Flying Fish Cove - Local Customs

Where is Flying Fish Cove?

Flying Fish Cove is situated on the western side of the headland forming the north-eastern part of Christmas Island and is the only safe anchorage on the island.

Because the island is the tip of an ancient volcano, depths go from 200 meters when about 200 meters offshore to depths of 2000 meters when three to four miles offshore.

Great Britain annexed the island in June 1888.  Flying Fish Cove was first settled soon after when George Clunies-Ross, who owned the nearby Cocos Keeling Islands, sent his brother Andrew and a small party of Cocos Malay workers to pre-empt any other claim to the island.

Flying Fish Cove is fronted by a coral shelf with white sand, which extends a short distance offshore. It is a popular recreational area for swimming, snorkelling and diving, canoeing and other aquatic activities.

Entrance Notes or Cautions for Flying Fish Cove:

1. A visit should be avoided during the monsoon season between November and April, however, in the Tradewinds season when the winds stay in the SE, the anchorage is generally very acceptable.
2. Flying Fish Cove handles commercial shipping operations including rock phosphate vessels, small bulk tankers with bulk ULP cargo and general cargo vessels.
3. The large buoys of the main mooring systems are for commercial shipping operations and may not be used.
4. Anchoring is strictly forbidden without permission from the PM/HM. Use of mooring buoys is mandatory.
5. There is an eight (8) knot speed limit in the Cove.
6. The jetty in Flying Fish Cove is an integral part of commercial shipping operations. The gantry crane is used to launch and recover the port work vessels. The jetty area under the gantry crane extensions must be kept clear of dinghies at all times.

For more information, see the Christmas Island Visitor website.

Cruiser Highlights for Christmas Island:

Good stopping off point for yachts on passage to or from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.  It is possible to provision here for an Indian Ocean crossing.  Food is expensive but alcohol is tax-free and mooring is cheap for the duration of your stay.  Wide variety of cultural, historical and natural tourism options including fishing, cave exploration, birdwatching and the annual Christmas Island Red Crab migration.

Position:

10°25.58'S, 105°40.08'E.

Last updated: August 2024