Protecting Our Marine Environment
The Mooring Buoy Program and Artificial Reefs
Volunteers at Miami-Dade Reef Guard are organizing, maintaining, and promoting the mooring buoy program with divers, boaters and fishermen. The mooring buoy program is now fully funded and managed by the Miami Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources. Reef Guard also promotes and supports both artificial reef deployment and natural reef conservation in sea areas adjacent to Miami-Dade County.
Volunteers and Contributors
dollars raised
Miami-Dade Reef Guard Association
Brief History/Milestones
- In 2009 the Florida Legislature passed the Coral Reef Protection Act allowing fines for damage to the reef caused by vessel groundings and anchors.
- In 2009 the reef adjacent to Miami Dade County had no mooring buoys for boaters.
- Reef Guard, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, was started in late 2009 to respond to this situation.
- With start-up money from local dive shops, public donations, support from Miami Dade County and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) a total of 42 buoys were installed by 2012.
- Following successful lobbying the Miami Dade County Environment Resources Management department is now fully funding the buoy program since 2018.
In 2022, twelve new buoys were added to bring the total installed to 54.
Between 2022 and 2025 ReefGuard completed 3 rebar projects for
1. The Anchorage Trek (aka the Army Tanks site)
2. The Key Biscayne Trek (aka the Belcher barge site)
3. the recently named SMZ Trek.In 2025 in partnership with Reef Smart Guides Home / Reef Smart Guides we completed 3D images for seven artificial sites.
We Value Our Marine Environment, and We’re Doing Something About It
Artificial reefs help protect the natural reef by removing some of the pressure and stress caused by divers. Artificial reefs provide additional habitat for the marine organisms which inhabit the natural reef.
Current Buoy Situation
There are a total of 54 buoys installed and fully maintained on the reef between the Broward county line to the north and the northern boundary of Biscayne National Park to the south.
Full details of buoys and artificial reefs together with GPS coordinates can be found on the Miami Dade website at: https://gisweb.miamidade.gov/artificialreefs/
Give Miami Day (GMD) is November 19th this year, with early giving starting on November 14th.
This is a great opportunity to support the work of the Miami-Dade Reef Guard Association and help protect and enhance the marine environment that makes South Florida such a special place to live, boat, fish and dive.
During the Give Miami Day giving period, donations to Reef Guard can have an even greater impact through the program offered by the Miami Foundation. To learn more and make your donation, visit: Miami-Dade Reef Guard Association | Give Miami Day
Reef Smart -- seven sites we mapped in Miami
Army Tanks Wreck Trek
Tortuga
Paraiso III
DEMA Trader
Proteus
Biscayne
Rio Miami
Reef Guard Recommendation
Leaders in reef safe skincare, STREAM2SEA is the first and only mineral sunscreen company that ensures that all their sunscreen and skincare products are scientifically proven safe for fish and coral as well as coral larvae.
In 2020, this sport sunscreen achieved the coveted protect land and sea certified label.
Divers Hub Florida scuba diving sites, calendars and operators
is a free, non-profit site for diving South Florida and the Keys, with no ads and nothing for sale. It has one daily schedule of boat dives from about 45 operators from Stuart to Key West, a guide to roughly 380 dive sites with depth, conditions and photos, marine forecasts, and free tools: a decompression planner, a trimix/helitrox gas blending calculator and a dive logbook app.
Enjoy the Dive Miami video
Produced by the Miami-Dade Reef Guard Association, this short video introduces the variety and scuba diving offered in the local ecosystem.
Watch the Reef Guard Dive Miami video on YouTube.
Donate To The Cause
Make a $30 donation — or any amount that that suits your budget — using secure Pay Pal donation service online. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
FLORIDA STATUTES, SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS ACT, CH.496 – REGISTRATION #CH31630. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
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Kudos to the Reef Guard team for their consistent efforts to keep the mooring buoy program on track, raising money and awareness, doing the right thing for our environment.
Miami-Dade Reef Guard Association’s Mooring Buoy Program provides a platform for all who value the unique ocean environment of South Florida to participate in — and benefit from — these pro-active programs.