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Santa Rosa Sound is a sound that connects Pensacola Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay in Florida. It runs 33 miles long and is about a mile across at its widest point. The sound is bounded to the south by Santa Rosa Island, also known as Okaloosa Island, which separates it from the Gulf of Mexico. The depth of the sound varies, with a project depth of 12 feet, but it is known to be deeper in certain spots, with a maximum depth of at least 17 feet. The water is clear, and it is very shallow for quite a long way out, making it ideal for swimming and snorkelling.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Length | 33 miles |
| Widest point | 1.8 miles |
| Narrowest point | 200 yards |
| Depth near the shore | 3-4 feet |
| Depth in the middle of the channel | 17 feet |
| Project depth | 12 feet |
| Clearance of Bob Sikes Bridge | 65 feet |
| Clearance of Navarre Beach Causeway | 55 feet |
| Clearance of Brooks Bridge | 50 feet |
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What You'll Learn
The depth varies across Santa Rosa Sound
The sound is 33 miles long, with a widest point of 1.8 miles and a narrowest point of 200 yards. While the water near the shore is shallow, at around 3-4 feet deep, it can be deeper in other areas. For example, in some places, the channel has a "project depth" of 12 feet, while in other spots it can be as deep as 17 feet. The depth of the dredged portions of the channel is controlled by the Corp of Engineers regulations.
There are three bridges that cross the sound, with varying clearances above mean sea level: the Bob Sikes Bridge (65 feet clearance), the Navarre Beach Causeway (55 feet clearance), and the Brooks Bridge (50 feet clearance). Due to these low clearances, sailboats with masts taller than 50 feet often need to bypass the sound and use the unprotected waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
The East Sound Side Reef and the Gulf Side Reef are located in the Gulf of Mexico, providing excellent snorkelling and fishing opportunities. The Gulf Side Reef is situated directly south of the Sea Oat Pavilion, marked by two large PVC posts on the sand dune, 340 feet south of the mean tide line.
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The deepest channel depth is 17 feet
Santa Rosa Sound is a sound that connects Pensacola Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay in Florida. It runs for 33 miles, with a width of up to 1.8 miles at its widest point and 200 yards at its narrowest. The sound is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by a thin strip of barrier island called Santa Rosa Island, which is about one mile across from the beach.
While the depth of the sound can vary, it is known to reach depths of around 17 feet in certain areas. Specifically, a user on the Pensacola Fishing Forum mentioned that they had personal knowledge of spots in the channel that are 17 feet deep. This individual's familiarity with the area and their reference to nautical charts suggest that their information is credible.
The depth of 17 feet is significant within the context of the Santa Rosa Sound. It indicates that while the sound is generally known for being quite shallow, there are indeed deeper sections that can accommodate larger vessels or create different aquatic environments.
It is worth noting that the depth of the sound may vary in different locations and can also be influenced by factors such as dredging activities. The user on the Pensacola Fishing Forum mentioned that the depth of the dredged portions of the channel is regulated by the Corps of Engineers. These variable depths can have implications for navigation, with some sailboats needing to bypass the protected sound due to the height of their masts.
In summary, while Santa Rosa Sound is generally shallow, with depths of around 3 to 4 feet close to the shore, it does have deeper sections. The deepest channel depth mentioned in the sources is 17 feet, indicating that the sound can accommodate a range of water-based activities and vessels. These variations in depth contribute to the diverse characteristics and uses of Santa Rosa Sound.
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The project depth is 12 feet
Santa Rosa Sound is a sound that connects Pensacola Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay in Florida. The northern shore of the sound consists of the Fairpoint Peninsula and parts of the mainland in Santa Rosa County and Okaloosa County. The sound is bounded to the south by Santa Rosa Island, also known as Okaloosa Island in its easternmost region. The island separates the sound from the Gulf of Mexico.
The sound is known for its clear waters, which are ideal for swimming and snorkelling, especially for children and adults who want to wade in shallow waters. In some spots, you can stand 20 feet from shore and still see the bottom clearly. While the exact depth of the sound can vary, the "project depth" is often cited as 12 feet. This project depth may refer to specific areas or channels within the sound.
