There two anchorages in the seaward intersection of the North Santee and the AICW, one right by the Waterway at marker #16 and one northwest of marker #18. If you can avoid reported shoaling at the mouth of the south branch, just south of marker #16, Captain Hellman suggests dropping your hook farther to the east.

It’s best if you go around the bend and get away from ICW traffic. Good Anchorage!
Captain Tracy Hellman

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Anchorages Directory Listing For North Santee River Seaside Anchorages

This section of the AICW just north of Charleston remains somewhat of a problem – or a mystery – depending on your luck passing through. Conflicting reports of shallow water, unlike Captain Pascal’s experience, only add to the growing mystique of the newly rebuilt Ben Sawyer Bridge. Check out the links below for information on this area.

Submitted on 2010/06/14 at 12:28pm
Came through northbound with a 6 1/4 draft late May, this section was dredged last year but you must stay on the centerline. IF you do, you will have plenty of water (8′ MLW)’¦ do not favor either side.
Same further north, just north of Isle of Palm and the marinas, after the turn to port. Plenty deep on centerline, shoals up quickly on either side on the edge of some of the cuts.
Captain Pascal

I run a 22′ Grady and have seen depths as shallow 4.5′ and as deep 5.5′ at MLW during the last 5 weeks. Be sure and check your tide tables for this area as any minus low tide means extra attention to depth!
Captain Pascal is correct in that any deviation from centerline means shallow quick, but i have never seen 8′ MLW on the strectch between Ben Sawyer and IOP connector. I get nervous wih my draft much less anything with 3-4′.
Captain Farley

Click Here To View a Previous Posting on AICW Depths Near the Ben Sawyer Bridge

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of An Earlier Grounding N of Ben Sawyer Bridge

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For Ben Sawyer Bridge

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For Isle of Palms Bridge

Even being “on their toes” didn’t prevent Laura and crew from confirming the shoaling that’s occurring in this stretch of the AICW. Slow and Easy is still the by-word as you travel to or from the north side of the Ben Sawyer Bridge. Check the Chart View of this area in the previous posting linked below.

Submitted on 2010/06/10 at 8:03am
After reading the above we were on our toes going thru this area. We were towards the red side between Inlet Creek and Swinton Creek and ran aground in 5.5 ft of water at MLW.
We were able to motor our way thru the mud to get off heading back towards the center of the channel.
Laura

Click Here To View A Previous Posting For Shoaling N of Ben Sawyer Bridge

Here is valuable information and advice from Larry Shick aboard his Valiant 42 about the AICW just north of Charleston:

As we were entering Charleston Harbor from the S, we got a VHF call from a skipper from one of the towboat companies (sorry, I can’t remember which, or I’d give credit) warning of shoaling between the Ben Sawyer Bridge (MM 462) to the Isle of Palms Bridge (MM 459). His advice was to avoid the green side (which does not mean favoring the red side). According to his report, this is a new (last several months) problem.We went through at MLW and “touched bottom” (6′ draft) at 32-47.3N 079-48.3W (32°47.3000N / 079°48.3000W, 32.788333 / -79.805000), which is a bit N of the channel according to the e-charts, but by turning SW we were able to proceed immediately.As a reminder, the Ben Sawyer bridge is passable only on its N side. After several weeks of swing bridges, I made the assumption that both sides of the swing were available, and was saved from ignominy at the last moment by the bridge operator. Also, the operator’s VHF was *very* faint: even when we were just below her cupola we could barely hear her.Captain Larry Shick aboard S/V MoiraClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Grounding N of Ben Sawyer Bridge Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For Ben Sawyer Bridge Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For Isle of Palms Bridge

Others have experienced uncomfortable evenings in Whiteside Creek due to current and wind, so I am not surprised at the report that follows.
This stream pierces the western shores of the AICW north of Charleston, and northeast of marker #96

Submitted on 2010/05/24 at 11:06am
We anchored here on 11/22/09. One sailboat was already anchored in the prime spot so we went around the 1st bend and attempted to anchor. After two unsuccessful attempts to get the Danforth to set, we moved back to the first leg of the creek and anchored just up stream of the other sailboat. Shortly afterward another sailboat anchored just off the other boat’s stern.
It was raining and the wind was 15 gusting to 20 knots. This creek is totally exposed with nothing but marsh grass all around. After two failed anchor sets, my anxiety level about the anchorage was maxed out. It was getting dark so we were stuck with this place. One of those sleepless night anchorages.
Captain Dick Litchfield

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Anchorages Directory Listing For Whiteside Creek Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Whiteside Creek