National Marine Sanctuary System

Resources for Recreation, Travel, and Tourism Writers, Journalists, and Professionals

Two surfers in wetsuits and carrying surfboards stand on a beach and look at a sunset.

National Marine Sanctuary System

NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary System

It may be the nation's best kept ocean secret. We call it America's best ocean idea:  NOAA 's  National Marine Sanctuary System . We developed this story map to provide information and resources about the sanctuary system for travel, tourism, and recreational professionals, travel media, and visitors.

Children lean over the side of a whale watching vessel to get a better view of whales.
Children lean over the side of a whale watching vessel to get a better view of whales.

Whale watching in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Access Foundation.

The sanctuary system is a network of underwater parks encompassing more than 620,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters in 14 national marine sanctuaries and two marine national monuments. Since 1972, we have worked to protect special places in America's waters, from the site of a Civil War shipwreck to a vast expanse of ocean surrounding remote coral reefs and tiny atolls. Backed by one of the nation's strongest pieces of ocean conservation legislation, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, sanctuaries seek to preserve the extraordinary scenic beauty, biodiversity, history, and economic productivity of our most precious underwater treasures. 

A scuba diver with a camera floats over coral and fish.
A scuba diver with a camera floats over coral and fish.

Diving in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Emma Hickerson/NOAA

Sanctuaries provide an idyllic setting for a variety of  recreational activities  and we encourage all Americans to explore the variety of recreation and tourism activities these destinations have to offer. From wreck diving to whale watching, visitors and recreaters can satisfy their taste for adventure while building a connection to these special ocean places. For the best visitor experience, for the safety of the public and the protection of precious wildlife and wild waters, we encourage all visitors to follow  responsible recreation practices . Sanctuary waters are always open and always free!

People ride their surfboards and boogie boards in the waves on a beach.

Boogie boarding in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA

We welcome travelers, writers, and multimedia journalists to explore national marine sanctuaries and share stories of their experiences above and below the water. In the map below, we share resources on the recreation, travel, and tourism in the underwater parks in our system that we hope will inspire your next writing challenge. You can scroll through for a tour of our sites or click each location on the map for more information about a specific site. Here are some general resources to get started.

Contacts: National Media Coordinator: Vernon Smith, vernon.smith@noaa.gov, 240-533-0662

West Coast/Pacific Islands Media Coordinator: Sarah Marquis, sarah.marquis@noaa.gov, 949-222-2212

A man stands on his paddleboard and rows with an oar in the water as the sun rises behind him.

Paddleboarding in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: NOAA

Social and Multimedia

A woman stands on a rock to take a photo on a beach with cliffs beside it.

Taking photos in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA

Websites:

 About  the National Marine Sanctuary System

A woman holds a fishing rod as she stands among rocks and waves on a beach.

Fishing in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA


 

Whale watching in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Access Foundation.

Diving in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Emma Hickerson/NOAA

Boogie boarding in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA

Paddleboarding in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: NOAA

Taking photos in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA

Fishing in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA