26 January Beware shoaling at Cayo Mathias

Cayo Mathias is 42nm east of Punta Frances on the south and east end of Isla Juventud and only an overnight stop for us. Our friends who had visited a couple of days before had advised the true depths in the suggested anchorage in front of the island were shallower than charted with spots less than 2m. With this is mind we motored in 3 miles behind the reef to get protection from ocean swell while we slept and dropped the hook in 4m, sand and grass at 21.33.19N 82.28.87W. It was a good decision in the given light conditions. The waters were calm. We slept well and it only took half an hour to return to the outer reef marker and back out to deep water.