The little city of Marathon, Florida, is home to just about 11,000 people, and is unique in that it is spread over several small islands in the Middle Keys. This makes it a fantastic place for sport fishing and lobster tickling, and it is also a wonderful place to dive and snorkel! With lovely patch reefs everywhere, and numerous dive operators to choose from, plus plenty of great shore dives, Marathon is a great place to escape from the cares of everyday life, for divers new and experienced alike. Let’s take a few moments to look at just a handful of Marathon’s best dive sites!
Sombrero Key Reef
One of the largest spur and groove reef formations in the Florida Keys, Sombrero Key Reef features lovely fingers of lettuce and brain coral, with lush stands of gorgonians and brilliant forests of elkhorn coral separated by white, sandy valleys. The reef, which is very shallow with depths ranging from just five feet to fifty feet, is marked with a lighthouse that has been in operation since 1858, and features 23 mooring buoys. Near the lighthouse, a field of seagrass has sprung up from the rubble, and is home to some massive barracuda, plus lots of tiny invertebrates.
As the reef is a Sanctuary Preservation Area, the fish and lobster are large and fearless. Look for big jewfish, some guarding nests full of eggs; tiny jawfish, and lots of neon gobies, juvenile Spanish hogfish, and parrotfish. Smaller fish have set up cleaning stations where larger ones wait in line for a cleanup, and there are even small reef sharks hiding in the sandy patches. Visibility is normally 50 feet or better, and there is little current.
Herman’s Hole and Herman’s Behind
This big reef and pair of dive sites is named for an elusive green moray eel named Herman. In reality, there are a few morays here, so it’s hard to say if you’ll be able to identify “The” Herman, or not! Depths here range from 15 to 65 feet, and since the reef is not marked, you’ll need to go with a local charter to find it, since it is in open water about 4 miles off Vaca Cut and Sister’s Creek.
You’ll begin at Herman’s Behind in about 15 feet of water. Swimming toward the south, you’ll come to a drop off that leads to a still-shallow depth of 25 feet, followed by a slope that gradually leads to 65 feet. Here, you’ll find fantastic coral heads swarming with all kinds of reef fish including butterfly and angelfish, gobies and jawfish, and quite a few snapper and jacks.
To the west of Herman’s Backside, you’ll find Herman’s Hole, which is an almost perfectly round coral and limestone reef formation with a ridge on top and a 20 foot deep hole in the center. This is like a small amphitheater, where you can relax and view all the fish that enjoy the protection this feature provides. On the outer edges of Herman’s Hole, there are lots of small ledges and cracks, plus smaller patch reefs teeming with grunts and other fish. Maximum depth on the outside is 30 feet. Watch for sea turtles!
Thunderbolt
The Thunderbolt was built in 1942, and was originally named the USS Randolph. The 189 foot ship was originally used to lay cables along the seabed, and after a time, she was purchased by Florida Power and Light, which used her in experiments that studied man-made lightning. Later, she was used as a survey ship, mapping the ocean floor around the Florida Keys.
Today, Thunderbolt lies beneath 120 feet of water, and is heavily silted. She is subject to strong currents at times, and is home to some very large groupers, jacks, and other fish. Before being deployed as an artificial reef in March of 1986, she was cleaned up and prepared for safe penetration, especially on the aft end, which has been cut wide open for easy entry and exit.
On calm days, you can relax and enjoy the beautiful sponge and coral growth that covers the ship, plus you can pose for photos near the pair of massive bronze propellers. Watch for the turtles that sometimes sleep inside the wreck, and keep an eye out for sharks and patrolling barracudas!
Coffins Patch
This reef got its somewhat spooky name when a ship, loaded with new, empty coffins, struck it many years ago. It could have been named Ignacio instead – a Spanish galleon by that name hit this reef and sunk in 1733. Ignacio was loaded with gold and silver coins, and though very little of the wreck remains, it is still possible to find your own tiny piece of treasure if you are lucky!
Coffins Patch Reef is marked with a tall I-beam and has eight mooring buoys. Depths range from ten to thirty feet, making it possible to spend as much time as you want just relaxing and exploring the reef. Visibility is excellent, at fifty feet or better most of the time, and the light quality here is perfect for underwater photography. You’ll find a wide array of tropical fish here, including angelfish and butterfly fish, swimming amongst magnificent pillar and brain coral formations. Watch for sharks and turtles, as well as the occasional pod of visiting dolphins!
Delta Shoal
Over the centuries, many ships have struck Delta Shoal and sunk. These include the wrecks of several Spanish galleons, which are little more than ballast and a few timbers now, plus the Ivory Wreck, which was a slave trading ship that was lost in 1853. Many artifacts were recovered from this wreck, including ivory elephant tusks, leg irons and manacles, and brass bowls. Divers occasionally find cannon balls and cutlery as they explore what little remains of the old shipwreck.
Depths here are between 6 and 25 feet, and there are mooring buoys along the spur and groove formations that make up the shoal. Its ledges, crevices, and sandy canyons are teeming with all kinds of fish and invertebrates, which swim against a rainbow colored backdrop of coral and sponge growth. The area is ideal for all divers to explore, and perfect for underwater photography!
As the reefs and wrecks around Marathon are easy to access, and as these are just a few of them, it is very easy to get to the sites you want to see most. While it is a good idea to make reservations in advance, there are many wonderful dive shops in the area that offer regularly scheduled trips and private charters, plus lessons and rentals. So dust off that underwater camera, and head to the middle keys! You’ll want to come back again and again.