SOUTH BETHANY, Del. - A growing sandbar near the Fenwick Island Ditch is causing increasing problems for boaters in coastal Delaware, making an otherwise scenic cruise to Ocean City a frustrating and risky trip.
Residents Andy Stack and Ken Ambrose, who live in South Bethany, frequently boat through the waterway. But recently, the shifting sandbar has made navigation treacherous — especially with some channel markers missing.
“It appeared to be two inches of water,” Stack said. “I stayed further over to where I know the green channel markers are, even though they are missing.”
Others, like Ambrose and his neighbor, weren’t as lucky.
“A neighbor over here, he was stuck,” Ambrose said. “He was trying to pull out another boat that was stuck.”
Without proper markers, boaters are left guessing the safest path through shallow water.
Stack said the sandbar has shifted significantly, and without proper markers, boaters are left guessing the safest path through shallow water. According to Stack, the missing navigational aids may have been knocked out by storms or other boaters.
Delaware Natural Resources Police are aware of the situation. Captain Nicholas Couch with the Division of Fish and Wildlife said officers are taking immediate steps to improve safety in the area. “We plan to extend the slow, no wake zone to the north and to Little Assawoman Bay until we can get new buoys set to mark the channel exactly as it should be,” Couch said.
Boaters are urged to proceed with caution — and keep a close eye on the tides, maps, and each other.
In the meantime, Gavin Gray, a local jet ski guide who operates near the sandbar, offered advice for boaters trying to avoid getting stuck.
“Google Maps is a good tool for that,” Gray said. “You can go around Google Maps to see the satellite images, and it's a pretty good indicator. If you see a lighter area in the water that looks like sand, it’s probably a sandbar. You want to stay clear of those areas.”
While Stack said he appreciates the state’s quick response, he believes a long-term solution, such as dredging, is needed.
Until then, boaters are urged to proceed with caution — and keep a close eye on the tides, maps, and each other.