[TripleTreasures]

Hello all...

I'm new to the boating scene in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area. I'd like to spend a few days and nights around the area swimming, snorkeling, tubing, star gazing, etc with the kids.

Will anyone share their top anchorage spots?

My boat is a 68' Ferretti and draws 5' 8".

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Triple Treasures

[NYCAP123]

It's been a while since I've been a tourist there, but (if it's still there) there was a good snorkling area about a 1/2 mile off the beach in Pompano Beach with mooring buoys set up. It's about 15 ft. deep with plenty of life. Another was about 3/4 mile off whiskey creek just south of Pt. Everglades (also with mouring buoys) that was about 25 ft. deep. There are also some decent inside areas down near Haulover where you can anchor for a swim. Not many areas on the inside for tubing, etc. as most are no wake zones. Most water sports are done off shore. With a 68 in summer you might also look to run to the Bahamas.
Be very careful when running down the coast within 1st mile off shore as you'll often come upon divers who swim out from the shore with only a dive flag on a tube showing.

[CaptPKilbride]

Go down Biscayne Bay, and right before the canal that takes you to the ocean side of Key Largo, and the entrance channel to the Ocean Reef Club, is a nice small island called Pumpkin Island. Anchor there for a day or two, and you can always pop into Ocean Reef if conditions warrant.

[Pascal]

when the ocean is smooth, you can anchor there but being open waters it's not ideal for the kids. Biscayne bay is indeed the place you want to go...

If you're in FTL, is mostly all no wake to miami, so you're better popping out off Port Everglades and come back in either at Gov Cut or Cape Florida. (keep in mind that Gov Cut is a security zone so once in the inlet, you must get on the south side of the commercial port, by fisher island towards the River and ICW

in biscayne bay you have many good spots starting with the anchorage on the West side of Key Biscayne (off KBYC), just north of the sand bar at the SW tip.

No Name Harbor, by cape florida, is nice toom, although crowded on week ends but great for kids because of the park (crandon beach is within walking distance)

12miles south is elliott Key which has the clearest water and best anchorage on this side of the stream. with almost 6' you can come in fairly close, up to around where the idle speed markers are.

with 6' Boca Chita is too shallow but you can dinghy in there from Eliott.

Pumplin Key is ok but the water is nicer at eliott.

on the outside there are many moorings where you can tie up to snorkel, some great spots including the Christ of the Ocean ust north of KL.

nearly 6' will be too a little deep to stay on the inside of the keys, depending on winds and tide.

I have a number of placemarks covering Biscayne Bay and the Keys in Google earth. they can viewed in Gloogle Maps in your browser
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...om/hattcam.kmz
or download the Google Earth file
http://www.sandbarhopper.com/hattcam.kmz

hope this helps!

Welcome to South Florida and wonderful Biscayne Bay!

[TripleTreasures]

Thanks for the feedback.

Your suggestions are appreciated.