I went on a snorkeling and scuba diving trip with this team yesterday and it was a great experience. Head offshore from marathon with tildens scuba center to the section of the reef called coffins patch, a shallow dive site within the sanctuary preservation area thats perfect for both beginner divers and snorkelers. Coffins patch and sombrero reef are a notouchnotake national marine sanctuary protected area. Our boats deep blue marathon and key colony snorkeling and. 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. Seastar cruises reef day trips cairns 2020 all you.
A deep blue dive center deep blue marathon and key. We also have daily sunset celebration trips and if weather permits we will snorkel. A snorkeling or scuba diving excursion is one of the best way to experience palancar reef, allowing you to see the areas robust wildlife and varied coral structures. Specializing in families, our friendly crew will take you on a fun filled adventure to the either the sombrero reef marine sanctuary and lighthouse or to our. Great barrier reef diving and snorkeling cruise from. Snorkeling marathon fl marathon key snorkeling trips. Aboard our new power catamaran, helios, you will enjoy a quick island tour passing the hawks cay resort, dolphin connection, and residential area of duck key. Best florida keys snorkeling best snorkeling dives. This makes it very quick and easy for our guests to explore this natural wonder. A deep blue dive center offers daily snorkeling trips in. Coffins patch, located just off marathon and duck key is another favored location for marathon snorkeling trips. Great barrier reef diving and snorkeling cruise from cairns. While snorkeling, youll see lots of colorful tropical fish, lobster, schools of fish, nurse sharks.
Our molokai snorkeling barrier reef snorkel tours get you up close and personal with the broad range of life in the reef. The best florida keys snorkeling based on popularity are considered to be key west marine park, john pennekamp state park, sombrero beach, alligator reef, and looe key. With two locations to serve you, captain hooks takes daily trips the marathon reefs and looe key reef located in the middle and lower keys. This feature alone makes an exploratory trip out to this florida. So it looks like looe key, sombrero, coffins patch and jp state park would all be good choices, using looe key diveresort, strike zone or deep blue dive. While snorkeling, youll see lots of colorful tropical fish, lobster, schools of fish, nurse sharks, and all kinds of healthy coral, including coral sea fans. The reef is actually a collection of six distinct patch reefs as opposed one patch as the name implies. Fishing patch reefs are a good way to start out fishing in the keys,and learn the techniques of florida keys fishing.
Some of the best snorkeling reefs in the keys include carysfort and south carysfort, north dry rocks, key largo dry rocks, molasses reef, coffins patch, sombrero reef, looe key and western dry rocks. Its protected status keeps it pristine and breathtakingly beautiful, and its depth makes it perfect for snorkeling. The 10 best snorkeling spots in the florida keys coastal. For a detailed dive site description and printable snorkel dive map, just select a florida keys snorkeling dive below. Group snorkeling at coffins patch reef provided by. Aug 05, 2018 located on vaca key, marathon is the place to stay if your goal is to experience the best snorkeling in the florida keys. Have the option to scuba dive and take a helicopter flight in order to experience the reef from all angles. Florida keys snorkeling best snorkeling in the keys. Founded in 2004, a deep blue dive center has built a reputation for catering to groups both small and large. Jan 28, 2020 the best florida keys snorkeling based on popularity are considered to be key west marine park, john pennekamp state park, sombrero beach, alligator reef, and looe key. Marathon snorkeling tours would you like to enjoy a day snorkeling on the most famous part of the third largest barrier reef in the world.
Join one of hawks cay resorts snorkel trips and youll understand why. Book passage today to visit these pristine snorkeling and scuba diving sites. A whole host of snorkelling trips depart from cairns and port douglas each day, and youll be spoilt for choice, whether youre. Jul 18, 2016 the coffins patch water is known to have marginal visibility. 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. We visited coffins patch with the a deep blue dive company. Splash dive center have to put together several different snorkel trips and tours that entail the very best snorkeling that the belize barrier reef has to offer for your placencia vacation.
