Mooring Buoy Locations
Currently, 54 buoys are available for use across 14 locations off Miami-Dade County's shores, from Golden Beach to Key Biscayne. These sites include popular natural and artificial reef sites, as well as an archaeological preserve.
Description: Army Tanks, No. 7 (110 ft Steel ship) and Larsen Barge, all connected by boulder piles. Relief ranges from 9 ft. to 15 ft. Large schools of Tomtates are common here and with occasional sightings of a Goliath Grouper.
Depth: 50 ft.
Number of Buoys: 2
Description: Three patch reefs with extensive relief off of Key Biscayne. The buoys at this site cover local dive spots known as Cuban Freighter Reef or West Emerald (buoys 1 & 2), North Emerald Reef (buoys 3-5), and Emerald Reef (buoys 6 & 7). The benthic cover at this site is dense and diverse with numerous hard corals, gorgonians and sponges. Fish are also extremely abundant here including many grunts and barracudas.
Depth: 15-26 ft
Number of Buoys: 7
Special Note: Active research is underway at Emerald Reef. You may observe numbered tags or rebar stakes similar to the images below. These tags and rebar stakes are essential for future monitoring so please do not remove or tamper with any you may see at this reef or any reef along Florida's Coral Reef. You can help monitor these reefs by providing updates and images through "SEAFAN" at 886-770-SEFL (7335) or www.SEAFAN.net.
Description: Part of the middle linear reef tract that runs north to south. The benthic cover at this site is dense and diverse with numerous hard corals, gorgonians, sponges and colonial zoanthids. Reef fish including grunts may be abundant here.
Depth: 22-30 ft.
Number of Buoys: 4
Special Note Active research is underway at Flamingo Reef. You may observe numbered tags or rebar stakes similar to the images below. These tags and rebar stakes are essential for future monitoring, so please do not remove or tamper with any you may see at this reef or any reef along Florida's Coral Reef. This reef is also an active coral restoration area where the University of Miami and the Rescuea Reef program host citizen science expeditions to provide snorkelers and scuba divers hands-on opportunities to assist with coral reef conservation efforts. You can help monitor these reefs by providing updates and images through SEAFAN/a> - The Southeast Florida Action Network or by calling 886-770-SEFL (7335).
Description: Shallow inner reef with natural ledge (2-3 ft relief). Nurse sharks are frequently found sleeping under the ledge. The threatened Staghorn Coral is present at this site, as well as numerous other large hard corals, gorgonians and sponges. Fish are also abundant.
Depth: 14 - 20 feet
Number of Buoys: 6
Coral colonies have been treated for disease at this site. You may observe numbered tags similar to the image below, asking for your help. If you see these tags, please take a picture and share it at www.SEFAN.net. These tags are essential for future monitoring activities, so please do not remove or tamper with any you may see at this reef or any reef along Florida’s Coral Reef.
Description: Artificial reef site with 3 boulder piles (up to 13 ft of relief) surrounded by numerous clusters of reef balls. Large schools of Tomtates and Spadefish are common here
Depth: 43 ft
Number of Buoys: 2
Description: Shallow sandy area surrounded by seagrass beds where the Half Moon Sailboat sunk in 1905. For the history of this wreck, please visit the National Park Service or Florida's Underwater Archaeological Preserves
Depth: 10 feet
Number of Buoys: 2
Description: Artificial reef consisting of a concrete bar surrounded by tetrahedron modules with approximately 9 feet of relief (deployed in 2000). Hard coral, gorgonians and sponges are present. Numerous fish also present.
Depth: 20 feet
Number of Buoys: Two
Sponsors: These buoys need continual maintenance to ensure they are in good condition for you to use. Please consider supporting the Mooring Buoy Program by adopting a buoy!
2009 Partners:
- Jose Cuervo Brand
Description: Shallow first reef tract with old dredged ‘canyon’ (<2 ft relief). Hard coral, gorgonians and sponges are present. Numerous fish also present due to relief compared to adjacent reef areas.
Depth: 27 feet
Number of Buoys: 3
Description: Part of the middle linear reef tract that runs north to south. Both buoys are located on the western side of the reef. Benthic cover at this site is dense and diverse with numerous hard corals, gorgonians and sponges. Fish are also abundant here including many grunts and barracudas.
