Key West Adventuring - The Submarine Pits

kayakerinkeywest

With another windy day, I decided to do a bit of adventuring albeit via my kayak this time. On Boca Chica roughly ten miles from Key West is a bunch of deep trenches that were dug out back in the day. Some people believe that they were originally created to house Submarines or as a submarine base. Outside of the deep canals, nothing was really done with them. Because they are sheltered, they are great places to get out of the wind and are one of a few spots where you can actually find some deep water around the islands. I utilized an out of the way launch and made the paddle a very easy distance away. Since it is a deep water area, there is plenty of fish to catch, a great place to dive or snorkel, or just lounge away the day. There are actually some pine trees as well that provide some nice shade but allow areas underneath to walk around. A great place to spend the day exploring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_F3C7CE9gk

krash

Nice post, looks like a nice place to kayak and catch a snapper dinner. I'd think your 2nd guess, a speculated development dream that went bust over a sub base, and I'm surprised its not completely locked down.
My parents had a piece of property in Little Torch that was supposed to be the dream retirement spot and the developer went bust, permitting issues, and the property was eventually re-claimed by the gobernment and never finished.
We lived in a place on a canal in Key Largo that had 4 other canals that were dug but never opened to the bay, so no access and never sold, eventually the developer made a deal with the gobernment to allow one to be sold off but not opened to the bay, but to do so they had to fill the other 3, those 3 are now a mangrove marsh crocodile nesting area and that one canal is pretty much dead with housing on both sides and bubbling aireators to make it appear as though there is life.

I know a couple places like that in the upper end but they are locked down tight and pretty much inaccessible. To bad that's like a 4 hour drive for most of us main-lander's.

John McKroid

Nice informational video. So many of the spots down there are questionable parking -- upon arrival, there is a fence or a sign, that was not on google maps. It is nice when you provide detailed info like this video.

Elk Chaser

Thanks, that was very cool.

palmbeachpete

Nice video. Great info. Thanks:Rockon