Warderick Wells (Exuma Land & Sea Park)
Warderick Wells · Exuma Park HQ · Land and Sea Park anchorage
24°24.00'N 76°37.92'W
Depth
2–8m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
Mooring
Holding
Excellent
Mooring Ball Alarm Radius
60m
60m alarm radius on mooring ball — the mooring pendant limits swing so alarm can be tighter than at anchor. The park wardens expect boats to use appropriate alarm systems. Even on a mooring, the 0.7–1.0m tidal range creates a tide-driven swing of several meters — set alarm accordingly. NO ANCHORING — any boat seen dragging an anchor inside park boundaries will be cited and fined.
NO ANCHORING — Exuma Land & Sea Park rules: mooring balls only. No fishing. No collecting.
About This Anchorage
Warderick Wells is the headquarters of the Exuma Land and Sea Park — the most important marine protected area in the Bahamas, covering 176 square miles of the central Exuma Cays. Established in 1958, the park pioneered marine conservation in the Caribbean. The rules are absolute: NO ANCHORING (mooring balls only), NO FISHING of any kind (spearfishing, hook and line, crabbing, lobstering), NO COLLECTING (shells, coral, sea glass, anything). The reward for obeying these rules is wildlife that has never known fishing pressure — nurse sharks cruise the mooring field, bonefish are everywhere in the shallows, iguanas come to the dock, and the coral reefs are among the finest in the Bahamas. The humpback whale skeleton on the hill at the park HQ is a memorable island walk. Park staff are knowledgeable and passionate — mandatory check-in at the HQ dock on arrival. Mooring balls ~$25/night, book on VHF 16.
Protected From
E · S · SW · W
Exposed To
N · NW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring
- NOT PERMITTED — mooring only
- Anchoring fee
- Mooring balls ~$25/night (mandatory — no free anchoring)
- Permit required
- Yes — Cruising Permit ~$300/3 months
- Permit details
- Cruising Permit required. Park mooring fee ~$25/night. Bahamas National Trust issues park permits. Maximum stay 2 nights on the same mooring ball.
Restrictions: NO ANCHORING within park boundaries. NO FISHING of any kind. NO COLLECTING — nothing from the sea or land. No pets ashore on any island. No spearfishing or lobstering. Mandatory check-in at park HQ dock on arrival. Park wardens patrol and enforce rules strictly.
Hazards
- !ANCHORING STRICTLY PROHIBITED — any attempt to anchor within park boundaries will result in citation and heavy fine
- !0.7–1.0m tidal range creates tidal current through the anchorage — mooring pendants are long enough to accommodate
- !Northers (Nov–Apr) — North Anchorage is exposed to NW quadrant; request South Anchorage mooring in norther conditions
- !No facilities — carry all provisions; nearest supplies at Staniel Cay (14nm) or Sampson Cay marina (5nm)
- !Nurse sharks are harmless but large — do not approach or touch them; they are a protected species
Skipper's Tips
- →Call the park on VHF 16 before arriving to reserve a mooring ball — they fill up Dec–Mar; the wardens will assign North or South Anchorage
- →The hike to the humpback whale skeleton on the hill is unmissable — 20 minutes from the HQ dock, outstanding panoramic views over the park
- →Snorkelling off the mooring is exceptional — nurse sharks, large reef fish, and coral formations untouched by fishing pressure for decades
- →The park gift shop sells Exuma Park t-shirts and charts — proceeds support park conservation; stock up on the island's story
- →The 0.8m tidal range creates a significant current through the cay channels — plan dinghy explorations with the tide direction in mind
Facilities
No provisions, fuel, or restaurant at Warderick Wells — completely self-sufficient stop. Park HQ has a small gift shop with park memorabilia. Nearest fuel and provisions at Staniel Cay (14nm S) or Sampson Cay marina (5nm S).
Nearest provisions: Sampson Cay Marina (5nm S) or Staniel Cay (14nm S) (5nm)
Best Months & Season
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
November–May. One of the most memorable stops in all Bahamian cruising. Mooring balls fill Dec–Mar — call ahead. Limit of 2 nights per mooring ball. Leave no trace.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 60m
The Exumas' 0.8–1.0m tidal range and extremely shallow banks make anchor alarm monitoring essential — even a small drag on the Exuma Bank can leave you aground. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors continuously through every tidal cycle.
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