Sombrero Reef

We drove our own boat to Sombrero Reef. Since you can not anchor, you will need to tie off on one of the buoys there. This was our daughter's first major snorkeling excursion on our own and it did not disappoint. We would love to come back once she is certified in Scuba to explore deeper. For snorkelers, there are so many types of fish and they will swim right with you. Beware of jelly in the water, especially later in the afternoon. Water felt on the cooler side but easily adaptable. If boating on own, be sure to throw a line with a bumper to assist with keeping close to the boat as well.

We rented a powerboat for the day and had a great time exploring all around Marathon. Sombrero reef is about 4 miles out and very easy to find. 11 mooring balls are available for free public use, right near the reef formation. All were in use when we arrived, but a couple boats left within 5 minutes, so we had no trouble getting a space. Breezes were around 10-15mph and the water didn't seem terribly choppy, but apparently there was enough chop to stir up the sand, as we really couldn't see much on the reef (or even much of the reef itself). Visibility was under 10 ft when we went. Would like to go again on a day with better visibility. While we were there one of the snorkel charters tied up and a batch of people went in, but they didn't stay long, so I'm guessing they also had poor visibility.

I had been to another reef nearby (boat from Bahia Honda) about 10 years ago and it was great, so I had expected similar from Sombrero reef, but it didn't work out this time. Based on other reviews, I would certainly try again on a calm day.

Beautiful experience; highly recommend. Tons of Marine life and large area to explore. Advise being mindful of the wind, causing rough waters and high wave crests. Would not attempt if the water crests are higher 18” makes for a challenging experience.

Took a tour to Sombrero Reef for some snorkeling. Seas were a tad choppy, but water was very clear. Tons of fish and some very nice coral formations. For snorkeling in the US, this was an excellent choice. Short boat ride from the bottom of Marathon by the 7 Mile Bridge

We went on a Snorkel tour to this reef and saw a breathtaking variety of fish and corals. However, since the waters around the reef are generally a bit choppy (it was a good day, sunny, no winds, clear waters) a number of snorkelers got sea-sick including my daughter who is 15 - some got nauseous not on the boat but while they were in the water. So, first-time snorkelers or boaters should be aware that even on very nice days, the waters can be a bit choppy out there. Two divers who came with us spotted two bull sharks and there were a large number of jelly fish around on the day. It is good to have vinegar spray with you. We spotted people fishing by the edge of the sanctuary, presumably throwing out bait which I found a bit concerning since there were a number of swimmers/snorkelers as well as sharks not far off.

Beautiful coral reef with an abundance of sea life. We dove here, and it felt like we were in our own private aquarium. Our dive maxed out at about 22 feet, so it was possible to see all of the beautiful colors and spend as much bottom time as you need. It is shallow enough to snorkel and free dive, however when we were there the seas were quite choppy, so it may not be as pleasant as it is underwater.

We had read great reviews of people's experience at Sombrero Reef, so when we rented a boat for the day in Marathon, off we went.

We had to anchor our boat because all 11 mooring balls were already taken. We snorkeled for about 45 minutes and saw quite a few fish, but not as many as we were anticipating. We have snorkeled in many different places in the US and Carribbean and felt this was a bit underwhelming based on what we had read.

Overall, a good experience, but not a great one.

One word of caution, stay close to your boat because the current can pick up at anytime!

This was my first saltwater scuba dive after my certification and I quickly realized I set the bar too high. It was so beautiful and amazing, so I am afraid I set such a high standard for my next dive. I truly felt like I was living inside an aquarium. There were the most beautiful fish everywhere, and the reef was full of life. Warm water and calm seas made it the perfect dive. It’s easy enough to snorkel in the area if you are not certified. Don’t miss it!

we went snorkeling here and we though it was good, the waves were bit high that day but water was clear and the reef was nice. we saw a lot of fish. This is NOT a calm water snorkeling so if you expect to be calm is not. I would not recommend this tour for small children.

Beautiful beach. No expense spared to recover from last hurricane- it is pristine. Plenty of parking. Nice restrooms. Outdoor showers. Some shaded cover. Nice place to spend a beautiful day. Can get crowded.