Chagos Archipelago
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| Chagos Archipelago Port of Entry
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 Chagosmap.PNG | |
 Latest News
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| Official policy of BIOT as from January 2011. "The rules governing mooring permits are due to change on 01 January 2011. The fee structure will move to a weekly fee of £50 and the maximum stay permitted will be 28 days. Applications for visits in 2011 that are received in 2010 still attract the old fee of £100 per month but the Commissioner will NOT authorise any permits of more than 3 months." |
An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to Chagos (British Indian Ocean Territory) in the Indian Ocean.
The Chagos Archipelago (formerly Oil Islands) is a group of seven atolls comprising more than 60 individual tropical islands roughly in the centre of the Indian Ocean.
The Chagos lies about 500 km (300 miles) due south of the Maldives, its nearest neighbour, 1600 km (1000 miles) southwest of India, half way between Tanzania and Java.
The Chagos group is a combination of different coralline structures topping a submarine ridge running southwards across the centre of the Indian Ocean, formed by volcanoes above the Réunion hotspot. Unlike in the Maldives there is not a clearly discernible pattern of arrayed atolls, which makes the whole archipelago look somewhat chaotic. Most of the coralline structures of the Chagos are submerged reefs. Officially part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, the Chagos were home to the Chagossians for more than a century and a half until their forced expulsion in the 1960s by the United Kingdom and United States.
The Chagos Archipelago consists of a number of islands, banks, and reefs lying between the parallels of 4º44’S and 7º39’S, and the meridians of 70º50’E and 72º47’E.
Cruising yachts normally arrive around April each year and spend a few months in this idyllic location. Ensure that you arrive with adequate supplies as NOTHING is available locally (except for fish). There are one or two water wells ashore but this water must be boiled and filtered.
Charts
- British Admiralty
- BA3 - Chagos Archipelago
- BA726 - Indian Ocean British Indian Ocean Territories
- BA727 - Peros Banhos to Blenheim Reef including Nelson's Island
Weather
Tropical oceanic climate; hot and humid but moderated by trade winds. Climate is characterised by plenty of sunshine, warm temperatures, showers and light breezes. December through February is considered the rainy season (summer monsoon); typical weather conditions include light west-northwesterly winds and warmer temperatures with more rainfall. June through September is considered the drier season (winter), characterised by moderate south-easterly winds, slightly cooler temperatures and less rainfall. The annual mean rainfall is 2600 mm (100 inches), varying from 105 mm (4 inches) during August to 350 mm (14 inches) during January.
Also see: Weather, Winds and Currents on the Indian Ocean page
Submit the sources of weather forecasting here.
Passages
Islands
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Salomon Islands [[Chagos Archipelago#Salomon Islands|Salomon Islands]] 05°22.0′S, 72°13′E lie on an atoll reef, which encloses a lagoon. Google Earth
Communication
- South Africa Maritime Mobile Net - See Cruiser's Nets for details
- Radio Peri-Peri - See Cruiser's Nets for details
- Maritime Mobile Net South East Asia (MMNETSEA) - See Cruiser's Nets for details
Also see World Cruiser's Nets.
- Caution: It is said that the deeper parts of the banks within the Chagos Archipelago may be crossed when there is not much swell. However, the uncertainty regarding the depths over areas that have been only partially examined, the changeable character of coral reefs, and the unexpected manner in which the sea sometimes breaks, all emphasize the advisability of avoiding the banks. Moreover, it is possible to proceed from island to island without crossing over any of the banks.
Entrance
Note: A permit must be obtained PRIOR to a visit to Chagos. The "Mooring" fee is BP100.00 and application for a permit and payment of the fees must be done in advance. Download the application form and instructions from the Official Website.
Customs and Immigration
Customs
Details?
Immigration
Details?
Fees and Charges
Restrictions
- Anchorage Restrictions are in place and failure to comply can attract hefty fines. See BIOT Mooring sites for details.
- Flora and fauna, such as turtles, coconut crabs, live coral and shells, are protected. No spearfishing is allowed, nor should the heart of palm be taken. The only fishing allowed is by hand line.
Health and Security
Health
Submit any health warnings/information. Remove any of these sections do not apply to this particular country.
Security
Details?
Berthing
Anchorages
The entrance to the lagoon is through a passage on the NW side of the atoll. A least depth of 5.8m (19ft.) may be carried through it, but the bar is impassable during the NW monsoon.
The C-Map chart is reported to be inaccurate. The following waypoints for the entrance are reportedly excellent with the minimum depth of 7m. You will see the reef to port around Ile de la Passe.
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WP1 [[Chagos Archipelago#WP1|WP1]] 05°18.0′S, 72°14.7′E
- WP2 [[Chagos Archipelago#WP2|WP2]] 05°18.2′S, 72°14.2′E
There is a sand patch to starboard inside the entrance where some yachts anchor if there is poor light to traverse the atoll. If visibility is good, make your way over to Ile Anglais keeping a close watch for coral heads. Anchored near Ile Anglais [[Chagos Archipelago#Ile Anglais|Ile Anglais]] 05°19.324'S, 072°14.289'E in 10m coral/sand, flat bottom.
- Peros Banhos [[Chagos Archipelago#Peros Banhos|Peros Banhos]] 05°15′S, 71°46′E
- Diego Garcia [[Chagos Archipelago#Diego Garcia|Diego Garcia]] 05°21′S, 72°28′E is an American Communication base, and is off limits to visitors, except possibly in a dire emergency.
Yacht Services and Repairs
List services. If no services are available on the island write "None" and remove all the subsections (Marine Stores, & Repairs/Yards, & Fuel, Water, & Electricity.
If services are included in specific port pages, the following line is appropriate, otherwise remove it.
Also see each Port.
Marine Stores
Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.
Repairs/Yards
Fuel, Water, & Electricity
- Fuel
- Give details on fuel
- Water
- Give details on water
- Electricity
- Give details on electricity
Things to do Ashore
Tourism
List places of interest, tours, etc.
Grocery & Supply Stores
Eateries
Internet/WiFi
Available?
Laundry
Motorbike & Car Rentals
Garbage Disposal
?
Transportation
List transportation to other countries, or islands.
Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forums
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
Links
- Chagos Archipelago at the Wikipedia
- FCO BIOT website
References
- Indian Ocean Crossing Notes by Tony Herrick
Comments
We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.
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Names: Lighthouse, Peter McHugh |
