Chartering the Anambas Islands

The Anambas Islands are a group of over 40 islands that stretch 55 miles North to South and 40 miles East to West. To get there Kemana IV goes across to Bintan, Indonesia a distance of 30 miles from Singapore in order to clear into Indonesia from Bintan, it is a 130 mile run North-East into the South China Sea that takes 5½ hours to Pulau Bawah, the most southerly of the Anambas group. Pulau Bawah is one of the most beautiful of the islands with a sheltered deep water anchorage visit: www.bawahisland.com. You can easily spend 4 days at Bawah enjoying the seclusion and tranquility of these 5 islands. Visit the Anambas Islands for spectacular coral reefs, the water visibility is excellent, the beaches beautiful and the islands are very interesting.

There are 2 main islands Siantan and Djemadja each have a main town and government offices on them. There is a hotel, fuel and ice dock at Terempah where you can refuel and have a meal ashore. From here take the RIB to visit the waterfall that tumbles down into the sea. There is an airport and offshore oilfield supply base both run by Chevron on Matak Island just north of Terempah that services oil and gas fields north of there. Riau Air flies a scheduled air service 3 or 4 times a week with Fokker Friendships to Bintan and Batam.

There is quite a large Chinese community in the two main towns. There are scattered Malay Muslim villages on some of the larger islands and a few Christian Malay fishing communities as well. But most of the islands are deserted, occasionally visited by fishermen or farmers gathering coconuts. These seldom visited islands offer a very extensive cruising ground that are both remote and interesting with many safe anchorages. The water is very clear with lots of good dive sites.

The islands rise upto a maximum height of 500 metres. Many of the islands have coconut or clove groves planted on them, with extensive areas of jungle. Round every rocky headland, you will discover another white sand beach with palm trees leaning over them and more islands. The area is safe. The Indonesian military TNI has a base on Djemadja.

An exploration of most of the area would need at least 8 days and a stop at Terempat (50 miles north of Bawah) to refuel. However, a shorter visit to just Bawah is feasible and very enjoyable.