Are There Any Truly Deserted Tropical Islands Left ?

[Piney]

Are there any truly deserted tropical islands left? The south pacific seems to be fairly crowded these days. Looking at Google earth, most of the really desolate atolls are inhabited or at least have a large number of boats anchored nearby..

Maybe there are just too many people in the world nowdays to live like a shipwrecked recluse.

Inspired by the book " An Island to Oneself ", I would just love to disappear and live a lonely life on an isolated tropical island.

Such as to daydream....

[ReMetau]

I'm sure there are tons of them, but most likely no fresh water to found.

[Piney]

If there is sunlight.. A fresnal lens still we easily produce enough fresh water from sea water to survive on.

Food may be the challenge.

[barnakiel]

Countless.

They are off the track of the mass sailor.

The trick is that 90% of them are not easily accessible - go in a cat and anchor beyond the reef, then commute by dinghy (you will need a good dinghy with a good outboard - in most cases. You will also need extra crew - to take care of the boat while you explore your paradise.

b.

[Piney]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Countless.

They are off the track of the mass sailor.

The trick is that 90% of them are not easily accessible - go in a cat and anchor beyond the reef, then commute by dinghy (you will need a good dinghy with a good outboard - in most cases. You will also need extra crew - to take care of the boat while you explore your paradise.

b.

Thanks, this is really encouraging news.. It sounds like some geographical research is in order. Any clues to what part of the world to start looking?

Although this may sound like a madman’s pipedream, I am really serious about this subject..

[Jamel]

Google Chagos in Indian Ocean. It was fantastic 20yrs ago, might be a bit spoilt now!

[Ellis McKinley]

You might think about the San Blas Islands in Panama. Click on the Cruising Quest link below and see article titled Fantasy Island. Many of the San Blas are populated but only by a village or in some cases just a hut or two. There are lots of uninhabited islands. The Kuna indians are around, but in the easternmost traditional islands they don't bother you much other than to ask if you want to buy their catch of the day for a couple of bucks. The Kunas do get a bit pushy on the western side of the islands, but you just shoo them away.

[Piney]

The Chagos Islands are beautiful.. Sadly, it looks like it may not be a peacful retreat anymore..

Some info I found on the islands:

Chagos Islands, once home to a native population known as Ilois, or Chagossians, lies in the Indian Ocean approximately 500 kilometers south of the Maldives.

The native population were deported by the British government in the late sixties and early seventies to fulfill the terms of a leasing agreement to depopulate the islands, initally a communication centre, later to became a US military base on the main island of Diego Garcia during the cold war.

Today, Chagos archipelago is a military zone and has served in launching B52's during operation Desert Fox in '98 in Iraq, and the various bombing attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq thereafter.

The surviving Ilois are still fighting for the return of their country via British courts. The current lease expires in 2016 but has an option to renew for an additional 50 years.

Only US and UK military personnel or contract workers servicing the military and the odd detainees at the local correction facility named Camp Justice may enjoy the sights of Diego Garcia.



Thanks for the Cruising Quest link.. Interesting site

[Piney]

Originally Posted by Ellis McKinley

You might think about the San Blas Islands in Panama. Click on the Cruising Quest link below and see article titled Fantasy Island. Many of the San Blas are populated but only by a village or in some cases just a hut or two. There are lots of uninhabited islands. The Kuna indians are around, but in the easternmost traditional islands they don't bother you much other than to ask if you want to buy their catch of the day for a couple of bucks. The Kunas do get a bit pushy on the western side of the islands, but you just shoo them away.

Great story. To me, this is what cruising ia all about.

[S/V Alchemy]

There are unpopulated atolls aplenty in French Polynesia and Micronesia and the Solomons, but there is usually a reason why. Some are nature preserves (no or very restricted access) and others are poorly charted or have no water whatsoever.

You need a specially equipped boat to safely explore some of these, because there aren't usually chopper crews ten minutes' flight time away to save your backside when you come a-cropper. Not to dissuade you, but aside from heating fuel and extra parkas, I don't see the preparations as being much different from visiting Svalbard or Antarctica or the Northwest Passage...you are far from aid even if a gadget can send an alert, so a lot of prep and caution is required.

[Piney]

because there aren't usually chopper crews ten minutes' flight time away to save your backside when you come a-cropper

Thats exactly what I am looking for..

[John A]

Why the heck would I announce on an international forum my favorite deserted places to be?

That's like telling everyone were I like to catch fish.

[atoll]

phoenix islands..................

[Wotname]

Let's not forget that even the deserted islands are still "owned" by some government body or another and most don't take kindly to uninvited "vistors" notwithstanding you being able to stay "under the radar".

[atoll]

sombrero island.....in the caribean