The Grand Lucayan Waterway is a north/south passage that allows boaters to travel from Dover Sound, which is on the north side of Grand Bahama, to the Northwest Providence Channel on the southern side of the island. There are a few considerations you must take into account before transiting the area, however.

First, the Casuarina Bridge crosses the waterway with a 27-foot fixed vertical clearance, limiting the passage mainly to power vessels. Second, although the actual Lucayan Waterway has depths of eight to ten feet, the approach channel to the northern end in Dover Sound only has four-foot depths, limiting the passage to shoal-draft boats. Lastly, take into account the current (up to four to six knots), and time your passage with the tides accordingly.

A flashing light about one mile to the southwest of the jettied opening marks the initial approach to the waterway. To start your way in to the approach channel, first pick up waypoint 26 31.927N 78 33.214W. Once you have arrived in the area of the waypoint, set a course of 345 degrees true for about one mile to meet up with the stone jetties the lead into the waterway itself. Depths along the approach range from nine to 13 feet.

The waterway is about eight miles long, and local authorities ask that boats transiting the area maintain a speed of at least five knots. If you time the tides correctly and mind your draft and overhead clearance, the passage should be fairly easy and uneventful. you’ll be saving more than 20 miles buy cutting through Grand Bahama - if you’re able.

See our “Local Notices to Mariners” blog for updates on the latest conditions and advisories for this area.