Folkestone Marine Park Mooring
Folkestone Park · Folkestone Marine Reserve
13°11.34'N 59°38.58'W
ANCHORING PROHIBITED — Mooring Buoys Only
This is a protected marine park zone. Use designated mooring buoys only. Contact park rangers on VHF 16 for mooring assignment.
Depth
3–10m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
60m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
60m
60m alarm on mooring buoy — mooring is the only option inside the park; anchoring strictly prohibited. Mooring buoys maintained by Folkestone Park Authority. Contact rangers on VHF 16 for assignment. If all buoys are occupied, anchor in Holetown Bay (north of park boundary).
About This Anchorage
Folkestone Marine Park is Barbados's principal protected marine area — a coastal reserve covering the reef and sea grass beds off Holetown in St. James Parish. The park was established in 1981 and protects one of the most diverse coral reef ecosystems on the west coast. ANCHORING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED inside the park boundaries. Designated mooring buoys are provided by the park authority and are the only means of stopping within the zone. The park has an excellent visitor centre ashore with exhibits on the marine ecosystem, and the Folkestone Underwater Snorkel Trail is marked by buoys guiding snorkellers through the reef. The protected reef is in excellent health compared to unprotected areas — a compelling argument for the mooring-only approach.
Protected From
E · NE · SE
Exposed To
W · NW · SW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Mooring buoys — small fee may apply; contact park rangers
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: ANCHORING PROHIBITED inside park boundaries. Mooring buoys only. No fishing inside the park. Folkestone Underwater Trail buoys not to be tied to. Contact park rangers on VHF 16 for mooring allocation.
Hazards
- !ANCHORING PROHIBITED — park regulations strictly enforced; use mooring buoys only
- !Protected reef adjacent to mooring — take care not to damage reef with propeller in shallow areas
- !Mooring buoy capacity limited — if full, anchor north of park boundary in Holetown Bay
- !Open to west — mooring can swing in westerly swell
Skipper's Tips
- →Folkestone Underwater Snorkel Trail is one of the best organised snorkel experiences in Barbados — marked buoys guide you through the reef ecosystem
- →Contact the Folkestone Park visitor centre ashore for mooring assignment — rangers are helpful and knowledgeable
- →The protected reef has significantly more fish than adjacent unprotected areas — excellent snorkelling
- →If mooring buoys are full, anchor in Holetown Bay (0.5nm N) just outside the park boundary
Facilities
No facilities at park mooring. Holetown restaurants and provisioning 0.5nm north.
Nearest provisions: Holetown (0.5nm N) (0.5nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
December–April. Park is active year-round but mooring availability varies. Best snorkelling December–April (clearest water).
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 60m
On the Platinum Coast, even calm west coast conditions can see anchor drag toward sea grass beds or shallow patches. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously so you can watch the Barbados sunset in peace.
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