Sombrero Reef & Lighthouse-Fla. Marathon Key (pics intense)

[aquavista99]

My wife & I just returned from vacation in the Florida Keys. We visited Sombrero Reef and light house (Marathon Key) on Friday. Sombrero Reef is an extensive spur-and-groove reef system with a maximum depth of about 30 feet. The famous lighthouse was built before the Civil War.

 

[aquavista99]

 

[aquavista99]

 

[aquavista99]

 

[aquavista99]

 

[aquavista99]

 

[aquavista99]

 

[woodycb]

Nice pics. Nice coral colonies.

 

[aquavista99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12796633#post12796633 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by woodycb
Nice pics. Nice coral colonies.

Thanks for the compliment. I will be adding more pictures from Key Largo reefs as well. Here are a few pictures from the Christ of the Deep Statue at Key Largo Dry Rocks.

 

[awilson500]

nice pics

 

[fishIZneat]

First pic. Third post.

Is that hard or soft coral?

 

[percula99]

I love the school of Atlantic Blue Tangs. Keep them coming. What temperature was the water?

 

[Capt_Cully]

Great pix!!!! Got married in Key West but was too busy with family to hit the reef. Bummin now that I see what I was missing. Sure beats dinner with new in-laws

 

[RicksReefs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14643244#post14643244 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishIZneat
First pic. Third post.

Is that hard or soft coral?

soft. it's Palythoa caribaeorum

 

[awilson500]

i'm going down on Wednesday for a week of snorkling...!!! Can't wait!

 

[aquavista99]

I love the school of Atlantic Blue Tangs. Keep them coming. What temperature was the water?

78 degrees. Love the blue tangs!

 

[aquavista99]

nice pics

I have not followed this thread in a while. thanks for the compliments, everyone! I will post more pictures soon!

 

[aquavista99]

Here are my Elbow Reef, Carysfort Reef and Dry Rocks (Key Largo) pics from my most recent trip in June, 2009. At all three reefs, I photographed elkhorn coral, which is endangered. It was good to see new, small colonies of elkhorn appearing on the reefs in Key Largo as well. Carysfort Reef is famous for elkhorn coral gardens which makes this reef a highly attractive location. I visited Christ of the Deep again this year and saw some very large grouper and sea squid.

 

[aquavista99]

Here are a few more of my pics from my 2009 Key largo trip

 

[aquavista99]