Gan is the southernmost island of the Addu Atoll as well as the southern most point of the Maldives Archipelago. The Atoll served as a strategic Royal Air Force station (RAF Gan) from 1956 until 1976 and the runway is now used as the Gan International Airport. The islands of Feydhoo, Maradhoo,and Hithadhoo are connected by British-built causeways.
The atoll edge is steep in some places and there are also coral bombies to watch out for but there are places that offer good holding off Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo, or on the north side of the atoll near Manta Point.
Diesel is available and the provisioning is good with a number of supermarkets. Dive with Manta Rays and explore the wreck of a wartime tanker that was sunk in the lagoon.
00° 41'03"S, 73° 08'46"E (Gan harbour entrance)
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We arrived end of the day. Tried 5 times to anchor in front of Equator Village resort and did not succeed because of the steep atol edge. Because it got dark we decided to anchor on 15m sand the North side of the atoll at 0°36.872’S 73°9.249’E . Swimming is not recommended there because of the strong current at Manta Point.
The next morning we received a message from our agent Asad. I can truly recommend Asad from realseahawksmaldives.com. He has a great local agent Mathi, who takes care of clearance and anything you need. The anchoring coordinate at turtle point is 0°40.408’S 73°7.869’E . The atoll is less steep there and offers good holding in sand at 8-12m. There is one coral bommie to watch out for, so check your anchor perimeter.
From there you can dinghy to Feydhoo harbor or Maradhoo harbor. Note that you need permission to enter these harbors with a yacht. Mathi can arrange a diesel truck to fill your tanks. Good provisioning at many supermarkets.
Mathi, many thanks! We really appreciate your help and recommendations.
Notes on the Gan harbor anchorage from Georgia (svjeorgia.blogspot.com)
Gan anchorage
Outside cut: 00*41.0S, 073*08.75E
The cut into the Gan anchorage lies between Gan and Feydhoo islands and is in front of the causeway connecting these islands. The cut is not as apparent as the typical cuts further north and the water is often not clear.
There is a starboard side pole that marks the outer portion of the cut.
There is a starboard side inner pole on the inside of the cut that is not visible at higher tides.
The cut has about 10 feet minimum at low tide.
On the inner, starboard side of the cut is a shallow spot that sticks into the cut. It is often not very visible due to the water clarity. When you get toward the inside of the cut, stay a bit clear of the starboard side ( a little closer to the breakwater wall on your port). You can turn to starboard into the main portion of the anchorage once you have passed the steps that are in the breakwater wall to port.
Directly ahead of the cut as you enter is an open area with no moorings. This is in front of the tied off to the wall Coast Guard and Police boats. We were told we are not allowed to anchor in this area.
The anchorage is very tight, with the reef to the east and the existing local boats on moorings. These moorings are continually used, so don’t expect an empty one to stay empty. The holding varies from good sand to somewhat scoured rubble. The scoured portions are where the current flows under the causeway.
You can’t put out much scope as the winds come from all directions. The anchorage depths range from about 6 feet to 15feet. The anchorage is often rolly at high tide.
Petrol and diesel are available in the Feydho harbour. Take the dinghy 5 minutes to the harbour and head to the back wall where the petrol station is to fill your jerry jugs.
Provioning – there are 3 decent grocery stores within walking distance. The 3S store i just across the street and a little south of the petrol station. Its the best place o get eggs as they use a bright flashlight(torch) to check them before they put them in your container.
We anchored at 00*41.136S, 073*08.608E
Paul