Seeking current information regarding Marquesas Key

[Mark Major]

I sailed to the Dry Tortugas 8 years ago taking the northern route, anchoring west of Marquesas. This time I'd like to take the southern passage, and get within Marquesas Key in the vicinity of Mooney Harbor. Any experience you can share regarding anchorage and approach would be appreciated. I have 3' draft.

 

[Terry in Naples]

With 3 foot draft you should not have any trouble getting around the Marquesas. You can mostly see bottom as it gets shallower and as long as the sun is high. there are usually other boats anchoring inside and out around the outside there and the charts are straight foreward so just poke in and anchor.

 

[seadaddler]

What else

Besides anchoring what else can you do,can you go ashore.
Nick

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Lots of mangroves around these low slung islands. Read the charts to see where you can take your boat (keeping attention to tides) and, of course, consider the direction and velocity of the winds when picking a safe anchoring spot. If it is not too windy the water clarity will be better and snorkeling or diving will be appealing. Fishing in this area is particularly good as well.

 

[mk2]

we went that way last week, launched at bahia honda park and sailed south of key west. we did plan to go to marquesas, but it was so cold and rainy that we decided to turn around at boca grande. charts I had in my GPS are no good down there in the shallows, everything is not where it is supposed to be. I found google earth more up to date and useful, you can see all channels very clearly and they seem to be in right places more or less. there are many good reefs on the way, as you probably know being from around there. but nothing really to do on the shore, no much of a shore to speak of. mangroves and sandbars.