Isla Ampon
We anchored at 08 30.449N 79 01.420W
14ft of water
SUMMARY
Fuel - No
Cell Service - No
Wifi - No
Dingy Landing - Yes - Rocky
Garbage - No
Potable Water - No
Showers - No
Laundry - No
Groceries- No
ATM - No
Water Taxi - No
Cell Service - No
Wifi - No
Dingy Landing - Yes - Rocky
Garbage - No
Potable Water - No
Showers - No
Laundry - No
Groceries- No
ATM - No
Water Taxi - No
Isla Ampon
Isla Ampon was a great little hideout for us while we waited for some weather that was blowing through. It’s a nice anchorage with protection from most sides, no current and great holding.
It is also really isolated here. In four days the only other life we saw was occasionally one panga in the distance and a few lights on one of the other islands. It’s a good place to get away from it all. It’s not so good if you are ready for a little social interaction. There is also no cell service.
It is also really isolated here. In four days the only other life we saw was occasionally one panga in the distance and a few lights on one of the other islands. It’s a good place to get away from it all. It’s not so good if you are ready for a little social interaction. There is also no cell service.
Anchoring
Approach
The approach is a passage through two guarding reefs. There are rocky reefs to the north and south of the entrance channel. You should note that the reefs are covered at high tide.
You can either approach carefully at low tide when you can see the hazards or follow waypoints and watch your depth. We chose to enter at low tide and still follow the waypoints.
Overall we came in initially from the NE and then the East through the pass. The lowest depth we saw was 10ft at low tide.
We followed waypoints initially determined by SV Jacaranda for the approach and passage.
WP01 08 30.2817 N 079 00.6800 W - Approach Waypoint
WP02 08 30.2842 N 079 00.9991 W - Through the reefs
Anchor Depth – 14ft
Once inside the protection of the reefs the area that is 10ft deep or more is huge. We took soundings with the dinghy and it is a very shallow slope until you are close to shore. The bottom seems to be all sandy mud with excellent holding.
Water temp and Clarity
Water temp was 82 and the clarity was only 5 or 10ft.
I think that the sediment in the bottom gets stirred up and doesn't have any place to go..
Prevailing Wind and Swell - October
It was rainy season and we saw wind mostly from southerly directions.
The anchorage has good protection from most sides except at high tide where it has some exposure to the Northeast. The swell is generally from the south west to south east.
The approach is a passage through two guarding reefs. There are rocky reefs to the north and south of the entrance channel. You should note that the reefs are covered at high tide.
You can either approach carefully at low tide when you can see the hazards or follow waypoints and watch your depth. We chose to enter at low tide and still follow the waypoints.
Overall we came in initially from the NE and then the East through the pass. The lowest depth we saw was 10ft at low tide.
We followed waypoints initially determined by SV Jacaranda for the approach and passage.
WP01 08 30.2817 N 079 00.6800 W - Approach Waypoint
WP02 08 30.2842 N 079 00.9991 W - Through the reefs
Anchor Depth – 14ft
Once inside the protection of the reefs the area that is 10ft deep or more is huge. We took soundings with the dinghy and it is a very shallow slope until you are close to shore. The bottom seems to be all sandy mud with excellent holding.
Water temp and Clarity
Water temp was 82 and the clarity was only 5 or 10ft.
I think that the sediment in the bottom gets stirred up and doesn't have any place to go..
Prevailing Wind and Swell - October
It was rainy season and we saw wind mostly from southerly directions.
The anchorage has good protection from most sides except at high tide where it has some exposure to the Northeast. The swell is generally from the south west to south east.
Dinghy Landing
Lots of easy landings on rocky shores.
Things to Do
There is a small town just on the other side of Isla Ampon that might be good for a little adventure. We didn't go there but it is reported to have a small store.
ANNOYANCES
Mosquitoes and other flying critters if the wind dies down.
A quick 360 view of the anchorage.
|
Download our Google Earth KAP files for use in OpenCPN. | ||
|
Download our gpx track to see our approach to this area
| ||