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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RITCHIE'S ARCHIPELAGO

Click links below to go to anchorages

Charka Juru & Inglis
The Button Islands
Maya Bandar & Austen Strait

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Havelock & the surrounding area

No 7 beach is 7 miles of white sand backed by tropical forest. Anchor safely anywhere along this beach in 8-12 metres.

Ashore there are several resorts, restaurants and access to the main village of Havelock by road.

Elephant Bay is a favoured washing spot for the retired logging elephants. It’s a good day anchorage but can be prone to a swell, so overnight stops are not recommended. Anchor in 12-15 metres away from the coral heads. There is good snorkelling here.

This anchorage is the main point of entry to Havelock Island with daily ferries arriving from Port Blair and other islands.

The village has a friendly atmosphere with a variety of stores selling fresh goods and general supplies. Land your tender on the beach to the west of the jetty. There are a couple of suitable places to anchor on either side of the marked channel.

On approach, call Havelock Port Control on Ch.16. The approach to this anchorage is well marked and lit. When approaching from the east, watch the northern point of Havelock as the reef extends further than expected.

On the southern point of Peel Island, opposite the jetty, there is good holding on a sandy bottom in 8-12 metres. This is away from the jetty, reducing noise from approaching vessels, but is prone to mosquitoes.

Otherwise anchor on the west side of the jetty, off the beach in 6-8 metres on a sandy bottom, but watch out for the coral bombies and the fringing reef.

To the east of Havelock are some reefs and ledges that are great for diving. Minerva ledge is extensive with a number of good dive sites but very strong currents.

Anchor in 12-18 metres on the east side of the southern point of the island on the sandy bottom; watch out for the edge of the reef.

There is good snorkelling and diving along the reef edge and good fishing. While the extended reef offers some protection, if the swell rolls in from the northeast, it is better to move north to anchorage (E).

The west side of Henry Lawrence Island provides a well protected anchorage in strong North-Easterlies. Kwangtung Strait is entirely navigable with a deep water channel throughout.

Anchor in 15-20 metres on a sandy bottom anywhere along the eastern side of the straight. Good holding and very well protected. Strong currents.

The fringing mangroves are interesting to explore by dinghy or kayak with many crabs, monitor lizards, sea eagles and the occasional dugong.

The northern side of the strait in the narrows has an interesting drift dive but visibility is poor.

Beautiful anchorage away from the villages on Havelock. Anchor in 12-15m clear of the reef edge. Great fishing along the reef edge to the southern point. Good snorkelling.

Well protected anchorage off the white beach that stretches around Neill to the north.

There is good snorkelling to the south along the reef edge. The reef to the south of this anchorage extends much further to the west of Neill Island than is charted.

Ashore along the northern facing coast there is a small backpacker resort and restaurant.

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Charka Juru & Inglis

Superb protection in this anchorage, especially at the start and end of the season when the wind can blow strongly from the South-East. Anchor in 20-25 metres clear of the reef edge.

The island is inhabited by a single lonely dog that swims out to boats for company or food.

Idyllic anchorage in calm weather immediately off the small white beach on Henry Lawrence Island. Approach from the north with care as the reef comes up vertically from 12 metres; anchor in 20 metres and back in slowly.

Great snorkelling along the reef, superb kayaking in the mangrove estuaries to the south-east and a perfect white beach backed by tropical rainforest. This anchorage is not suitable overnight in strong North Easterly conditions.

A well protected anchorage in strong North-Easterlies, tucked behind the fringing reef. Anchor in 12 metres on a sand bottom just off the low sandstone cliffs.

Superb fishing along the reef edge with many giant groupers. It may be possible to surf off this reef during the North-Easterlies as there is a substantial left hand break. The reef off the south point of Outram Island extends much further south than is charted.

This magnificent island makes the effort of getting to the Andamans worthwhile. The island is deserted, covered with pristine rainforest and surrounded by white beaches and coral reefs.

Anchor about 200m due west of the end of the sand spit in 6-8 metres on a sand bottom. There is all tide dinghy access on to the sand spit. This anchorage is not suitable in easterly winds of more than 20 knots. The off-lying rocks to the north of Inglis Island do not appear on Admiralty charts.

Anchor in 8 metres on a white sand bottom. The channel between Inglis and Henry Lawrence Island is easily navigable. This anchorage is not suitable in easterly winds of more than 20 knots. Inglis Island is ideal for a walk around but keep an eye open for snakes.

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The Button Islands

The Button Islands have idyllic deserted beaches and stunning underwater life.

The horseshoe bay on the southern side provides excellent protection. Anchor in 10-12 metres on a sandy bottom, well clear of the reef.

The sand spit at the western end Button provides all-tide dinghy access to the beach.

This anchorage is easy to enter at night if returning from the volcano islands of Narcondam or Barren.

The snorkelling and swimming here are superb with manta rays, dolphins and giant leatherback turtles frequently seen.

Anchor in 25 metres on sand in the position shown keeping well clear of the reef edge (if you anchor any shallower than this then you will be destroying magnificent coral fans).

There is sometimes a small mooring close to the southern reef edge which is suitable for tying your dinghy up. There is great diving around this island and spectacular snorkelling – particularly off the north eastern side.

Middle Button has a striking sandy spit off the south east of the island. Anchor in 12 metres on sand avoiding the coral bombies. There is great snorkelling here.

If you go ashore here take your ship’s papers and approved itinerary with you; the forestry officers who live here will want to see them.

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Maya Bandar & Austen Strait

About 50 miles north of the Button Group, Maya Bandar is the administration centre for Middle and North Andaman.

Call on Ch.16 on approach and report to the harbourmaster’s office on arrival. Fresh vegetables, meat and fish are available, as are telephone and fax facilities.

There is a government rest house close to the harbourmaster’s office overlooking the bay, with a good restaurant and friendly people.

Austen Strait is too shallow to be navigable by a keel boat but is a very interesting dinghy trip.

Be aware that there are many very large salt water crocodiles that live in Austen Strait, so keep a good lookout.

Anchor in 7-10 metres off Alves Island (a small backpacker camping area) about 2 miles from the village. Take the tender ashore. There is good coral off Alves Island.

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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