Depth: 20-28 ft.
Number of Buoys: 2
Special Note Active research is underway at Paradise Reef. You may observe numbered tags or rebar stakes similar to the images below. These tags and rebar stakes are essential for future monitoring, so please do not remove or tamper with any you may see at this reef or any reef along Florida's Coral Reef. This reef is also an active coral restoration area where the University of Miami and the Rescue a Reef program host citizen science expeditions to provide snorkelers and scuba divers hands-on opportunities to assist with coral reef conservation efforts. You can help monitor these reefs by providing updates and images through SEAFAN - The Southeast Florida Action Netork or by calling 886-770-SEFL (7335).
Description: Middle reef tract with old dredged ‘canyon’ (up to 4 ft relief) near southern extent of mooring buoys (Buoy #6). Hard coral, gorgonians and sponges are present. Numerous fish also present due to relief compared to adjacent reef areas.
Depth: 30 feet
Number of Buoys: 7
Description: Part of the middle linear reef tract that runs north to south off Key Biscayne. The southern buoys are shallower and provide good snorkeling opportunities. The benthic cover at this site is dense and diverse with numerous hard corals (including the threatened Staghorn Coral), gorgonians, sponges and colonial zoanthids. Reef fish including grunts may be abundant here.
Depth: 17-28 feet
Number of Buoys: Six
Special Note: Active research is underway at Rainbow Reef. You may observe numbered tags or rebar stakes similar to the images below. These tags and rebar stakes are essential for future monitoring so please do not remove or tamper with any you may see at this reef or any reef along Florida's Coral Reef. This reef is also an active coral restoration area where the University of Miami and the Rescue a Reef program host citizen science expeditions to provide snorkelers and SCUBA divers hands-on opportunities to assist with coral reef conservation efforts. You can help monitor these reefs by providing updates and images through "SEAFAN" at 886-770-SEFL (7335) or www.SEAFAN.net
This reef was also the focus of the "100 Yards of Hope" coral restoration project which brought together Special Operations veterans, marine scientists and NFL Green on a football field-sized coral conservation mission. Watch the documentary.
Description :Eastern portion of the middle linear reef tract that runs north to south off Key Biscayne north of Emerald Reef. The benthic cover at this site is dense and diverse with numerous hard corals, gorgonians, sponges and colonial zoanthids. Reef fish are also abundant here.
Depth: 25-28 feet
Number of Buoys: 6
Special Note: Active research is underway at RJ’s Ledge. You may observe numbered tags or rebar stakes similar to the images below. These tags and rebar stakes are essential for future monitoring so please do not remove or tamper with any you may see at this reef or any reef along Florida's Coral Reef. This reef is also an active coral restoration area where the University of Miami and the Rescue a Reef program host citizen science expeditions to provide snorkelers and SCUBA divers hands-on opportunities to assist with coral reef conservation efforts. You can help monitor these reefs by providing updates and images through "SEAFAN" at 886-770-SEFL (7335) or www.SEAFAN.net.
Description: Part of the middle linear reef tract that runs north to south. The benthic cover at this site is dense and diverse, with numerous hard corals, gorgonians, sponges and colonial zoanthids. Reef fish are also abundant here.
Depth: 26-28 ft.
Number of Buoys: 2
Special Note Active research is underway at Royal Reef. You may observe numbered tags or rebar stakes similar to the images below. These tags and rebar stakes are essential for future monitoring, so please do not remove or tamper with any you may see at this reef or any reef along Florida's Coral Reef. This reef is also an active coral restoration area where the University of Miami and the Rescue a Reef program host citizen science expeditions to provide snorkelers and scuba divers hands-on opportunities to assist with coral reef conservation efforts. You can help monitor these reefs by providing updates and images through SEAFAN - The Southeast Florida Action Network or by calling 886-770-SEFL (7335).
Description: Shallow first reef tract with old dredged ‘canyon’ (<2 ft relief). Hard coral, gorgonians and sponges are present. Numerous fish also present due to relief compared to adjacent reef areas.
Depth: 30 feet
Number of Buoys: 3
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Loren Parra
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701 NW 1st Court,
Miami, FL 33136
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