Category: Marathon

Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Marathon GPS Coordinates This 188-foot military ship is the jewel of the Marathon wreck fleet. Sunk intentionally as a dive attraction in March 1986, she now sits perfectly upright in 115 feet of water offering 45 feet of relief. Originally named the USS Randolph, she was built for…

Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Marathon GPS Coordinates As you may have guessed, this reef gets its name from its curved horseshoe-like formation. It ranges in depth from 15 to 25 feet, with the sharpest profile on the shoreward side. There are several sandy ledges decorated with soft coral and sponges. There is…

Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Marathon GPS Coordinates Starting at 50 feet and dropping down to 80 feet, The Gap is a beautiful spot for a wall dive. At this site, large coral heads that rise 10 to 15 feet can be seen on the ocean side. Sunshine fish and hamlets as well…

Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Marathon GPS Coordinates Prior to the Civil War, the 142 foot Sombrero Key Lighthouse was constructed 8 miles offshore of Key Colony Beach. The innovative screw-pile lighthouse is still fully functional and in service. A gathering of 11 mooring buoys are located on the ocean side (south side)…

Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Marathon GPS Coordinates One of the most beautiful reefs in the Florida Keys, Looe Key Reef has large fingers of living coral extending out to sea. The reef has many large overhangs as well as several shallow sandy flats where shelling can be done. This is a great…

Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Marathon GPS Coordinates This site is located 4 miles southeast of Key Colony Beach near Herman’s Fish Hole. This reef contains a ledge which begins at 15 feet and drops to 25 feet reaching towards the sandy bottom. This is a great location for nurse shark sightings, especially…

Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Marathon GPS Coordinates Ivory Wreck is named after the elephant tusks that were recovered aboard. This schooner went down in 1853 on the Delta Shoals. Among other artifacts found onboard this slaver were leg irons and brass bowls as well as cannon balls. Although not much remains of…

Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Marathon GPS Coordinates It is believed that the British Man O’ War, the HMS Looe, ran aground in 1744 and sank on what is now Looe Key Reef. Some accounts report that she had a French ship under tow when she hit the reef and sank. The HMS Looe…

Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Marathon GPS Coordinates Herman’s Hole is a circular coral and limestone ridge that drops 20 feet to the sand in the center, and 30 feet to the sand around the outside. The hole is surrounded by a patch reef where grunts can be seen. There is a five-foot…

Fast Facts: Features: Need Gear? Download all Marathon GPS Coordinates The reef ranges in depth from 15 to 65 feet with several drop-offs and slopes. The reef itself starts in 15 feet of water, makes a quick drop to 25 feet, then gradually slopes to 65 feet. Live coral can be seen at this site…