At the west end of the stake the depth reaches about 25. Coffins patch reef is marked with a tall ibeam and has eight mooring buoys. 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. What are the best places for reef snorkeling in florida keys the 6 best places for reef snorkeling in the middle keys islamorada, marathon and big pine contrary to what most people expect, that the best snorkeling in the keys would be key west or key largo, the best snorkeling is actually far and way in the middle less accessed areas of the. Snorkelling is a wonderful way to see australias great barrier reef. Coffins patch and sombrero key, as well as many other outstanding coral reef. The weather was too windy and the seas were too rough and the boat trip out of bahia honda was cancelled each of the 4 days that we were there. Jun 10, 2015 snorkeling the florida keys patch reefs. Captain hooks marina offers some of the best snorkeling charters in marathon.
Hopefully this is a better place for it my family tried to go out on a snorkel trip 3 years ago while we were in key west. At the west end of the stake youll also encounter some larger, towering pillar coral. A diver explores the coral reef in the florida keys national marine sanctuary off key largo, fla. It is a beautiful section of reef to which dive trips and snorkeling trips go. Our daily snorkel trips depart from the tranquil island of duck key, which. Our tours cater to clients who are good swimmers right through to clients who can. Patch reefs are small coral reef formations inside of the main barrier reef. Mar 17, 2019 head offshore from marathon with tildens scuba center to the section of the reef called coffins patch, a shallow dive site within the sanctuary preservation area thats perfect for both beginner divers and snorkelers. A deep blue dive offers rentals and dive trips to coffins patch. This makes the outer edge reef the best of the 6 for anyone scuba diving florida keys at coffins patch. Be sure to keep your eyes open for turtles and dolphins on the way.
Tip after a long day of snorkeling at coffins patch, then grab some grub conch at morada bay beach cafe in islamorada or saltys waterfront grill for some cold. See more ideas about snorkeling, florida keys and florida. Coffins patch is a collection of about six different patches of reef in a variety of. For a detailed dive site description and printable snorkel dive map, just. 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. Join the fun and friendly crew at starfish marathon snorkeling tours for a day trip to magnificent sombrero reef, where you can enjoy a leisurely. Response from navigate23095814261, general manager at group snorkeling at coffins patch reef responded jul 18, 2019 thank you for taking time to provide feedback on your excursion. Also, in the marathon diving area, we can go to coffins patch. Coffins patch key colony beach 2020 all you need to know. Make the most of your visit to the great barrier reef on a fullday tour by fast boat, with five hours to enjoy two premium spots on the reef with snorkeling included.
Tripadvisor group snorkeling at coffins patch reef. Coffins patch appeared to be the most shallow of the three reefs we went to on the november 2016 trip. Cairns offers a wide variety of snorkelling tours with a selection of pontoon tours that will offer other reef viewing options such as glass bottom boat tours, semisubmersible submarine tours and underwater observatories by which to see the great barrier reefs. Group snorkeling at coffins patch reef jet skis key west. While snorkeling or scuba diving, youll see lots of colorful tropical fish, lobster, schools of. Reef snorkeling trips in marathon and key colony beach. Patch reefs are plentiful with marine life seen from the surface, or. When it comes to florida keys snorkeling and novice diving, coffins patch, a reef at marathon, is an amazing florida keys dive site.
Coffins patch key colony beach updated may 2020 top tips. Depths range from ten to thirty feet, making it possible to spend as much time as you want just relaxing and exploring the reef. With hundreds of species of fish swimming all around you, our tours guarantee your molokai snorkeling experience will. Coffins patch is a collection of about six different patches of reef in a variety of depths, and each very unique. Snorkeling activity with easybreath or classic masks, perfect views. In only 1 14 hours the fast airconditioned seastar 1 can take you from cairns to magnificent michaelmas cay, the largest of the local uninhabited coral cays. Coffins patch was named for the wrecked remains of a ship carrying what else coffins. Coffins patch key colony beach 2020 all you need to. We visited two, the donut and the stake, and most boat companies will take you to two or three spots.
