Nador / Bettoya
Mar Chica · Sebkha Bou Areg · Nador lagoon
35°10.2'N 02°55.8'W
Depth
2–4m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
75m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
75m
75m inside the lagoon — fully sheltered, excellent holding on soft mud. Mar Chica is one of the best Levante refuges on the entire Moroccan Med coast. Inside the lagoon, even a 50kt Levanter outside causes minimal disturbance. Set alarm at 75m with confidence.
About This Anchorage
Nador's Mar Chica (Arabic: Sebkha Bou Areg) is the largest coastal lagoon in Morocco — a 25km-long sheltered body of water separated from the Mediterranean by a long sand spit, accessible through the dredged Bettoya (El Bukhalef) entrance channel. For sailors, Mar Chica is the finest Levante refuge on Morocco's Mediterranean coast: while ENE gales lash the open coast, inside the lagoon conditions remain virtually calm. The entrance channel depth is 2.5–3m — suitable for most cruising yachts drawing under 2m. Nador city on the eastern shore is a busy commercial town with good provisioning; the Spanish enclave of Melilla is just 12nm east (EU territory, duty-free). The lagoon is used extensively for aquaculture — mussel farm buoys and fish cages are throughout; navigate carefully with current charts. The surrounding hills and the view east to the Rif Mountains make this an unexpectedly beautiful anchorage.
Protected From
N · NW · W · SW · S · E
Exposed To
None (fully sheltered)
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring in the lagoon; port dues if using Nador port facilities
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Customs at Nador port; entrance channel — contact VHF 16 for depth and traffic; aquaculture zones — navigate around mussel farm buoys; no anchoring within farm areas.
Hazards
- !Entrance channel 2.5–3m — shallow for deeper draught yachts; contact VHF 16 for current depth before approach
- !Aquaculture buoys throughout lagoon — navigate with up-to-date chart or satellite imagery
- !Entrance channel currents from lagoon flushing — approach at slack or with tide flowing in (afternoon)
- !Nador port commercial traffic — fishing fleet and ferries to Spain; keep clear of fairway
- !Chergui (S wind) can raise dust and heat in the lagoon — little shade or breeze in summer
Skipper's Tips
- →Mar Chica is the best Levante refuge on the Moroccan Med — if Levanter is forecast, this is where to be
- →Contact Nador port VHF 16 on approach — they are helpful and give current channel information
- →Melilla (12nm E, Spanish enclave) is a useful supply stop — EU prices, duty-free, good marina
- →The lagoon is best explored by dinghy — fishing villages on the sand spit are accessible and genuinely traditional
- →Aquaculture farms visible on Google Maps/satellite — overlay with chart to identify safe anchoring spots
Facilities
Nador city (eastern shore) has full facilities — excellent fish restaurants, souk, provisions. Spanish influence from Melilla proximity — some Spanish spoken. Fuel in Nador port area.
Nearest provisions: Nador city souk (2nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Sep, Oct
May–October. Lagoon is accessible year-round as a Levante refuge — even winter Levante can be waited out inside. Summer months hot and airless inside the lagoon. Spring and autumn offer the most pleasant conditions. Excellent base for exploring the Rif coast by day.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 75m
On Morocco's Mediterranean coast, the Levante can develop overnight and turn a calm anchorage into a dangerous situation. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — wake up before you drag, not after.
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