Exuma Park dinghy rules: idle speed, jet skis and Shroud Cay creeks
Dinghy rules in Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park: idle speed in every mooring field, the 300-yard jet ski limit, Shroud Cay creek closures, and beach and pet rules.
In Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park, every vessel, dinghies and jet skis included, must run at idle speed in any mooring field or anchorage1. Jet skis must stay at least 300 yards off any moored or anchored vessel1. On Shroud Cay, the north tidal creek is a strict idle speed and no-wake zone, and motorized vessels may not enter the other creeks1.
- At a glance
- Speed in mooring fields
- Idle speed, dinghies included1
- Jet skis
- 300 yards off moored boats1
- Shroud Cay north creek
- Idle speed / no wake1
- Other Shroud Cay creeks
- No motorized vessels1
- Park office
- VHF 09, "Exuma Park"2
- Emergencies
- VHF 16, monitored 24 hours2
On this page
The Trust’s rules for small boats in the park are short. They cover speed near other boats, jet skis, the Shroud Cay creeks and what you do once you step ashore. The full list sits in the Exuma Park rules, and the rest of the boating guides cover moorings and clearance.
What is the dinghy speed limit in Exuma Park?
The Bahamas National Trust sets one rule for speed inside the park’s mooring fields and anchorages:
All vessels (including dinghies & jet skis) must operate at idle speed in any mooring field or anchorage1.
The rule names idle speed, not a speed in knots, and it covers the whole mooring field or anchorage.
Jet skis near moored and anchored boats
Jet skis face a second rule on top of idle speed. The Trust requires them to stay at least 300 yards off any moored or anchored vessel1. Jet skis also fall under the idle speed rule inside any mooring field or anchorage1.
Can you take a dinghy into the Shroud Cay creeks?
The park rules treat the tidal creeks on Shroud Cay in two ways1:
| Creek | Rule |
|---|---|
| The north tidal creek | Strict idle speed / no-wake zone1 |
| Any other tidal creek on Shroud Cay | Motorized vessels prohibited1 |
The Shroud Cay guide has the place itself.
Anchoring and moorings for the dinghy crew
The dinghy rules sit beside the Trust’s anchoring rule: anchoring is not permitted in the mooring fields, on coral reefs and in certain other designated areas within the park1. The anchoring rules page explains where the hook can go down.
Rules for landing ashore from the dinghy
Once the dinghy is on the beach, the park’s other rules apply to you:
- Stay on marked trails1.
- Take out everything you bring in. The park has no trash disposal1.
- Pick up trash you see on trails or beaches and ask park headquarters how to dispose of it1.
- Open fires and fireworks are not permitted1.
- Nothing living or dead may be removed from the park: no fishing, conching, shelling or lobstering1. The no-take zone guide has the detail.
- The Trust fines poachers and confiscates their vessels1.
Pets on the beach
Pets are allowed on the beaches of most cays, but not on trails, in the backcountry or on cays designated prohibited for pets1. A leash may be no longer than six feet1. Pets may not be tied to trees, bushes, tables or shelters, even with the owner present, and may not be left unattended on park property1. The Trust explains the rule by pointing to past damage: pets have destroyed bird nesting sites and threatened Rock Iguanas and Hutia1.
Kayaks, camping and the radio
Kayakers and campers should carry a handheld VHF radio1. The park office answers on VHF channel 09 when you call “Exuma Park”, and channel 16 is monitored 24 hours a day for emergencies2. The office sits on a small, remote island, so reaching it can take time2. See the VHF guide for the Exumas for how the channels are used.
Camping is allowed only at Hawksbill, Warderick Wells and O’briens, with tents on the beaches only1. The permit costs $250 and is valid for a maximum of 10 days1.
Read next
Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park rules: what boaters and visitors must follow
The Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park rules in one list: no-take zone, anchoring, speed limits, trails, pets, camping, fires, drones, trash and how to report poaching.
boatingAnchoring in Exuma Park: where you can anchor, fees and speed rules
Where you can and cannot anchor in Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park: no anchoring in mooring fields or on reefs, idle speed rules, jet ski distance, fees.
placesShroud Cay: tidal creek rules, park status and what to know before you go
Shroud Cay is the northern end of the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. Creek and motor rules, the lazy-river tide, Camp Driftwood, no-take zone and who to call.
Questions people ask
What is the dinghy speed limit in Exuma Park?
The Bahamas National Trust's park rules require all vessels, dinghies and jet skis included, to operate at idle speed in any mooring field or anchorage1. Idle speed is the rule inside those areas, not a number of knots.
Can I take a dinghy into the Shroud Cay creeks?
Not into most of them. The park rules ban motorized vessels from every tidal creek on Shroud Cay except the north creek, which is a strict idle speed and no-wake zone1.
How close can a jet ski get to anchored boats in Exuma Park?
Jet skis must stay at least 300 yards off any moored or anchored vessel1.
Sources (2)
- Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park Rules (PDF)BNT
Bahamas National Trust · bnt.bs · checked 2026-10-18 - Exuma Cays Land & Sea ParkBNT
Bahamas National Trust · bnt.bs · checked 2026-10-18
Photo credits (1)
- Craig Stanfill / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Park fees and rules come from the Bahamas National Trust or the Bahamas government; check them again before you go. How we check facts.