Differences Between NOAA and IALA Symbol Sets on a Garmin® Marine Chartplotter

When setting up the chart appearance on a Garmin® chartplotter, there is a setting called Navaid Type or Symbol Set. This setting is used to tell the device how to display the various navaids (buoy markers, light beacons, etc.) that appear on the map.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is designed specifically for the US coastal waters. For a list of symbols used in the NOAA charts, review U.S. Chart No. 1. This is the default setting for Garmin Chartplotters used in the US.

International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA)  is used for international waters. The IALA symbol sets are separated into two categories.

IALA-A is designed for Europe and most of the world.

IALA-B is designed for the Americas, Japan, the Philippines, and Korea.

For a list of symbols used in IALA, refer to this webpage.