Boca Chica Key is an island in the lower Florida Keys approximately 3 miles east of the island of Key West. Its name is Spanish for "small mouth", (not "girl mouth" as many assume, since chica used as an adjective in Spanish means small).
It is mainly composed of salt marshes (mangroves) and is the home of the largest Naval Air Station (NAS Key West) in south Florida. The mission of NAS Key West is: "To serve as the Navy's premier pilot training facility for transient tactical aviation squadrons, to maintain and operate facilities, and to provide services and materials in support of this nation's military aviation activities as directed by the Chief of Naval Operations." The Navy's newest adversary detachment has just begun flying operations out of NAS Key West".
A naval restricted area extends about 150 yards from the shoreline along a portion of the NE side of the Naval Air Station.
2010/04/15
Update
Joëlle
You must have a valid US military ID to enter Boca Chica Marina. If you do, there are usually transient moorings and/or dockage available. The channel is 1.9nm long and runs on a NE/SW axis. It is deep (12' - 20') but there is < 2' depth outside the channel. The channel is well marked and wide enough for large recreational vessels to pass and/or overtake. Also, the overhead power line shown on the charts at the SW point of Boca Chica is long gone. Contact Dockmaster at 305-293-2402 or VHF ch-16. Photo is of s/v Lastdance inbound, steering NE in Boca Chica channel between R "12" & R "14", it is labeled to show the entrance. The Boca Chica channel entrance from Hawk Channel is marked with Fl G 4s 16ft "1" and R "2", both lay about 1/4 mile NE of Fl R "2" which marks the entrance to Safe Harbor on Stock Island
2011/11/11
Update
Capt Ron
Boca Chica Key est une île des Keys, archipel des États-Unis d'Amérique situé dans l'océan Atlantique au sud de la péninsule de Floride. Elle est située dans les Lower Keys et relève administrativement du comté de Monroe.
Son nom est espagnol et signifie "petite bouche".
Elle est principalement composée de marais salants (mangroves). Elle est le foyer de la plus grande base aéronavale (NAS Key West) dans le S de la Floride. La mission de NASS Key West est de "servir comme principale installation de la Marine de formation pilote pour les escadrons de l'avaiation transitoire tactique, pour entretenir et exploiter leurs installations et pour fournir des services et documents à l'appui des activités d'aviation militaire de cette nation ".
Une zone navale interdite s'étend sur environ 150 m du littoral, le long du côté NE de la Naval Air Station.
The Marquesas Keys (not to be confused with the Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean) form an uninhabited island group about 30 miles (50 km) west of Key West, 4 miles (6 km) in diameter, and overgrown by mangrove. They are protected as part of the Key ...
Stock Island is an island in the lower Florida Keys immediately east of Key West (separated from Key West by Cow Key Channel, which is only about 75 yards (70 m) wide).Immediately northwest is Key Haven (official name Raccoon Key), from which it is connected by causeway with US 1 ...
Key Haven is an unincorporated community on Raccoon Key, an island in the lower Florida Keys about a mile east of the island of Key West. It is a suburb of greater Key West.
Boca Chica Marina is located N of an overhead cable which has an authorized clearance of 25 feet at this point. Depth: 5 feet. Phone: (305) 293-2402 Fax: 305-293-2416 E-mail: adkinsbi@naskw.navy.mil
Sigsbee Park, also known as Dredgers Key, is an island about a half mile north of Key West island. It is connected to the island of Key West by Sigsbee Road. The island and causeway are part of the Key West Naval Air Station. It is primarily used for Navy housing. It also includes ...
Fleming Key is an island off the northwest corner of the island of Key West, Florida in the lower Florida Keys. It is roughly 2 miles (3.2 km) long by a quarter mile wide. It is connected to the island of Key West by the Fleming Key Bridge. The island and bridge ...
Boca Chica Key is an island in the lower Florida Keys approximately 3 miles east of the island of Key West.
Boca Chica Key est une île des Keys, archipel des États-Unis d'Amérique situé dans l'océan Atlantique au sud de la péninsule de Floride.
