• Breakers Reef (Natural)

  • Offshore Snorkeling

  • Nearshore Snorkeling at Peanut Island

  • Stepping Stones Artificial Reef

  • Zion Train Artificial Reef

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​Enhancing our underwater treasures

Palm Beach County's coastal waters are scattered with natural coral formations that are part of the Florida Reef Tract, the only living barrier coral reef in the continental United States and third largest in the world. Creating additional areas for fishing, diving, and snorkeling protects natural reefs from overuse.  These "artificial reefs" are most often made out of limestone, concrete, and occasionally decommissioned ships that become beautiful marine habitats for algae, corals, and other marine life.

ERM has deployed over 55 vessels, 100,000 tons of concrete, and 133,000 tons of limestone boulders creating artificial reefs.

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Reef Links

List
Map (ESRI)
Map (Google) New
Brochure     
 Video
General and Technical Publications

 Featured Reef

 

Jupiter Stepping Stones

 Info Sheet

Location:

Lat 26°57.21N

Long 80°03.73W

Material:

Limestone boulders

Depth:

32 feet 

 Get Involved

 

PBC Reef Forum

Government officials, commercial and recreational anglers, SCUBA divers, scientists, and conservationists review, discuss, and make recommendations for artificial reef and estuarine enhancement projects. Click here for more information.

PBC Reef Research Team

Volunteer divers monitor marine life on the natural and artificial reefs providing valuable data for management decisions and scientific research. Click here to get involved.

Our Florida Reefs

Local residents, reef users, business owners, visitors and the broader public in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties play a part in the future of coral reefs in this region.

Click here for more information.

 Mooring Buoys

 

Natural and artificial reefs are fragile and can be easily damaged by improper boat anchoring. The Florida Coral Reef Protection Act makes it illegal to anchor on a natural reef because dragging an anchor along the sea floor or dropping anchor on a natural reef can permanently dislodge corals and sponges.
Palm Beach County has created a system of mooring buoys at several locations so that boaters, divers, and fisherman can safely moor their vessels to protect offshore reefs.
There are 38 mooring buoys for the public to use ranging from 12 feet to 25 feet deep along the coast from Jupiter to Boca Raton. Each buoy is designed to handle only one boat and there is no fee or overnight mooring.

Brochure
Map
Fact Sheet and How To

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WARNING: Many artificial reefs lie in water depths that exceed the recommended sport diving limitations. Any swimmer, diver, or snorkeler shall approach or visit each artificial reef at his or her own risk. The Palm Beach County Artificial Reef Program and Committee, the Board of County Commissioners of Palm Beach County, and the County of Palm Beach are not responsible for any hazards which may exist or arise on, about, or near the artificial reefs, or for any injuries or fatalities which may occur as a result of any person's presence on, about, or near the artificial reefs.