FAQ'S & FACTS
Here are the answers to many of the things you have always wanted to know about Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (and maybe even a few things you didn't realize you wanted to know!) If you cannot find the answer to your question here or somewhere else on our web site, feel free to email us
and we will do our best to provide an answer.
When was the sanctuary designated?
Why was the sanctuary designated?
Why is it called the Flower Garden Banks?
Where is the sanctuary located?
What is the total area of the sanctuary?
What is the total area of the reef that is within recreational dive limits?
What will I see when I visit the sanctuary?
How deep is the sanctuary?
How do I get to the sanctuary?
Can I _________ in the sanctuary?
Do I need a permit to _________ in the sanctuary?
Under what part of the government is the sanctuary administered?
When was the sanctuary designated?
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary was designated January 17, 1992. Stetson Bank was added to the sanctuary in 1996. For more information about events leading up to designation, visit our History page.
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Why was the sanctuary designated?
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary was designated because of concerns that the area needed protection from increasing human activities such as oil and gas extraction, anchoring on the reefs, and harvesting of the wildlife.
This anchor was retrieved from the sanctuary during
a technical diving trip in 2009
Both researchers and recreational divers were influential in efforts to have the sanctuary designated. For more information about events leading up to designation, visit our History page.
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Why is it called the Flower Garden Banks?
At the turn of the century, snapper and grouper fishermen nick-named this area the "Texas Flower Gardens" because of the brightly colored sponges, plants, and other marine life they saw on the reefs below them. By the time the sanctuary was designated, the term 'banks' had been added to the name as a reference to the salt dome formations upon which the reefs are perched. For more information about events leading up to designation, visit our History page.
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Where is the sanctuary located?
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is located in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico and consists of three separate areas: East Flower Garden, West Flower Garden and Stetson Banks.
Atlas-style map of Flower Garden Banks
National Marine Sanctuary
The two Flower Garden Banks are 12 miles apart and located 100-115 miles directly south of the Texas/Louisiana border. Stetson Bank is located about 70 miles south of Galveston, Texas, about 30 miles northwest of the other two banks. For more information about sanctuary coordinates, visit our Trip Preparation page.
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What is the total area of the sanctuary?
The total area of the sanctuary is about 56 square miles (almost 36,000 acres). But, this is divided among three distinct areas...
Area of Sanctuary
| Stetson Bank |
2.18 km2 |
0.84 mi2 |
0.64 nm2 |
540 |
| West Flower Garden Bank |
77.54 km2 |
29.94 mi2 |
22.61 nm2 |
19,162 |
| East Flower Garden Bank |
65.86 km2 |
25.43 mi2 |
19.20 nm2 |
16,273 |
| Total |
145.58 km2 |
56.21 mi2 |
42.45 nm2 |
35,975 |
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What is the total area of the reef that is within recreational dive limits?
Only about 1% of the sanctuary is within the maximum recommended recreational dive depth of 130 feet (39.6 meters). About 2% of East Flower Garden Bank is within recreational dive limits. Stetson and West Flower Garden Banks each have less than 1% of their total area within those limits.
Area of Coral Reef Habitat in Sanctuary
| Stetson Bank |
0.15 km22 |
0.06 mi2 |
0.04 nm2 |
36 (about 28 football fields) |
| West Flower Garden Bank |
0.42 km2 |
0.16 mi2 |
0.12 nm2 |
102 (about 78 football fields) |
| East Flower Garden Bank |
1.43 km2 |
0.55 mi2 |
0.42 nm2 |
354 (about 272 football fields) |
| Total |
2.0 km2 |
0.77 mi2 |
0.58 nm2 |
492 |
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How deep is the sanctuary?
The coral reef cap begins at about 55 feet (~ 17 m) in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and continues to a depth of about 160 feet (~ 49 m). But, that's not the bottom of the sanctuary. A variety of other habitats are found deeper than the reef cap, where depths range from 160 to 476 feet (~145 m) depending on your location within the sanctuary.
Maximum Depths in Sanctuary
| Stetson Bank |
59 m / 194 ft |
surrounding plain |
| West Flower Garden Bank |
135 m / 443 ft |
base of southern mound |
| East Flower Garden Bank |
145 m / 476 ft |
eastern edge of bank |
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What will I see when I visit the sanctuary?
East and West Flower Garden Banks are known for their large boulder corals, primarily brain and star corals, which cover about 50% of the available surface area on the reef cap. Around the reef, you will see many of the same reef fishes common to more familiar Caribbean dive sites, but not quite as much variety. If you are fortunate, you may also see some of the larger residents such as manta rays, sea turtles, and whale sharks, to name a few.