The overall area is composed of 6 different reefs, each sporting a predominantly different coral. Our snorkel trips and tours are ideal for nondivers and all family members as a great way to. The coffins patch water is known to have marginal visibility. Also, in the marathon snorkeling areas, we can go to coffins patch. Snorkelling the easiest way to explore the great barrier reef. Here, in just 15 to 30 feet of water, vibrant corals are busy with tropical fish that include tangs and butterfly fish and. Snorkel boat trip looe keysombrerocoffins patch florida. All of these areas have sections as shallow as 15 feet, with many rising all the way to the surface.
Coffins patch is part of the great florida reef system, and its a shallow coral reef located within a protected area known as the florida keys national marine sanctuary. We offer sombrero reef snorkeling trips as well as trips to coffins patch. Our boats deep blue marathon and key colony snorkeling. Seen are angel fish, butterfly fish, tangs and other tropical fish. Expert guides welcome both newcomers and experienced. Coffins patch key colony beach updated may 2020 top. The coffins patch snorkeling is located 4 nautical miles southeast of key colony beach. Start your vacation right with some of the best florida keys diving and snorkeling at captain hooks. Visibility is excellent, at fifty feet or better most of the time, and the light quality here is perfect for underwater photography. There was a marine biology session while we were heading out to the reef which was great but the scuba diving was definitely the highlight, even as a first timer. Want to explore the reef system on marathons eastern side, including coffins patch sanctuary area. Snorkeling at coffins patch reef in the florida keys youtube. Although the coffins are long gone, you can still see parts of the ship, including the crows nest. There was a marine biology session while we were heading out to the reef which was great but the scuba diving was definitely the highlight, even as a first timer the instructors were super helpful and would guide you along the whole dive.
Our snorkel trips and tours are ideal for nondivers and all family members as a great way to spend time together both in and out of the water. About seastar cruises reef day trips seastar cruises premium reef cruise combines the outer great barrier reef with a coral cay island. Had this posted in the key west forum and it was suggested that i post it in another place. Aug 14, 2018 hop on a boat to coffins patch, four nautical miles off key colony beach, for some of the best snorkeling in the middle keys.
Located on vaca key, marathon is the place to stay if your goal is to experience the best snorkeling in the florida keys. Coffins patch is part of the great florida reef system, and its a shallow coral reef. Its home to myriad tropical fish, coral, and marine animals, and its where the spanish ship ignacio sunk in the 18th century. Florida keys snorkeling best snorkeling in the keys sombrero reef. Join the fun and friendly crew at starfish marathon snorkeling tours for a day trip to magnificent sombrero reef, where you can enjoy a leisurely swim among the many fish and corals in a protected underwater paradise. These are the best spots to snorkel in the florida keys. Patch reefs are plentiful with marine life seen from the surface, or you can dive down a bit and get a closer view. 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. We offer sombrero reef snorkeling trips as well as trips to coffins patch and other shallow patch reefs. Incredible scuba diving and snorkeling trips in marathon, big pine key and key west. Dec, 2017 some of the best snorkeling reefs in the keys include carysfort and south carysfort, north dry rocks, key largo dry rocks, molasses reef, coffins patch, sombrero reef, looe key and western dry rocks. Hop on a boat to coffins patch, four nautical miles off key colony beach, for some of the best snorkeling in the middle keys. Most of the patch reefs are 5 to 15 feet deep and 100 feet or less in size, and most are accessable with a small boat. The range of snorkeling available is limitless with a number of great shallow sites.
Group snorkeling at coffins patch reef 2020 jet skis. Plus at the outer edge reef it drops to a depth of about 40. Snorkeling marathon fl marathon fl snorkeling tours. Scuba dive and snorkel trips to the florida keys coral. Snorkeling tours marathon snorkeling tours marathon. Overall, coffins patch is the 20th most popular snorkel dive spot of all 40 snorkeling dives in the florida keys. The 10 best snorkeling spots in the florida keys coastal living.
564 167 413 474 601 834 1312 571 1051 805 1290 1228 208 519 822 228 457 403 213 1146 114 1186 73 1164 700 1065 1029 149 1207 1133 1193