Anchoring/Mooring
Anchoring is only permitted in Dzaoudzi where you will arrive to clear in. However, there are Park moorings all around the main island and on some of the smaller islands. Just be careful to match the mooring to your boat weight. The yellow buoys are reserved for boats less than 5T and the white ones for boats less than 11T.
With the winds and currents in the lagoon, ensure you are not anchored too close to the local boats on their moorings. At night, the SE trades often swing into local NW winds and the current can cause boats to lay in a fairly confused order.
This is a protected anchorage in south and east winds but NE winds can cause an uncomfortable chop. When anchoring, be sure your anchor, preferably two anchors, are well dug in. This is a deep anchorage (55 feet). During the northern monsoon, as well as much as 3m can penetrate the bay
Be aware of the large, unlit mooring buoys. A large number of ferries and barges operate between the islands and at nightfall and they moor to these buoys. The process can be noisy and the boats may swing some 60 meters around their moorings.
The Harbour Master at Dzaoudzi ("Charlie Tango") is doing his best to help to arrive yachts. He provides a daily weather report which is posted at the yacht club and at the entrance to the pontoon (in French).
There is a dinghy dock to the south of the ferry landing and the navy/police dock. It is a floating dock, often crowded and can be subject to swell.
The yacht club has the only mooring buoy in Mayotte for visitors. It can be picked up by any visitor free of charge if it is vacant. It is located close to the reef where two wrecks are (one monohull and one catamaran – they are conspicuous). GPS coordinates of the buoy: 12 46.839S / 45 15.823E. This is a good option if vacant as anchoring might mean you are more than a mile from the dinghy landing.
WARNING:
There is a wreck located at 12deg46.435'S, 45deg16.050'E. Part of it is always above the surface as shown in the picture below, but it is unmarked and unlit.
There are lots of nice anchorages nearby, many with moorings.
Last updated: October 2023
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