Andaman Sea Pilot - the definitive cruising guide for the Andaman Sea...and more

The definitive guide to 380 anchorages in more than one million square miles of ocean

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MACPHERSON STRAIT TO LITTLE ANDAMAN

Click links below to go to anchorages

The Cinque Island Chain | Passage Island & Sisters Island | Little Andaman

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MacPherson Strait

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MacPherson Strait is easily navigable, even by a deep draft vessel.

The ends of the strait, Wandoor in the west and Chiryatapu in the east, are connected to Port Blair by road.

Anchor in 10-12 metres on a mud bottom with excellent holding. This anchorage is very well protected. Chiryatapu is an ideal stop over when heading to or from Port Blair.

Anchor in 20 metres well clear of the coral reef near to the 2 large steel moorings. There is great snorkelling on the outer side of the reef to the west of Jolly Buoy. You are not permitted to go ashore at Jolly Buoy.

Anchor in 12-15 metres on a sand bottom off the edge of the coral reef. This is a picturesque anchorage with great sunset views. You are not permitted to go ashore on this island.

The Cinque Island Chain

The Cinque Islands have some of the most spectacular beaches and anchorages in the Andamans.

These islands are a specially designated National Park area. You have to pay an entry fee of Rs.500 per person and Rs.1500 per yacht for each day you spend in these islands. These fees are payable in advance to the Forestry Department in Port Blair prior to obtaining approval for your itinerary.

The gap between North and South Cinque Islands is probably navigable by keel boat but this is not advised as there are many coral bombies in this area.

Anchor in the middle of the bay in 12-15 metres. Do not go in further than this or you will be anchoring on (and destroying) beautiful coral reef.

There is superb snorkelling and diving all along the reef edge from here in both directions. With south-easterly winds there is a substantial ground swell in this anchorage so use anchorage (B).

This is an ideal anchorage in South-Easterlies. Anchor in 15 metres clear of the reef edge – the water is so clear you can watch your anchor hitting the sand!

Probably the most spectacular anchorage in the Andaman Islands. Approach on a North-West heading aiming for the centre of the sand spit which will bring you to a channel in the coral reef.

Anchor in this channel in 7m. This anchorage has fantastically clear water, frequent visits from dolphins and manta rays and the most perfect white sand spit ashore. This anchorage is well protected in North Easterlies.

Another alternative for an east coast anchorage. Anchor on sand in 20-25 metres. Great snorkelling and diving here.

Superb anchorage off a mile-long pristine white beach backed by coconut trees and pandanus palms. Approach heading east aiming for the gap in the sand dunes ashore – there are rocks in the water to the north and south ends of this beach.

Anchor in 5-6 metres – the water is so clear here it looks as though the yacht is floating in the air. There is superb walking ashore here with many spotted deer and monitor lizards. This beach is one of the few leatherback turtle nesting sites left in the eastern Indian Ocean.

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Passage Island & Sisters Island

There are limited but good anchorages around Passage Island. Superb fishing, diving and snorkelling here.

Position yourself due north of the southern point and due west of the small rocky point on Passage Island. (If you look carefully you can see a sand patch here which is clearly visible in 18 metres of water.)

Anchor in the middle of this sand patch. There is excellent fishing, diving and snorkelling here.

Anchor in 20 metres clear of the reef on a sandy bottom.

Anchor to the north-west of the southern point of Sisters. This is a great anchorage during calm weather (March and April) but it is very rolly the rest of the time. There is a pristine white coral and sand beach here with some spectacular rock pools at the north eastern end of the beach.

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Little Andaman

Little Andaman is the southernmost of the Andaman Islands. It was badly hit by the 2004 tsunami which destroyed much of the harbour and the most of the town of Hut Bay. It is presently being rebuilt. Dugong Creek and South Bay are off limits as they are tribal sanctuaries.

Contact Hut Bay Port Control or Little Andaman Port Radio when approaching. Anchor off the front of the town. Some local provisions are available ashore. It is possible to hire bicycles – a great way of exploring Little Andaman.

There is a small gap in the coral reef here that can be navigated with care giving access to a flat lagoon behind the reef. Do not swim here – the mangrove estuary behind is full of huge salt water crocodiles.

Anchor in the centre of the bay for a good holding on sand. Beware the southern point and the extended reef, especially when approaching from the south.

Saltwater crocodile tracks have been spotted here. Keep someone on lookout when swimming.

Tuck in on the north corner for good safe holding. Long white beaches and lush rainforest ashore provide the backdrop.

While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this book is accurate, the charts of anchorages are based on personal experience and satellite imagery and are intended as a guide only. They should not be used for navigation. Please refer to Official Hydrographic charts of the respective countries.

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