Sombrero Island

Sombrero Island, named for its distinctive hat shape, is surrounded by a fringing reef and a wall on its southern face that descends to 40 m. The site is celebrated for its dense schooling fish aggregations — vast tornadoes of glassfish (silversides) are regularly visited by hunting trevally, barracuda, and jacks that create dramatic feeding frenzies. The shallow reef top is a kaleidoscope of hard corals and anemone beds hosting clownfish, while the wall grows enormous sea fans and barrel sponges. Thresher sharks are occasionally sighted in the deeper blue water during the cooler months. The island also makes an excellent snorkel site in calm conditions.