HEADS UP for those mariners following the Hawk Channel south from Miami to the Florida Keys. The cryptic excerpt below taken from the Local Notice to Mariners, week 44/11, gives notice of a sunken wreck lying just 5 feet below the waters surface.
We have carefully plotted the position of this dangerous derelict, and it lies some .45 of a nautical miles east of the center of Hawk Channel, between Hawk Channel markers #4 and #7, west of Ledbury Reef and east of the Ragged Keys. Click the “Chart View” link below to view the position of the reported sunken wreck.

FLORIDA KEYS-FOWEY ROCKS TO ALLIGATOR REEF-HAWK CHANNEL: Hazard to Navigation
The Coast Guard has received a report of a 58ft P/C sunk in position 25-32.5N 080-08.6W. This unmarked wreckage is approximately 5 ft below waterline at mean low tide. All mariners are advised to transit the area with caution. [Ref MIA BNM 318-10] Chart 11462

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the Reported Position of the Above Described Sunken Wreck off Hawk Channel

Looks like the aground/sunken vessel reported below is located off the ocean side shores of Key Largo, between Rodruiguez Key and Dove Key.

FLORIDA-FLORIDA KEYS-DOVE KEY: Hazard to Navigation
The Coast Guard has recevied a report of a 25-28 ft wooden hull vessel marked USCG in white paint aground in the vicinity of Dove Key in position
025-02N 080-28W. All mariners are advised to transit the area with caution. [Ref: SKW BNM 025-11] Chart 11451

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position off Hawk Channel, Near Dove Key

For several years now, there’s been a concern about MLW depths on the Hawk Channel side of the Snake Creek Channel. That’s a real problem, as Snake Creek is the only really reliable route for cruising sized craft to cruise from the Florida Keys Inside Route to Hawk Channel, or the other way around, bbetween Angelfish Creek and Channel Five.
Captain John’s report below is the first I’ve heard of 4-FOOT depths on the Snake Creek passage. PLEASE share with us depths you’ve recently recorded while running Snake Creek by clicking the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below.

We went out Snake Creek MM1156 yesterday 2-23-11 an hour before high tide and came back through (after snorkeling at Hen and Chicks) an hour after high tide. Shallowest point was on western entrance where chart shows 4ft and I saw 5ft, which agrees with the 1ft tide we had. Seemed deeper closer to the two red markers.
John
on Snow Bird

March 1, 2011 after calling both Boat US & Sea Tow for local info we opted to go out (bay side to ocean side) Indian Creek Channel instead of Snake. Both confirmed shoaling/sandbar on OCEAN side. Both said do-able but tides have been unusually low. On a high we might only have 6 extra inches or so to our advantage. We draw 4′. Called USCG, who have a station there & they confirmed shoaling there but said stay in the middle of the channel. Also called marina located on Snake & they said do-able too. Still we opted to go Indian. Which was plenty deep but has a 27′ fixed bridge. Slightly confusing at bridge as there was a nun & can that was for ANOTHER channel. Stay with the daymarkers & follow the number sequence.
Linda Hughes

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the Western Tip of the Snake Creek Channel

The notice below was cherry picked from the Florida Keys edition of the Local Notice to Mariners. We have tracked down the “white door” obstruction in question, and discovered it lies near the northern entrance of a local canal, serving Marathon Shores homeowners, that lies east of Rachel Key and west of Stirrup Key. Another location hint; the canal in question lies just north of the charted position of “Marathon Airstrip.” Local Marathon Shores cruisers will definitely want to take note of this obstruction!

FLORIDA-FLORIDA KEYS-FLORIDA BAY-MARATHON: Hazard to Navigation.
The Coast Guard has received a report of a white door exposed 2 FT above the waterline in approximate position 24-43.874N 081-03.403W at the opening of the channel between Dolphin Rd and Yellowtail Rd. All mariners are advised to transit the area with caution. Chart 11451

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the Reported Position of the Obstruction Described Above

The Old Bahia Honda Bridge is a fixed bridge with a vertical clearance of 29 ft at statute mile 1205 just south of Seven Mile Bridge.

