Quick's Hole () is the strait in

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...

Elizabeth Islands The Elizabeth Islands are a chain of small islands extending southwest from the southern coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the United States. They are located at the outer edge of Buzzards Bay, north of Martha's Vineyard, from which they are ...

separating

Nashawena Island Nashawena Island is the second largest of the Elizabeth Islands of Dukes County, Massachusetts, United States. It lies between Cuttyhunk Island to the west and Pasque Island to the east. The island has a land area of and an official permanen ...

from

Pasque Island Pasque Island is one of the Elizabeth Islands of Dukes County, Massachusetts, United States. It lies between Nashawena Island to the west and Naushon Island to the east. The island has a land area of 3.45 km² (1.333 sq mi or 853 acres) and h ...

. It is one of four straits allowing maritime passage between

Buzzards Bay Buzzards Bay is a bay of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It is approximately 28 miles (45 kilometers) long by 8 miles (12 kilometers) wide. It is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and tourism. Since ...

and the

Vineyard Sound Vineyard Sound is the stretch of the Atlantic Ocean which separates the Elizabeth Islands and the southwestern part of Cape Cod from the island of Martha's Vineyard, located offshore from the state of Massachusetts in the United States. To the w ...

. The others are

Canapitsit Channel Canapitsit Channel is a channel that runs from Cuttyhunk Harbor to the Vineyard Sound and separates Nashawena Island from Cuttyhunk Island, two of the Elizabeth Islands off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It is one of four straits allowing maritime pass ...

Robinson's Hole Robinson's Hole is the strait in Massachusetts' Elizabeth Islands separating Naushon Island from Pasque Island. It is one of four straits allowing maritime passage between Buzzards Bay and the Vineyard Sound. The others are Canapitsit Channel, Q ...

and

Woods Hole Woods Hole is a census-designated place in the town of Falmouth in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. It lies at the extreme southwest corner of Cape Cod, near Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands. The population was 781 at ...

. A narrow passage, Quick's Hole handles heavy boat traffic as the only passage between Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay suitable for vessels with drafts greater than 10 feet. Analysis of the data revealed giant

sand waves A sand wave is a lower regime sedimentary structure that forms across from tidal currents. Formation Sand waves are formed through the action of the wind or water (through waves or tidal currents). Sand waves form also underwater. See also ...

, huge

glacial erratic A glacial erratic is glacially deposited rock differing from the type of rock native to the area in which it rests. Erratics, which take their name from the Latin word ' ("to wander"), are carried by glacial ice, often over distances of hundre ...

boulders and several uncharted wrecks.
NOAA Research Vessel Charts Deep Water Secrets
'' Vineyard Gazette, October 1, 2004 Quick's Hole, due north of Menemsha on Martha's Vineyard and due south of

New Bedford New Bedford (Massachusett: ) is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts. It is located on the Acushnet River in what is known as the South Coast region. Up through the 17th century, the area was the territory of the Wampanoag Native American pe ...

, extends about one and one-half miles from north to south; it is three-quarters of a mile across at its widest point.
Charter Captain Dies After Capsizing in Treacherous Seas at Quick's Hole
'' Vineyard Gazette

References

{{Coastal waterbodies of Massachusetts Bodies of water of Dukes County, Massachusetts Straits of Massachusetts