This book is about the things you wish you had known before you started boating in the Cape Coral/Fort Myers area, specifically the Caloosahatchee River, Pine Island Sound, Matlacha Pass, San Carlos Bay, and Estero Bay! It is not a comprehensive guide by any means, it is a start to help you on the journey as you get to know our waterways. Included in this volume is a bit of history to help the reader begin to understand the environment.

The Caloosahatchee River used to be a true estuary. Today it is a drainage ditch for the waters that used to feed and nourish the “River of Grass” that made up the Florida Everglades.

The Intracoastal Waterway System has also played a role in changing how we navigate our waters. Boaters need to learn to use Intracoastal navigation aids or they will find themselves running aground.

The waters around the area are also very shallow. The dredged navigational channels have depths ranging from 9 to 12 feet.

Venture outside of any of the marked channels and you will be likely to be turning up muck or destroying seagrass beds. Even offshore, in the Gulf of Mexico, you will likely have to go out more than 10 miles offshore to find water over 40 feet deep.

This book was written as a companion piece for a “local waters” seminar hosted by the Cape Coral Sail and Power Squadron, America’s Boating Club Cape Coral. The local chapter of the United States Power Squadron was established here in 1964 and their members enjoy sharing their knowledge with new boaters.

The “local waters” seminar and this book also spend time sharing with you the safest ways to get to several of the more popular destinations. Welcome to Florida, we hope you enjoy your time on the water here!.