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Look in the upper right corner of the map near the scale. You will see the unit of measurement printed in big letters. You need to know this because charts use all sorts of different measurements. Your chart could include feet, fathoms, or meters.
In the U.S., charts generally use feet or fathoms. However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has begun converting its charts to meters for the sake of international consistency.
. The black numbers printed on the chart represent water depth. Each number indicates the “mean lower low water” (MLLW) in an area. This is the average water depth at low tide, so most of the time the water is deeper than what you see on a chart.
If you see a negative number, that means the water depth in the area is typically less than what is listed on the chart.
Numbers written in fathoms have a unique look to them, so they are easy to spot. A fathom listing often consists of a pair of numbers. The first number indicates the number of fathoms. The second number, which will be a small subscript, is the number of additional feet.[5]
For example, a listing of 0 and 3 means a depth of 0 fathoms, 3 feet. A listing of 3 and 2 means 3 fathoms, 2 feet, or 20 feet total.
For uniformity and simplicity, many modern charts use meters. This can be tough to understand if you’re used to measurements in feet or fathoms. Multiplying by 3 is a quick way to get a relatively accurate estimate of the water’s depth.
For example, multiply a listing of 6 meters by 3 to estimate it as being at least 18 feet deep. The actual depth is 6 metres (20 ft), so it isn’t completely accurate, but it is helpful for avoiding shallow areas.
If the depths are listed in feet, you can also divide them by 3 to quickly convert them to meters.
Contour lines are there to give you an idea of what is happening beneath the water’s surface. Contour lines, often red, connect similar water depth listings. This has the effect of dividing areas into shallower and deeper waters. Use the contour lines as a reference for the overall water depth in an area.
For example, contour lines may connect points listed as 20 ft (240 in) deep. All of the points inside those lines are even shallower than that.
On nautical charts, white space is normally water, so the blue areas will stand out more. Shoals and other shallow areas are blue. These spots tend to be no more than 18 ft (5.5 m) deep, although this varies from chart to chart. Shallow areas are often marked off by contour lines.
The exact depth of shallow areas depends on the chart. Some charts color in areas under 3 fathoms, while others mark spots less than 1 fathom deep.
Dry land will usually be inside a contour line, but not always. Pay particular attention to any tan spots in the middle of water channels. Sometimes these spots are submerged and can damage your boat, especially in shallow water.
Land is always a light color to distinguish it from water and other navigational aids.
The compass rose is a series of 3 circles surrounded by numbers. The outer circle is to help you find true north, represented by a star or 0. The inner circle points to the magnetic north pole at the time of the chart’s printing. You can use a magnetic compass to navigate with the compass rose as a guide.
Keep in mind that the magnetic field over the Earth changes over time, so you will need a magnetic compass or an updated map to make use of the compass rose.
These buoys mark water channels. The colored circles you see on a chart correspond to buoys you will see floating along the channels as you travel. Travel markers are numbered, making tracking your route easy.[10]
Red markers show the right side of a channel, while green markers show the left side. The different colors keep you oriented no matter which way you travel.
The anchor is a familiar symbol on charts showing waterways close to land. An anchor means you can let down your boat’s anchor safely in that area. Anchoring points may be labeled with numbers or descriptions to describe what kind of boats are allowed to stay there.
For example, an anchor point marked “DW” means deep water. Only deepwater vessels will anchor there.
A number like 24 stands for 24 hours, so you can only keep your boat in the area for a day at a time.
Dangerous obstacles like rocks and shipwrecks are all circled. Some circles are dotted, meaning that the obstacles are submerged. If the lines are solid, the obstacles are at least partially above the water. Many modern charts now mark these spots in purple.
Obstacles are generally represented by circles with symbols like asterisks and plus signs. There are many different symbols and they often vary between charts.
Some charts use picture symbols, such as a boat to represent a partially-sunken shipwreck.
Currents are indicated by arrows with numbers over them. The direction of the arrow tells you which way the current moves. The number lets you know the water speed in knots.
Currents and tides change all the time. Take the arrows as a prediction for the way water normally flows. Keep watch as you travel for anything out of the ordinary.
Read abbreviations to identify important features in the area. Since charts have a limited amount of space, mapmakers have to rely on abbreviations to label markers. Some letters indicate the type of seafloor. Others label landmarks like towers, wharves, and government stations.
Some common seafloor abbreviations include S for sand, M for mud, and C for coral. Rky stands for a rocky floor.
Tr indicates a nearby tower, while Whf stands for wharf and Bn means beacon. CG may indicate a Coast Guard station on a U.S. map.
Download a separate chart for a list of less common symbols. The full title of the chart is NOS Chart No. 1: Symbols, Abbreviations, and Terms. It isn’t actually a sea chart, but it contains a list of all the chart symbols you may encounter. Download it from the NOAA’s website or purchase a copy from a commercial chart vendor.
The chart covers all U.S. charts. Download a copy at https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/us-chart-1.html
Charts made in other countries may have different symbols. Check with your government’s maritime office for a reference.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Home Page
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/welcome.html
http://www.coastalnavigation.com/samples/sec_1/1_pages/1_3.htm
↑https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/docs/national-charting-plan.pdf
↑https://www.uscg.mil/Portals/0/OurOrganization/auxiliary/publications/auxmanuals/ATON2000StudyGuideSec7NauticalCharts.pdf?ver=2017-07-02-093515-587
↑http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/chart-reading101.asp
↑http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/chart-reading101.asp
↑https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/length/meter-to-feet.html
↑https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/sounding.html
↑https://www.getmyboat.com/resources/tips-for-renters/139/how-nautical-charts-are-read/
↑https://www.garykessler.net/scuba/library/Charts_Navigation.pdf
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