Cruising the Anambas Islands

It's been a very long time since I visited the Anambas Islands, namely Pulau Siantan. My last trip there must have been in 1996 with the late Stephen Seow onboard our 28foot Albacores. Anambas is a good 220nm away. If the weather is good we'll take about 10hrs, cruising at a comfortable 22kts to reach that destination. It's about twice the distance to Tioman. Strangely what I remember about Anambas is the poor fishing and that splendid waterfall that ends up pouring all that lovely fresh water into the sea. It did seem such a waste then, but I was told that that waterfall has never ever been dry. Here are some pictures to show the beauty of the Anambas.

Anambas is a group of Indonesian Islands about 220nm from Singapore

We would usually set up base at Pulau Siantan where the main town is situated

A typical water village fringing the sheltered bay of an Island

Being in the middle of the South China Sea, the waters of Anambas is usually crystal clear & free of pollution

Finding a sheltered bay is easy. There are probably a hundred such bays throughout the group of Islands

Nothing like a trawler to make the journey there. Seen here is The Admiral from Marina at Keppel Bay

Many of the locals still use oars to propel their locally built boats. Great exercise actually 

Unbelievably crystal clear waters. 

I recently met Oliver Benoist, the Founder of The Equator Club. He tells me Anambas is probably his most favorite destination and he should know having been there many times. Here's a video of the one of their trips.

More details of The Equator Club can be found on their website: www.theequatorclub.net/