Fowl Cay

A Marine Preserve of Exceptional Biodiversity

Fowl Cays National Park ranks among the most ecologically significant reef systems in the Abaco island chain. The park's diverse habitats include vibrant coral formations, extensive turtle grass and manatee grass beds, rocky shorelines, and sandy shallows that together support an extraordinary abundance of marine life.

Residents of the reef include schools of sergeant majors, blue tangs, parrotfish, grunts, and surgeonfish that weave through the coral architecture. Predatory species such as barracuda, yellowtail snapper, and groupers patrol the deeper edges. Green and hawksbill sea turtles are frequently spotted grazing in the seagrass meadows, while spotted eagle rays and nurse sharks inhabit the quieter corners of the preserve.

World-Class Snorkeling

The shallow reef systems at Fowl Cays offer snorkeling accessible to all experience levels, with depths ranging from roughly five to twenty-five feet across the main coral areas. The pristine water clarity characteristic of the Abaco Sea results from minimal terrestrial runoff and natural filtration by the surrounding carbonate platform.

Daytime mooring buoys are installed at designated snorkeling sites, allowing visitors to tie off small boats or dinghies without damaging the delicate reef substrate. A small shelter built by the Bahamas National Trust on one of the exposed rocks provides a place to rest between swims. No anchoring is permitted within park boundaries to protect the coral and seagrass beds.

Conservation and Restoration

The Bahamas National Trust manages ongoing conservation efforts within the park, including a staghorn coral nursery established in 2017. This restoration project grows coral fragments on underwater structures before transplanting them onto degraded reef areas, helping to address the species' dramatic population decline across the Caribbean.

Visitors are expected to follow marine park regulations, including no fishing, no anchoring on coral, and no removal of marine life or shells. These protections ensure that Fowl Cays remains a sanctuary where reef ecosystems can thrive for future generations of snorkelers and marine researchers.

Access and Anchorage

Fowl Cays National Park is accessible exclusively by boat, with no land-based facilities or infrastructure within the park boundaries. The preserve lies approximately five miles from Marsh Harbour, making it an easy day trip by charter catamaran or private vessel.

The best anchorage sits just outside the park boundary, approximately 100 yards south of the line of small cays stretching from Fowl Cay in the west to Fishhawk Cay in the east. From there, visitors typically dinghy to the mooring buoys for snorkeling excursions. No overnight mooring is permitted within the park, so plan for a daytime visit.

Getting there

Fowl Cays National Park is reached exclusively by boat. Most visitors arrive aboard a crewed charter departing from Marsh Harbour, about five miles to the south, or as part of a sailing itinerary through the Central Abacos. Tour operators such as Dive Abaco and local charter companies offer guided snorkeling excursions to the preserve. There are no ferry services directly to Fowl Cay; private vessel or charter access is required.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee for Fowl Cays National Park?

No, the park operates year-round with no entrance fee. However, visitors must use the designated mooring buoys rather than anchoring, and all marine park regulations apply.

Can I anchor overnight at Fowl Cay?

No, overnight mooring is not permitted within the park boundaries. Vessels should anchor outside the preserve, typically south of the cay line, and visit during daylight hours only.

What marine life can I expect to see while snorkeling?

The reef hosts abundant tropical fish including parrotfish, blue tangs, sergeant majors, and grunts. Sea turtles are frequently spotted in the seagrass beds, and visitors often encounter southern stingrays, spotted eagle rays, and occasionally nurse sharks along the reef edges.