Bitra Island
	Chart 2126

	General information

	Position:
	Bitra Par (11º33'.00N, 72º10'.00E), an atoll, lies 33 miles WSW of Chetlat Island  from 
	which it is separated by a channel that, when clear of the reefs surrounding the atoll and the island, is deep 
	and free from charted dangers.


	Description:
	The atoll encloses a lagoon; the barrier reef, which dries from 0.3 to 0.9m, is narrow on its W and
 	N sides, but it increases in width on its E and S sides. A light is shown from a white framework tower on Bitra Islet.
	Bitra Islet (Tree Islet), an opening in the reef, close S of Tree Islet, has a depth of 2.7m; boats can enter the 
	lagoon through this opening. It is 5 cables long oriented NW/SE and 1 cable wide. Two sandy cays previously stood on 
	the E part of the reef S of Bitra islets; the sand dries in patches between these cays. 
	Jetty. A jetty is available of 15.30 m in length with the available depth of 1.50 m alongside. 


	Tidal streams:
	 Tidal currents at springs set strongly in and out of the lagoon, and care is necessary when making the anchorage.


	Useful mark:
	Bitra Islet Light (white metal framework tower, red bands, 30 m in height) (11º35'.80N, 72º 11'.40E) stands on Bitra Islet.

	Lagoon:
	 Depths within the lagoon vary from -0.1 to 10.4m. It is encumbered with coral reefs, drying and awash, especially towards 
	S end. In addition to opening in the reef at the southern end, there exists a passage from eastern side of the jetty between coordinates 
	11° 35'.08N, 072° 11'.51E and 11° 35'.10N, 072° 10'.60E. This passage leads clear of the reef inside the lagoon and has minimum depth of 2.4m. 


	Anchorage:
	 Anchorage can be taken in 19.2 m, abreast the opening S of Tree Islet, with the NE extremity of the islet bearing 335°, distant about 0.6 mile.
 	A vessel reported this anchorage was unsafe for a vessel 91.5m in length, and that there was no safe anchorage off Bitra.