Looking down at divers swimming just above the reef cap
that starts 55-60 feet below the surface.
Take a photo tour of East & West Flower Garden Banks
At Stetson Bank, you will see upthrust ridges of rock covered in corals, algae, and sponges. In many ways, this makes it easier to see all the variety of reef fishes and invertebrates that call the northwestern Gulf of Mexico home. By looking in all the nooks and crannies you will certainly find eels, urchins, shrimp, lobsters, and shellfish. Large spotted eagle rays and mantas are known to frequent the outer edges of this area, as well.
Upthrust ridges of rock are clearly visible at Stetson Bank.
Take a photo tour of Stetson Bank
For more information about sanctuary wildlife, visit our Species List pages or the Sanctuary Encyclopedia and Media Library.
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How do I get to the sanctuary?
The simple answer to this question is, "You need a boat!" There are several commercial dive and fishing charter operators that take people out to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and the surrounding oil and gas platforms. For an alphabetical listing, visit the Charter Operators page. You may also choose to head out to the sanctuary in a private boat. If this is the case, be sure to review our Visiting Your Sanctuary section to help you plan for your trip.
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Can I anchor in the sanctuary?
No. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary was designated as a "No Anchoring Area" by the International Maritime Organization in 2001. However, vessels of 100 feet or less may tie up to the existing mooring buoys within the sanctuary on a first come, first served basis.
A dive boat using one of the sanctuary mooring buoys.
For more information on anchoring guidelines, visit our Reef Etiquette and sanctuary Regulations pages.
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Can I fish in the sanctuary?
Visitors to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary are only allowed to fish using traditional hook and line gear. This is defined in the regulations as any fishing apparatus operated aboard a vessel and composed of a single line terminated by a combination of sinkers and hooks or lures and spooled upon a reel that may be hand or electrically operated, hand-held or mounted.
All other fishing within sanctuary boundaries, including spear fishing, is strictly prohibited. For more information on fishing regulations, visit our sanctuary Regulations page.
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Can I snorkel in the sanctuary?
Snorkeling is an acceptable recreational activity in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Keep in mind, however, that the reef cap starts at 55 feet and goes deeper, so you probably won't be able to see much detail of the reef from the surface of the water. What you may get a good look at are barracuda, jacks, chubs, sea turtles, manta rays, and maybe even a whale shark. An occasional clump of sargassum may also provide some interesting viewing if you look closely.
Please remember not to harass any of the animals, just look and enjoy! For more information on suitable snorkeling behavior, visit our Reef Etiquette page.
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Can I collect shells or fish for my home aquarium in the sanctuary?
While it may be tempting to collect shells or fish from Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, it is a prohibited activity. We ask all our visitors to practice a "leave only bubbles, take only memories" philosophy within the sanctuary so that future visitors will have the same opportunity to marvel at all the wonderful creatures living there.
For more information, visit our sanctuary Regulations page.
Brown chromis swimming over the reef.
Feel free to take pictures, though, so that you can enjoy the images at home. Or, just click on almost any image on this website for a larger, hi-resolution image to download. If you use our images for other than your personal enjoyment, we'd appreciate credit to FGBNMS. If you have any questions about using our images, please contact us.
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Do I need a permit to dive or snorkel in the sanctuary?
No permit is needed to dive or snorkel in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. All we ask is that you observe all of the sanctuary regulations while doing so. For more information, visit our sanctuary Regulations page.
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Do I need a permit to fish in the sanctuary?
No sanctuary issued permit is needed to fish within Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. However, you do need to be aware that only traditional hook and line fishing is permitted within the sanctuary boundaries. For more information on fishing regulations, visit our sanctuary Regulations page.
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Do I need a permit to use the mooring buoys in the sanctuary?
No permit is needed to use the mooring buoys within Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. The only restriction is that vessels using the mooring buoys must be 100 feet or less in length. Mooring buoys are available on a first come first served basis, and courtesy and cooperation are encouraged between vessels. For more information, visit our Trip Preparation and Reef Etiquette pages.
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Do I need a permit to conduct research in the sanctuary?
Research is encouraged at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, but most research activities DO require a permit. Those interested in conducting research within the sanctuary should contact the Research Coordinator directly. We will do our best to help you realize your goals while adhering to sanctuary regulations and policies. For more information on research activities and opportunities, visit our Research page.
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Under what part of the government is the sanctuary administered?
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is part of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, within the National
Ocean Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA).
NOAA is part of the Department of
Commerce. Other services in NOAA that you probably recognize are the
National Weather Service and the
National Marine Fisheries Service. Please use the
highlighted links to learn more about these government agencies.
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