Snorkelers and boaters venturing into the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary's Sanctuary Preservation Areas or Ecological Reserves can't take fish, lobster or other marine resources from those areas.
Florida law requires that snorkelers display the diver-down flag whenever they're in the water. Snorkelers should stay within 300 feet of the flag while in open water and 100 feet while in a navigational channel.
Boaters should stay at least 300 feet away from a diver-down flag when in open water, and 100 feet when in a channel. If they must approach closer than that, they should drop to the slowest safe operating speed.
Diver-down flags on boats must be 20 by 24 inches; those on floats towed by snorkelers must be at least 12 by 12 inches.
Boaters are not allowed to strike or damage coral, seagrass or other marine life attached to the seabed. Boats are not allowed to drop anchor on coral.
