The Sambo Reefs

Fast Facts:

• Average Depth:  25 ft. / 8 m
• Max Depth: 40 ft. / 12 m

Features:

• Coral Reef
• Mooring Buoys
• Good Snorkeling
• Marine Preserve

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The Sambos are a collection of reefs divided into Eastern, Middle, and Western by white sands. These are located four miles south of Boca Chica Channel and extend to the black and white buoy #2. There is also a pole, which marks the eastern end of Western Sambo.

There is a Sanctuary Preservation Area marked by orange floats where research is done and fishing and lobstering are prohibited. However, the rest of the area is great for lobstering and shelling, especially in the inland grass bed located in shallower water. There is also an Ecological Reserve that stretches for 9 square nautical miles from the Boca Chica shoreline to Western Sambo. This area has received complaints from fisherman, but is currently a no-take zone. The purpose behind this is to ensure a habitat for spawning and reproduction that can go undisturbed.

The Sambos reef line is known for its diverse sea life. The entire area ranges in depth from 10 to 40 feet. One popular spot on the west end of the Western Sambo is 25 feet deep and is frequented by divers. This section offers fields of branching coral that extend in all directions. Around the same area but heading down to 40 feet, a diver can see the heads of many corals abundant with sea life. This sight can be seen for about 125 yards. This location is great for a variety of different dives at varying depths. However, if you are in search of collecting shells or other keepsakes, be careful which part of the area you are disturbing. The Sambos offer a variety of diving options and extensive amounts of sea life. The shallow reefs have strands of elkhorn and staghorn and tropical fish life is abundant.