San Nicholas Island, Ca

[Jolly Mon]

Baltimore American, 7-5-1911

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[Mackaydon]

The island is currently controlled by the United States Navy and is used as a weapons testing and training facility.
Forget about even getting there, much less TH-ing.
Don.........

 

[Jolly Mon]

The island is currently controlled by the United States Navy and is used as a weapons testing and training facility.
Forget about even getting there, much less TH-ing.
Don.........

Actually, that is not exactly true. The island itself is off limits, but the waters around the island are divided by the Navy into 3 zones: Alpha, Bravo and Charlie. Entry into the Alpha zone is prohibited at all times. Entry into zones Bravo and Charlie is allowed, but you must remain at least 300 yards from shore. Anchoring is allowed outside of this 300 yard limit in the B and C areas, as are diving and other activities. Here is a link to the Naval regulations for the island: 334.980 - Pacific Ocean; around San Nicolas Island, Calif., naval restricted area. - PART 334: DANGER ZONE AND RESTRICTED AREA REGULATIONS - Code of Federal Regulations - Title 33: Navigation and Navigable Waters - July 01, 2010 - Order: 334.980 - 19.

There are several charter operations that go to the waters around the island. The lobster diving is legendary.

Here is a chart:

Alpha is red, Bravo is yellow, Charlie is green.

Anyone interested in going to the island should, of course, do their own research. Obviously, no one is advised to break any law.

 

[Mackaydon]

You may be right though this article mentions: " Legally, you are never supposed to go closer to the island than 100 yards. This is no joke. Sometimes, the island or parts of it may be closed for testing. In the little coves that are sheltered from the island, are small radar units. Big brother is watching there." Jolly Mon, your information may be more recent.
Source: San Nicolas Island

 

[Jolly Mon]

The island itself is always off limits. You are not allowed closer than 300 yards to shore anywhere. But you are allowed outside of the 300 yard limit in zones "B" and "C". You are right in advising extreme caution to anyone contemplating a visit. This one is not for the faint of heart. The weather in that part of the Channel Islands can be downright nasty.

I once knew an old time abalone diver who used to work that area. He told me some very interesting stories about San Nicholas, but I was not into shipwrecks at the time. I wish I had been.