Boater Information. Boater Safety.
Boater Educational Courses
Respect the Dive Flag
Explore Like a Local. Protect the Reef.
Stay Cool While You Explore
Boating Tips from Captain Dave
Each year, thousands of commercial, recreational and pleasure boaters make their way to the Florida Keys to fish, dive, snorkel, kayak, paddleboard and soak up life on the water.
The waters around the Florida Keys are protected by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which stretches from south of Miami westward to the Dry Tortugas, not including Dry Tortugas National Park. These waters are home to some truly special treasures, including coral reefs, shipwrecks, seagrass beds and fisheries. They are also the reason boating, diving, fishing and snorkeling here feel unlike anywhere else.
This page is your sea-smart guide to boating in the Keys. Whether it is your first trip or your fiftieth, these tips can help you enjoy protected Florida Keys waterways safely, responsibly and with a little more local know-how.
Boating Resources
It Starts Here
Boater Safety Courses
Boating in The Florida Keys means clear water, open skies and endless places to explore. But shallow seagrass beds and coral habitats need extra care.
A few smart choices can help prevent groundings, propeller scars and damage to sensitive marine life. Boat responsibly and help keep the Keys healthy and beautiful for everyone.
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Boater Education Course was created just for the Keys. This free online course covers responsible boating, stewardship, important rules and boating regulations.
See Red? Slow Down
Respect the Dive Flag
A divers-down flag means people are in the water. Give divers plenty of room by staying at least 100 feet away in rivers, inlets, and navigation channels, and at least 300 feet away everywhere else. If you must pass closer, slow to idle speed to help keep everyone safe.
Look, Don't Touch
Coral Reef Protection
The Florida Keys coral reef is the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States, and it needs a light touch. Check the weather before a reef visit, since strong winds and poor visibility make it unsafe. Keep hands and fins off the coral, use a snorkel or buoyancy vest so you never have to stand on it, and practice good buoyancy even over sandy patches. Do not feed the fish, never take coral, and use mooring buoys where they are available.
Sanctuary guide
Explore Like a Pro
Download the free Marine Sanctuary Explorer app and take the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary with you wherever you go. Get real-time information on sanctuary regulations, interactive maps, points of interest, snorkeling and boating locations, wildlife and habitat guides, and offline access for exploring on the water. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a longtime local, this easy-to-use app helps you enjoy the Keys responsibly while protecting its incredible marine resources. Available free for iOS and Android.
Be Smart
Beat the Heat on the Water
Sunshine and boating go hand in hand in The Florida Keys, but heat can build quickly when you are out on the water. Pack plenty of water, wear lightweight clothing and sun protection, and take regular breaks in the shade whenever possible. Pace yourself, limit alcohol and sugary beverages, and pay attention to early signs of overheating, including heavy sweating, dizziness, weakness, headache or nausea. A few heat-smart precautions can help everyone aboard stay comfortable, energized and ready to enjoy the journey.
Check Before You Go
Boating Best Practices
Before you head out, give your boat a little pre-adventure attention. Service the engine on schedule, start the season with a fresh impeller, and check the fuel filter if the boat has been sitting. Top off and clean the batteries, then check trailer tires, hubs and the drain plug. Replace expired flares and fire extinguishers, carry extra life jackets for kids and guests, and use pump-out facilities and eco-friendly bilge cleaners to help keep reef waters clean.
Share the Water
Smart & Safe Boating Tips
Smart boating keeps the Florida Keys safe, healthy and fun for everyone. Keep a safe distance from other boats, anglers and divers, and remember that canoes, kayaks and paddleboards follow the same rules as any other vessel. Use mooring buoys where you can and anchor only in sand. Watch for shallow seagrass: brown, brown, run aground; blue, blue, sail on through. Do not chase or feed wildlife, keep wakes down near dive areas and mangroves, and bring every bit of trash back to shore.
Reef-Friendly Parking
Mooring Buoys
Mooring buoys are reef-friendly parking spots: tie up, enjoy the view and skip the anchor drop. They are 18-inch, blue-striped markers that boaters tie off to, which prevents anchor damage to coral. Since 1981 the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary has maintained more than 470 of them, marking artificial reefs, Sanctuary Preservation Areas, shipwreck trail sites and more. There is no fee to use them.
Correct use of a buoy will prevent unnecessary wear and tear on the mooring system, as well as protect your vessel and the vessels of others. There is no fee to use the reef mooring buoys maintained by the sanctuary, but keep in mind there are mooring buoys in anchorages throughout the Keys that do charge a fee.
Reel Responsibly
Fish Like You Belong
Fishing in The Florida Keys is legendary, with everything from backcountry flats to deep blue offshore waters. Whether you’re casting from shore or heading out with a captain, fish responsibly, follow local regulations and help protect the waters that make the Keys such a world-class fishing destination.
