To test this feature, visit your live site.

Current conditions in Bimini?

Looking for current information on the Bimini entrance channel. Going there soon with a 50 meter that draws almost 8'. Planning to use the original range marker channel. Can anyone offer accurate information on both routes into North Bimini?

8 comments

8 Comments

monty

Mar 03

Thanks for the feedback on the old approach to Bimini Harbour. The low water minimum depth would be 2.7 meters or 9 feet that you saw. If you haven't left the harbour yet, maybe you could look for the range on the way out and let us know if it still exists.

Edited

captscott17

Mar 04

Replying to

Did not see the range markers, but there was a sailboat anchored right on the spot you would turn to run north along the beach. Use the South Bimin waypoint in the Explorer Chartbook. Don't go too far south though because it gets real skinny. Cheat a bit north of that waypoint if anything. The shallowest spot coming in was just south of the Bimini Sands (4.5' below the wheels so 12' actual depth) entrance channel. Plenty of water for my 7.5' draft all the way in at high tide. Had bad light coming in. Departing I had good light and could clearly see a route to get out using the new channel, but it was narrow and sketchy. Only use the new channel with good light. I've got a 50m yacht with a 31' beam and 7.5' draft so the old channel was a much better choice for me.

monty

Mar 08

Replying to

Thanks much for the detailed description of the channel. I will update the chart with your info and try to find a newer photo of the area. Google Earth has not updated the photo in front of Bimini Cove Marina since 2019.

Have a great cruise.

Monty

captscott17

Mar 01

Thanks everyone. We came in this morning on the high tide, 7.5' draft. Used the old channel but couldn't see the range markers (more interested in reading the water). No less that 4.5' below the wheels. Just some dummy anchored at the waypoint where you turn to the north and run along the beach. He might have been blocking the markers if they're still there.

Edited

katefears

Feb 20

Capt Scott,

Re-posting a comment to your query that we received on Facebook:

We left Bimini a couple of weeks ago. 5' draft and saw as little as 2' below us. We were following the ferry until the channel markers leading form the harbor to the Atlantic. He did not follow the channel markers out but he paralleled the shore further south, then turned west to deeper water.

captscott17

Feb 20

Replying to

Thanks; kinda validates my plan to run the old channel rather than the new one.

katefears

Feb 19

Capt Scott, We are seeking current observations from cruisers as to whether or not the old range markers are still standing. The dredged channel continues to shoal toward the south. Stand by for updates as we receive them on our Facebook page and cross-post here...

captscott17

Feb 20

Replying to

Thanks Kate, I should be arriving there on the morning high tide March 1st. I'll stand by for more from anyone that transits that area between now and then.