MAURITIUS,
2527 (INT 77397)
	These are described the sea passages around the Island of Mauritius (20° 17’.00S, 57° 35’.00E) and the ports, harbours 	and anchorages thereof. It is arranged as follows :
	West coast
	Port Louis
	North –west coast 
	South  coast.
	Grand Port and approaches  
	North – east coast 
	Offshore islands
Topography  
	1	Mauritius is of volcanic origin and mountainous, reaching elevations of over 800m with lower slopes mostly 	cultivated, upper slopes forested. The narrow coastal plain is partially wooded with tall hardwood trees. Numerous 	rivers flow through deep ravines, little more than streams during the dry season but becoming raging torrents after 	heavy rains. They are generally not navigable beyond the entrances.

	2	Irregular coastline rises abruptly from the sea, and is mostly fringed with extensive, steep -to coral reefs. 	There are a number of small natural harbours.

	Several small islands lie off the N end of the main island.
	
Marine Parks 
	Balaclava Marine Park is bounded as follows:
	a)	20° 03’ .48S, 57°31’.27E
  	b)	20° 05’ .44S, 57° 30’.52E
	c)	20° 05’ .44S, 57° 29’.90E
	d)	20° 03’ .48S, 57° 30’.46E

	Blue Bay Marine Park is bounded as follows:
	a)	20° 26’.74 S, 57° 42’.99E
	b)	20° 27’.45 S, 57° 43’.37E
	c)	20° 27’.79S, 57° 42’.47E
	d)	20° 27’.41S, 57° 42’.06E

	The above marine parks are regulated areas and unauthorized entry is prohibited. For further information, contact 	Ministry of Fisheries, Mauritius.

	Offshore fishing
	Fishing with deep longlines is common.	

        Fish aggregating devices. Attention is drawn to the note on chart 2527.

Rescue: The SAR operation and reporting system are managed by Mauritius National      Coast Guard which can be 	contacted 	through the coast radio station.

Natural conditions

Currents: Mauritius lies within the South Equatorial Current. In the vicinity of the island, the constancy of the current is 	moderate to low, but generally higher towards the N than the S. It sets mainly W or SW at a rate of about 1 kn which 	occasionally reaches 3 kn, but currents setting between E and N at similar rates may be more common for short periods, 	particularly S of the Island and especially from April to June and October to December.

Rollers : affect  the island.

Cyclones: frequent in summer, from December to April.

Ocean route 
	A route from Selat Benggala  (5°50’.00N, 95°00’.00E) at the NW extremity of Sumatera  and South Africa passes N of 	Mauritius. Details of the route are given in Ocean Passages for the World. 

West Coast of Mauritius
Route: 	From a position SW of Pointe Sub Quest (20° 27’.89S,  57° 18’.77E), the route leads NNE, about 22 miles, to a position 	WNW of  Pointe aux Sables (20° 10’.53S, 57° 25’.87E).

Topography: The  W part of Mauritius is mountainous,  with spurs reaching the coast near Pointe Sud Quest (20° 27’.89S, 57° 	18’.77E), and S of Baie du Tamarin (20° 19’ .40S 57° 21’.80E), around which  there is extensive coral development.

	The coast N of Baie du Tamarin is low, fronted with coral shelving into deep water 1 mile offshore. Farther N are 	steep –to cliffs fronted by small banks of coral.

	Several rivers empty into shallow bays along this part of the coast.

	The waters off the W coast of Mauritius are deep and clear of charted dangers  outside the coastal reefs Which, at the 	S end of the coast, extend 21/2  miles offshore.

Tidal streams
	The streams setting NNE and ESE on a rising tide over a bank W of Pointe Sub Quest are said to start about 1 hour 	after moonrise. At spring tides, they cause considerable turbulence.

Principal marks 
Landmarks:
	Le  Morne Brabant (20° 27’. 24S, 57° 19’.48E),  an isolated  flat–topped mountain rising from the small peninsula 	which ends in Pointe Sud Quset , 1¼ miles SW.
	Piton de la Petite Riviere Noire (20° 24’.59S, 57° 24’.59E), a pointed peak which appears dark In good visibility and 	is the highest summit  on Mauritius. 
 
