Snorkeling Hen and Chickens
Islamorada Snorkel Guide
Snorkeling Hen and Chickens patch reef was a highlight of our Florida Keys snorkeling tour. In fact there is an extra page of pictures that we share from Hen & Chickens.
You will find this called Hens and Chickens also, but I think it is really Hen and Chickens, because that is what the reef looks like, a single large patch reef, the hen, surrounded by many little reefs (the chickens). Either way.
This reef is another quick boat ride from the Islamorada area, and like Cheeca Rocks it is not way out on the barrier reef, but is in shallower water.
This is a wonderful patch reef for snorkeling. It is marked by a small tower, and is a pretty big area. Plan on spending some time here if you have the choice.
The visibility was mixed when we were there, but conditions change all the time. The water was a little green from algae.
The area has a nice range of topography, with high and low areas with channels to explore and little shelves for fish to hide under. There is a nice range of depths that are perfect for snorkeling.
The reef was pretty diverse. There were tons of different hard corals in very healthy condition.
We found beautiful areas of Mountainous Star Coral, Lobed Star Coral, Finger Coral, Brain Corals, and Fire Corals.
And like many of these inner patch reefs, we found many healthy sea rods and fans.
There were lots of Christmas Tree Worms and a ton of sponges, including Red Boring Sponge, Branching Vase Sponge and Green Finger Sponge.
The fish in this area were of medium to small size, and a decent amount, but nowhere near as many as at Cheeca Rocks.
Once again we got to see a Hawksbill Turtle. This one was older and covered in a few barnacles. We also had fun watching a Spotted Eagle Ray fly around.
For fish we noticed Blue Angelfish, Foureye Butterflyfish, Spotfin Butterflyfish, French and Gray Angelfish, Blue Tangs, a big school of immature Bar Jack, Barracuda, Chub, Grunts, Porkfish, Gray Snapper, Yellowtail Snapper, Bicolor Damselfish, and Yellowtail Damselfish. We found lots of Sergeant Major, and some in the purple phase also. There was a variety of parrotfish, Bluehead, Spanish Hogfish, Trumpetfish, and Spotted Trunkfish.
Not bad for a lazy hour of swimming around. It was a treat.
Click here to see about fifteen more pictures of what Hen & Chickens is like underwater.
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Now explore the amazing Alligator Reef
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