islands here with permanent freshwater lakes such as Big Pine Key where the fresh/brackish water blue hole is, but our canals and beaches are too salty for them.
Are there shark attacks in the Florida Keys? Know the Facts
In Key West, there has never been a fatal shark attack, and there’s only been one incident reported in the record books since the 1800s.
Are there sharks in the FL Keys?
The Florida Keys are home to more sharks than any other area in the world. Here’s a list of the sharks you can see with Keys Shark Diving. Keys Shark Diving is the best way to see sharks up close and personal in the Florida Keys.
Can you dive Sombrero reef?
You can choose to dive or snorkel down to the reef to get an up close and personal look at one of the area’s most beautiful and unique underwater features.
What key is Sombrero Beach on? One of the best-kept beach secrets in the Florida Keys, Sombrero Beach on Marathon Key is a cozy backyard playground for islanders.
How far is Looe Key from Marathon by boat? 4 answers. It’s about 40-45 minutes boat ride, you can book the tour from the state park office… yes it’s absolutely worth it. I did 3 snorkeling trips in marathon, key west and this one.
Where can you not fish in Florida Keys?
Fishing and Lobstering in the sanctuary is allowed except for distinctly marked marine protected areas throughout The Keys. Except for catch and release fishing by trolling in the Conch Reef, Alligator Reef, Sombrero Reef, and Sand Key SPAs, fishing by any means is prohibited within marked areas.
Where is the hump off Marathon FL? The Marathon Hump is also called the West Hump and is located about 27 miles southeast of Marathon Key FL. The Marathon Hump GPS coordinates are 24 25.528N and 80 45.328W.
Where is the Tongue of the Ocean located?
The Tongue of the Ocean is a deep water basin in the Bahamas that is surrounded to the east, west and south by a carbonate bank known as the Great Bahama Bank. The deep blue water of the Tongue is a stark contrast to the shallow turquoise waters of the surrounding Bank.
What body of water are the Florida Keys in? Florida Keys, island chain, Monroe and Miami-Dade counties, southern Florida, U.S. Composed of coral and limestone, the islands curve southwestward for about 220 miles (355 km) from Virginia Key in the Atlantic Ocean (just south of Miami Beach) to Loggerhead Key of the Dry Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico.
Does Florida touch the Caribbean sea?
As the maps are drawn, Florida is considered the northern border of the Caribbean, not geographically a part of the region itself.
How far out is the Oriskany? Nicknamed “The Mighty O”, USS Oriskany is truly a world class dive. The massive carrier lays in 212′ of water with the top of the “island” sitting at around 84′.
