Buoy Program

Every year, thousands of boaters enjoy visiting the Florida Keys to fish and dive. Mooring buoys installed and maintained by Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary make it possible for them to do this safely without damaging the reef. Buoys are also used to mark areas that have specific regulations, assist with navigation, and provide information. The sanctuary maintains more than 800 buoys (mooring, boundary, spar, etc.) throughout 4,539 square miles of sanctuary waters.

Types of Buoys

Mooring Buoys

Mooring buoys—white spherical buoys with a blue stripe, have been used in the Keys since 1981 as an alternative to anchoring, which can break and damage the coral reef. There are more than 600 mooring buoys available for use within the sanctuary on a first-come, first-served basis at no cost to the boater. Anchoring is prohibited on living coral within the sanctuary. If no mooring buoy is available and you are outside a no-anchor zone, you may anchor in sandy areas away from coral and seagrass.

a large 24-inch diameter white buoy with a blue line next to a smaller 18-inch diameter white buoy with a blue line

Standard mooring buoys are 18 inches in diameter and can support vessels up to 59 feet in length. These standard-size buoys are available throughout the sanctuary. Larger 24-inch mooring buoys are for vessels between 60 to 100 feet in length and are available at the following locations:

Looe Key SPA
Turtle Rocks SPA
North Patch
USCGC Bibb
USCGC Duane
USS Spiegel Grove
USS Vandenberg

A boat uses a bridle made of blue rope that passes through the eye of the yellow line of a mooring buoy

How to Use a Mooring Buoy

Proper use of a mooring buoy will keep boaters safe and increase the buoy's lifespan and usage.

Mooring Buoy Locations

As many as 40 buoys can be found in some mooring fields, accommodating both large and small boats.

Boundary Buoys

Other buoys are used for marking the boundaries of zones such as sanctuary preservation areas, conservation areas, and restoration areas. These buoys are yellow and have a 30-inch diameter. There are no mooring lines on these yellow buoys and vessels are not permitted to tie up to them.

Spar Buoys

Spar buoys are tall, cylindrical, white buoys marked with orange symbols. Within the sanctuary, they serve important purposes such as:

Providing directions and general information
Warning of hazards or underwater obstructions
Marking no motor zones
Indicating public access restrictions

Keep an eye out for spar buoys while exploring the sanctuary. They help identify wildlife management areas and guide visitors along the Shipwreck Trail, making it easier to explore safely while safeguarding sensitive resources.