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS:
It is reported that the Old Bahia Honda Bridge is rapidly deteriorating and many parts are hanging dangerously below the bridge. The
channel at the east end of the bridge is the only clear safe passage. Mariners are advised to stay alert and transit the area with caution.
Ref: LNM 31-08 through 52-09, 01 through 51-10 and BNM 128-08-KW and 141-08-KW Chart: 11442, 11448

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the Bahia Honda Bridge

Niles Channel certainly seems to be having its problems as of Janaury, 2012. This is the second item cherry picked from this week’s Local Notice to Mariners which concerns these waters.
Nile Channel runs north from the Hawk Channel’s run between Moser Channel (Marathon) and Key West, some 2 nautical miles east of Hawk Channel’s marker #50A. We list at least three anchorages available to cruisers along Niles Channel (linked below).
We have plotted the reported position of the sunken vessel detailed below, and it seems to lie on the Ramrod Key (eastern) side of the Niles Channel, southeast of the “M GRS” notation on chart 11445! Confine your cruising to the channel’s mid-width or favor the westerly side of the passage slightly, to avoid this hazard!
The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net is declaring a Navigational Alert for these waters!

FLORIDA-BAHIA HONDA TO SUGARLOAF KEY-NILES CHANNEL: Hazard to Navigation
The Coast Guard received a report of a 30ft partially submerged sailing vessel in Niles Channel in the vicinity of Ramrod Key and Summerland Key in position 24-39.114N 081-25.686W. Mariners are advised to stay alert and transit the area with caution. Chart 11445

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position On Niles Channel At the Above Reported Position of the Sunken Vessel

 
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For the Niles Channel Northern Anchorage

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For the Niles Channel Southern Anchorage

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For the Niles Channel–Pye Key Anchorage

The Niles Channel runs north from the Hawk Channel’s run between Moser Channel (Marathon) and Key West, some 2 nautical miles east of Hawk Channel’s marker #50A. We list at least three anchorages available to cruisers along Niles Channel (linked below).
The northernmost anchor down spot will be discovered just south of the 40 foot fixed bridge spanning the gap between Summerland and Ramrod Keys. And, the sunken debris, marked by the new aid to navigation detailed in the notice below, cherry picked from the Local Notice to Mariners, lies s short hop south of this northern anchorage.
ALL mariners northbound on Niles Channel, whether to anchor or to continue navigation north of the bridge, need to be aware of the sunken debris marked by the “temporary buoy,” and take all measures necessary to keep clear!
The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net is declaring a Navigational Alert for these waters!

FLORIDA- FLORIDA KEYS-BAHIA HONDA TO SUGARLOAF KEY–NILES CHANNEL: Temporary Buoy
A temporary buoy has been placed at Niles Channel Bridge in approximate position 24-39-36.0N 081-26-06.0W marking fallen debris from the old Niles Channel Bridge fishing pier deteriorating. Mariners are advised to remain clear of this structure. Chart 11445

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position On Niles Channel Near the Postion of the New Marker Described Above

The shoaling report below is extracted from the USCG’s “Local Notice to Mariners.” A study of chart 11441 reveals that the shoaling in question is apparently located near the northwestern tip of Northwest Channel, between markers #3 and #4.
LNTM notices of this type are always subject to interpretation. If any of you have cruised through Northwest Channel lately, particularly on that portion of the passage between markers #3 and #4, please share the soundings you observed by clicking the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below.

FL- Keys Key West NW Channel Shoaling has been reported between Key West NW Channel LB 3 (LLNR 15185) and LB 5 11441 0611
(LLNR 15195), USACOE survey shows channel is below project depth

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position Near the Northwestern Tip of Northwest Channel