	Radio masts (obstruction lights) (20° 20’.67S, 57° 30’.75E).

	Montage du Rempart (20° 18’.28S, 57° 25’.73E), Three needle –pointed peaks. 

	Piton du Milieu (20° 17’.38S, 57° 35’.44E), a steep-sided cone.

	Corps de Grade (20° 15’. 55S, 57° 27’ 09E), a straight, vertical shoulder.

	Le Pounce (20° 11’.90S, 57° 31’.73E) 

	Pieter Both. (20° 11’.50S, 57° 33’.40E) 

	Signal Mountain (20°10’ .34S 57°29’ .50E). The higher peaks of these landmarks consists of barren basaltic columns 	frequently  obscured by cloud. 

Major light   
	Pointe aux Caves Light (white concrete tower, two red bands, 29m in height), (20° 11’.47S, 57° 24’.69E).

Coastal passage    
	From a position SW of Pointe Sub Quest (20° 27’.89S 57° 18’.77E), the track leads NNE for about 23 miles to a position 	WNW of Pointe aux Sables (20°10’ .53S 57°25’.87E), passing:
        WNF of Le Morne  Brabant (20° 26’.35S, 57°19’.30E), on which stands a prominent  
	hotel, thence:    
        WNW of lle aux Benitiers  (20°25’ .15S, 57°20’ .72E), lying on an extensive coral reef 	obstructing  the bay N of 	Pointe Pecheurs  llot du  Morne, thence:		
        WNW of La Preneuse (20° 21’.29S, 57° 21’.74E),on which stands a Martello tower and a ruined battery, thence:					
        WNW of Pointe DU Tamarin 20° 20’.09S, 57° 21’.99E),  the  SW entrance point into Baie du Tamarin, thence:					
        WNW of Pointe aux Caves Light (20°11’ .47S, 57°24’ .69E)
									
	The track then continues NNE for about 1½ miles to a position WNW of Pointe aux Sables (20° 10’.53S, 57° 25’.87E).	
					
Caution.  Numerous buoys marking fish aggregating 	devices are moored between 2 and 13 miles offshore. 
	 
Useful mark:  Tamarin Mountain (20° 20’.88S, 57° 22’.58E).	
	 
Anchorages and harbours 			 
Petite Reviere Noire Bay				
	Relatively smooth water can be found for about 1½ miles within the narrow entrance to Petite Riviere Noir Bay, close S 	of Hermione Spit (20° 22’.16S, 57°21’.26E), thence the bay is shallow.

Grande Riviere Noire Bay
	rande  Riviere  Noire Bay (20°21’.82S, 57°21’.26E) is an opening in the coastal reef which lies between the mountain. 	The bay may afford a fairly good anchorage but, during W winds, a very high swell sets in which is least felt towards 	the N side. Vessels should be prepared to depart at short notice.

Directions.  From a position WNW of L’Harmonie (20° 22’.30S,  57°21’.64E), the track leads E for about 3 miles, passing:
	N of a 9.1m patch  (20° 22’.18S,  57° 20’.79E) thence:
	N of  L ‘Harmonie, a township  standing on the S side of the bay, thence:

	Between the drying reefs extending 5 to 6 cables from either side of the bay The reefs dry and are easily seen, while 	the sea breaks heavily over Hermione Spit (20° 22’.16S,  57° 21’.26E) which forms the outer end of the reef extending 	from L’Harmonie.

	A shallow bar, subject to constant change during freshets in the rainy season from
	January to March, lies in the mouth of Grande Riviere Noire (20° 22’.00S, 57° 22’.50E),
	Which flows into the head of the bay.

Useful marks:    
	Martello tower (20° 21’.28S,  57° 21’.73E).
	Tamarin Mountain  (20° 20’.88S, 57° 22’.58E).

	The bay is easily identified by these marks. A second Martello tower, close SE
	of L’Harmonie, cannot be seen from seaward.

	Anchorage may be obtained in 10 to 27m, sand, mud and coral.

Supplies.  Fresh provisions.   	

Baie du Tamarin
	It is not recommended to anchor in Baie du Tamarin (20° 19’.40S,  57° 21’.80E), although depths are convenient.  The 	bay is open westward and the holding ground is bad.
		
							
		
