Bache Shoal

Bache Shoal is an offshore reef in Biscayne National Park, visited by boat for snorkeling and shallow-water diving. There is no shore approach, so plan it as part of a full outing on the water rather than a quick stop between land sites. Bring the gear you want for time in the water.

The National Park Service lists five visitor moorings at Bache Shoal, with charted depths from 12 to 15 feet; Bache Shoal 2 is charted at 13 feet. Those figures are for the mooring locations, not a measurement of the reef top. Biscayne's waters are shallow, so check a current chart and tide prediction, approach slowly, and never anchor on coral. Mooring use is limited to four hours per boat. A buoy can be damaged or missing, so keep another destination in your plan.

Coral polyps build hard skeletons over generations, creating structure for a wider reef community. Biscayne's reef system supports more than 500 fish species across the park, but that is not a species list or a guarantee of sightings at this shoal. Sea fans and coral heads give the underwater view its texture; frame them with a little open water to show the shapes together.

There are no land-based visitor services out at the shoal. Arrange food, water, restroom access and gear before leaving shore, and plan the return as part of the same boat trip.