Exuma Park mooring fields: Warderick Wells North, Emerald Rock and Pirates Lair

The Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park handles its mooring fields two ways. At Warderick Wells you ask first on the radio. Everywhere else you take a free ball when you find one. This page names the fields the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) names and says how each works.

Which mooring fields does Exuma Park have?

The Trust’s ParkPay page names three fields at Warderick Wells: Warderick Wells North, Emerald Rock and Pirates Lair¹. The Trust describes the mooring field at Warderick Wells as the one at the park’s headquarters, managed by the BNT⁵. The Trust also says moorings need substantial routine maintenance and oversight⁵.

Field	How you get a ball
Warderick Wells North	Call in advance on VHF 09 to request a mooring1
Emerald Rock	Call in advance on VHF 09 to request a mooring1
Pirates Lair	Call in advance on VHF 09 to request a mooring1
Any mooring field outside Warderick Wells	First come, first served1

For the headquarters cay itself, see the Warderick Wells headquarters page.

Do you have to call ahead for a mooring?

At Warderick Wells, yes. Moorings within Warderick Wells require boaters to call in advance on VHF channel 09 to request one¹. Call “Exuma Park” on that channel².

The park office keeps hours of 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to noon on Sunday². The office is on a remote small island, so contacting it can sometimes be challenging². If you do not get through, call again. The VHF channels guide covers the other channels you will hear in the Exumas.

How do the other mooring fields work?

All mooring fields outside of Warderick Wells operate on a first-come, first-served basis¹. You do not request a ball over the radio. If one is free, you take it.

The park does not take reservations at any field. Pre-payment does not constitute a reservation or guarantee a mooring¹. The full walk-through, from arrival to payment, is on the mooring how-to page.

What are the rules inside a mooring field?

Anchoring is not permitted in the mooring fields, on coral reefs and certain other designated areas within Exuma Park³.

All vessels (including dinghies & jet skis) must operate at idle speed in any mooring field or anchorage³.

Jet skis are required to stay at least 300 yards off any moored or anchored vessel³. Where you can drop the hook instead, and where you cannot, is laid out in the anchoring rules guide.

How do you pay for a mooring?

Visitors must secure a mooring before making a payment¹. Payment goes through the Trust’s ParkPay app or site¹. All marine and park fees carry the Bahamas 10% VAT, applied at checkout since 1 January 2022¹.

The ParkPay page prices moorings by boat length, per day, and lists no separate price for individual fields¹. The rates for each length band are in the park fees and mooring fees guide. Fees change, so check the ParkPay page on the day you pay.

Boats that spend long seasons in the park can ask about an annual pass. The private-vessel pass includes all landing fees, beach set-ups and preferred moorings, and payment is arranged by emailing exumapark@bnt.bs¹.

Does BNT membership change anything?

The Trust lists two complimentary mooring nights and priority mooring within the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park as part of its membership benefits⁴. If you plan a long stay, read the terms on the Trust’s membership page before you rely on the benefit.

What else is worth knowing about the North Mooring Field?

The internet service that had been available in the North Mooring Field for a fee has been discontinued⁶. The park hub links the other pages you will want on the way in.