Fees · Destination Guide
Flower Garden Banks
Remote Gulf reef caps, blue-water encounters and overnight dive expeditions from Freeport.
Key fee: Recreational sanctuary scuba/snorkel permit
Not required
Fees · Destination Guide
Remote Gulf reef caps, blue-water encounters and overnight dive expeditions from Freeport.
Key fee: Recreational sanctuary scuba/snorkel permit
Not required
Confirm these fees before you book so your operator plan and day budget match what you will pay onsite.
NOAA states no sanctuary-issued recreational dive or snorkel permit is required and its public moorings require no permit. No Flower Garden Banks recreational tourist levy or marine-park tag comparable to some Caribbean systems is identified in the official visitor guidance. The main expense is a privately sold, multi-day overnight boat package, whose rate and inclusions must be checked directly rather than treated as a permanent sanctuary fee. NOAA FAQ; charter operator.
| Fee | Amount | Applies to | Where to pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recreational sanctuary scuba/snorkel permit | Not required Not applicable | Ordinary recreational scuba and snorkeling | No sanctuary permit purchase needed | NOAA explicitly says no recreational dive or snorkel permit is required. All ecological and mooring restrictions still apply. NOAA FAQ. |
| Sanctuary mooring buoy permit | Not required First-come, first-served access when installed and available | Eligible vessels no longer than {{ 100 | distance:ft }} in registered length | No permit purchase needed | Anchoring is prohibited. Mooring use is subject to vessel-size limits, availability and site-specific conditions; a missing buoy is not authorization to anchor. NOAA FAQ; regulations. |
| Sanctuary marine-park tag or visitor levy | No ordinary recreational tag or visitor levy identified Not applicable | Recreational sanctuary visitors | No tag advertised in NOAA recreational visitor guidance | No separate visitor marine tag or tourist levy is listed in NOAA's visitor permit FAQ. This is not a general waiver of unrelated U.S. entry, charter or fishing obligations. NOAA FAQ. |
| Commercial overnight diving passage | Variable private charter fare; confirm current quote Per booked multi-day sailing | M/V Fling guests, including companions where permitted | Directly with the current lawful operator, subject to confirmation | Current operator publishes bunk-based rates and specialty trip categories, but fares and dated schedules can change. Verify non-diver pricing, inclusions, taxes, cancellation terms and available dates with Texas Caribbean Charters. Operator trip listing; FAQ. |
Fee
Not applicable
NOAA explicitly says no recreational dive or snorkel permit is required. All ecological and mooring restrictions still apply. NOAA FAQ.
First-come, first-served access when installed and available
Anchoring is prohibited. Mooring use is subject to vessel-size limits, availability and site-specific conditions; a missing buoy is not authorization to anchor. NOAA FAQ; regulations.
Not applicable
No separate visitor marine tag or tourist levy is listed in NOAA's visitor permit FAQ. This is not a general waiver of unrelated U.S. entry, charter or fishing obligations. NOAA FAQ.
Per booked multi-day sailing
Current operator publishes bunk-based rates and specialty trip categories, but fares and dated schedules can change. Verify non-diver pricing, inclusions, taxes, cancellation terms and available dates with Texas Caribbean Charters. Operator trip listing; FAQ.