Mooring Buoy Locations

Mooring buoys, which are 18 inches in diameter 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 nearly 500 mooring buoys available for use within the sanctuary on a first-come, first-served basis at no cost to the boater.

This map shows the location of mooring buoys throughout Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary waters. Scroll or use the + and - symbols to zoom in and out on the map and use your cursor or keyboard arrows to navigate. Click on a map feature to learn more about it.

The website helps residents locate and obtain more information on artificial reefs or offshore mooring buoys managed by Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Note the mooring buoys are intended for short term use on a first come basis and are not intended for overnight or long term use. This application can be used by residents and visitors alike to find good fishing and diving locations.

To locate an artificial reef or mooring buoy, simply zoom in on you area of interest and click on the artificial reef or mooring buoy point to see all the details about the site.

Mooring buoys displayed in the map above are associated with the following zones, features, and points of interest within the sanctuary:

Artificial Reefs

Adolphus Busch, Amesbury, Benwood, Bibb, Cayman Salvor
Duane, Eagle, Spiegel Grove, Thunderbolt, U.S.S. Vandenberg

Conservation Areas

Western Sambo

Management Areas

Looe Key Management Area

Sanctuary Preservation Areas

Alligator Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area, Carysfort Sanctuary Preservation Area, Cheeca Rocks Sanctuary Preservation Area, Coffins Patch Sanctuary Preservation Area, Conch Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area, Davis Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area, Eastern Dry Rocks Sanctuary Preservation Area, The Elbow Sanctuary Preservation Area, Hen and Chickens Sanctuary Preservation Area, Key Largo Dry Rocks/Grecian Rocks Sanctuary Preservation Area, Looe Key Sanctuary Preservation Area, Molasses Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area, Newfound Harbor Sanctuary Preservation Area, Sand Key Sanctuary Preservation Area, Sombrero Reef Sanctuary Preservation Area, Turtle Rocks Sanctuary Preservation Area, Turtle Shoal Sanctuary Preservation Area

Shipwreck Trail Sites

Adelaide Baker, Amesbury, Benwood, City of Washington, Duane, Eagle, North America, San Pedro, Thunderbolt

Wildlife Management Areas

Cottrell Key Wildlife Management Area, Pelican Shoal Wildlife Management Area

Other Locations

Archer Key, Carysfort Trench, Crocker Reef, Horseshoe Reef, Marker 32, Marker 48, Mule Key, Nine Foot Stake, North Dry Rocks, North North Dry Rocks, North East Patch, Pickles Reef, Sand Island, Snapper Ledge, Three Sisters, Turtle Rocks, Turtle Shoal, Western Dry Rocks, White Banks, Wolfe Reef

List of mooring buoys and their coordinates (PDF, 85 kb)

GPS eXchange File of Latitude/Longitude Locations of Mooring Buoys (GPX, 38 kb)

Buoy Program

GIS Disclaimer:

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary provides this website as a public service to its residents and visitors. The Mooring Buoy team is continually editing and updating GIS data to improve positional accuracy and information. No warranties, expressed or implied, are provided for the positional or thematic accuracy of the data herein, its use, or its interpretation. Although it is periodically updated, this information may not reflect the data currently on file at FKNMS and assumes no liability either for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the information provided regardless of the cause of such or for any decision made, action taken, or action not taken by the user in reliance upon any information provided herein.