The depth of 12 feet is particularly relevant for nautical activities and navigation. Some sources indicate that the sound can be deeper in certain areas, with depths of 17 feet or more in certain channels. The depth is strictly controlled by regulations during dredging activities, ensuring that the sound remains navigable for boats and other watercraft.
The Santa Rosa Sound is a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts, and knowledge of the depth is crucial for their endeavours. The depth can impact the behaviour and habitat of fish, influencing where anglers choose to cast their lines. Additionally, the sound features bridges with specific clearance levels, which boats with taller masts must consider when navigating the area.
In summary, the "project depth" of 12 feet in the Santa Rosa Sound is an important piece of knowledge for both recreational users and those navigating the sound. While the depth may vary in certain spots, understanding this standard depth helps ensure safe and enjoyable experiences in this beautiful Florida waterway.
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The sound is bounded by Santa Rosa Island
Santa Rosa Sound is a sound that connects Pensacola Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay in Florida. The northern shore of the sound consists of the Fairpoint Peninsula and parts of the mainland in Santa Rosa County and Okaloosa County. To the south, it is bounded by Santa Rosa Island, also known as Okaloosa Island in the easternmost region of the sound. This island separates the sound from the Gulf of Mexico.
Santa Rosa Island is the second-largest of the Channel Islands of California, located about 26 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, in Santa Barbara County. The island is part of the Channel Islands National Park, covering an area of 53,195 acres. The Chumash, a Native American people, lived on the Channel Islands at the time of European contact. The remains of the 13,000-year-old Arlington Springs Man, possibly the oldest human remains in the Americas, were discovered on the island in 1959.
The island has a rich history, dating back to the ancestors of the Chumash people, who lived there for thousands of years. In 1843, Governor Manuel Micheltorena granted the island to the brothers José Antonio Carrillo and Carlos Antonio Carrillo. The island was later ceded to the United States by Mexico in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1852. In 1980, Santa Rosa Island was included in the Channel Islands National Park, and it was sold in 1986 for nearly $30 million.
Today, Santa Rosa Island offers a range of recreational activities, including kayaking, camping, and hiking. Visitors can access the island through a private boat charter or by camping reservations made through the Channel Islands National Park offices in Ventura, California. A year-round charter flight service is also available from Camarillo Airport.
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The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is routed through the sound
Santa Rosa Sound is a sound that connects Pensacola Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay in Florida. The northern shore of the sound consists of the Fairpoint Peninsula and parts of the mainland in Santa Rosa County and Okaloosa County. The sound is bounded to the south by Santa Rosa Island, also known as Okaloosa Island in its easternmost region. The island separates the sound from the Gulf of Mexico.
The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) is a navigable inland waterway that runs approximately 1,300 miles (2,100 kilometres) from Saint Marks, Florida, to Brownsville, Texas. The waterway provides a channel with a controlling depth of 12 feet (3.7 metres), designed primarily for barge transportation. The GIWW crosses, meets, and in some cases, confluents with numerous other navigable rivers and waterways. These include the Apalachicola River, Arroyo Colorado, Atchafalaya River, Bayou Lafourche, Bayou Terrebonne, and many more.
The GIWW is routed through the Santa Rosa Sound between Pensacola Beach and Fort Walton Beach. Three bridges carry pedestrian and automobile traffic to the barrier islands on the south side of the sound. The first two bridges have the lowest clearance of any span over the GIWW. For this reason, many sailboats with masts taller than 50 feet must "go outside" and bypass the protected sound using the unprotected waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
The GIWW is made up of both natural and man-made canals, rivers, dredged channels, bays, and sounds. It is used by both commercial and pleasure craft with light-draft vessels, as well as tugs and tows. The waterway is marked by a Lateral Buoyage System, with yellow triangles on red markers and yellow squares on green markers. Caution should be exercised when navigating these waters, especially where the GIWW intersects with another channel.
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Frequently asked questions
The depth of Santa Rosa Sound varies, with some spots shallower than others. It is known to be about 3-4 feet deep near the dock and there are spots that go as deep as 17 feet.
Santa Rosa Sound is located in Florida, connecting Pensacola Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay.
Santa Rosa Sound runs 33 miles long. Its widest point is 1.8 miles across and its narrowest point is 200 yards.
Santa Rosa Sound offers a range of activities such as fishing, snorkelling, swimming, and kayaking. It is also known for its clear water and pristine beaches.
