Interesting Sites Every Cruiser Should Know

If you come across an interesting or entertaining web site about the Waterway, or cruising in general, please send the link to Judi Heit at JudiHeit@gmail.com.

WATERWAY GUIDE

www.WaterwayGuide.com: Recent upgrades made to Waterway Guide's web site strongly focus on reader interaction. The site offers cruisers three portals to help plan their trips or report back on what they've just experienced. "Navigation Updates" give the most up-to-date information available on such items as Waterway conditions, changing bridge schedules and hazards to navigation. "Waterway News" reports events, marina updates and general ICW information. "Cruiser Comments" lets readers post their own observations and experiences from the Waterway. These three portals are broken into easy-to-follow regions, making the site easier to navigate than the Waterway!

NOAA ONLINE CHART VIEWER

www.ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/onlineviewer: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has made more than 1,000 of its U.S. coastal and Great Lakes nautical charts available in an online format. Each chart, updated with the most recent "Local Notices to Mariners," allows users to zoom in on their locations and view aids to navigation, water depths, obstructions, channels and other elements available on NOAA's paper charts. While NOAA encourages using their full-scale paper charts for on-the-water navigation, the online charts serve as valuable reference and planning tools. (Also visit www.nauticalcharts.noa.gov.)

ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY ASSOCIATION

www.atlintracoastal.org: If anyone is looking out for Waterway cruisers, it's the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWA)! A non-profit organization started in 1999, the AIWA encourages commerce and recreation on the Intracoastal Waterways of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida through Congressional lobbying and local grass roots support. In addition to providing cruisers with Waterway budgetary updates and a network of Waterway businesses and association members, the AIWA web site offers a "Boater's Discussion Board" with Waterway news and problem spots.