Directions
Roughly 110 miles south of the Texas-Louisiana border
Phone
409-621-5151
Activities
BOATING, FISHING, WATER SPORTS, WILDLIFE VIEWING, PHOTOGRAPHY, DIVING
Camping Reservations
Reserve your campsite at these camping areas:
Hiking Trails
Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails:
Related Link(s)
Flower Garden National Marine Sanctuary Twitter page
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Map
Flower Garden National Marine Sanctuary Facebook page
Located 70 to 115 miles from the nearest land, the wonderful biological diversity and breathtaking beauty of the Flower Garden Banks prompted researchers and recreational divers to seek protection for this area. In the 1970s they launched what would become a 20 year effort, culminating in 1992, to designate the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. In October, 1996, Congress expanded the sanctuary by adding a small third bank. Stetson Bank is also a salt dome, located about 70 miles south of Galveston, Texas. Because of its location, average temperatures during the winter are several degrees cooler than at the Flower Gardens. Consequently, the corals do not thrive and build into reefs. Instead, this bank supports a coral/sponge habitat and rich assemblages of associated animals and plants where the siltstone bedrock can still be seen in many places. Diving and fishing can be enjoyed by visitors to the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
