Currents around the Midriffs

Posted By: Tom T. House
Date: 2/11/06 8:33a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: midriff crosing (dave)

Dave: To get a feel of how strong the currents in the Midriffs can become ... all one has to do is picture what happens at the top end of the Sea of Cortez, near Rocky Point. If one looks at any tidal charts of that area, one notices the difference between high and low tide can be as much as 27 virtical feet...! !! 27 feet...!!! That takes a great deal of water, flowing in reversing directions, to cause that much rise and fall in the tide...and in a relatively short span of time. Armed with that information, if one also considers what is shown on charts covering the area around the Midriff Islands (those Islands stretching from Kino Bay to Bahia Santa Rosalia)...it is clear the Sea of Cortez's tidal flow is very much "constricted", in that area. It is that constriction that causes the BIZAAR currents in the waterways between those Midriff Islands. All that could be "good news" if one is intending on going in the direction of the current..or bad if one doesn't. I guess all this is intended to suggest: it is wise to be careful and information helps one be for-armed. You may find it helpful to obtain and to study such publications as those written by Cunningham. He has written several, e.g., a chart packet for San Carlos, a paperback named Cruising San Carlos and another named Cruising the Midriff's or Cruising the Midriff Islands or something like that. (I don't have it right here in front of me while I write this.) You could find them them on the net and in some places in Tucon or Phoenix, Arizona and I've seen them, from time to time, in the Harbor Master's Office, located in the marina at San Carlos. I'm not surprised that folks have crossed the Sea of Cortez in very small crafts, including Kayaks. However, I'd wager they either considered the currents or got lucky... Don't get me wrong...I'm all in favor of "Luck"...but I've also noticed that good preparation and intelligent decisions, based on good and accurate information all work to enhance one's "luck". Being able to push a kayak at 6 knots with 2 paddlers for two hours is very impressive and demonstrates good kayaks, great conditioning and stamina. However, we were in a 16 ft inflatable sports boat, with a 35 hp. outboard.... and while anchored in that current, the boat's wake, while anchored, caused me to think one may have been able to wake board, behind the anchored boat, without ever pulling up the anchor or starting the engine. Of course, that current was magnified in the shollower water and further magnified by being constricted between the mainland and the island we were diving. My advice is pay attention to weather forecasts, and read tide and depth charts and be fully aware of how the sea floor's topography creates really fast currents, in some areas, at some times, and for fairly long periods of time, between high and low tides. I once read an account of a fellow who survived, as he drifted for many days in a diver's vest and a wet suit...(his inflatable,s anchor drug while he was down and when he came up it wasn't there..and another who survived while drifting for thousands of miles in a disabled (beater)sailboat. That one went from Catalina Island, Calif., to some bizaar place like Costa Rica...and though all those kinds of adventures happen...I'm not sure you want to begin kayaking to Santa Rosalia and end up in Cabo San Lucas. (On the other hand, bring some phone change, just in case.) Be careful, be wise and keep adding as much information as you can as you prepare for your trip went.... Also keep adding to this forum. We all really like sharing and hearing about those using and enjoying adventures on the Sea of Cortez. Cheers