British Indian Ocean Territory Travel Guide

The Chagos Archipelago (pronounced /ˈtʃɑːɡoʊs/ or /ˈtʃɑːɡəs/; formerly, Oil Islands) is a group of seven atolls comprising more than 60 individual tropical islands roughly in the centre of the Indian Ocean.

The Chagos lies about 500 km (300 miles) due south of the Maldives, its nearest neighbour, 1600 km (1000 miles) southwest of India, half way between Tanzania and Java.

The Chagos group is a combination of different coralline structures topping a submarine ridge running southwards across the centre of the Indian Ocean, formed by volcanoes above the Réunion hotspot. Unlike in the Maldives there is not a clearly discernible pattern of arrayed atolls, which makes the whole archipelago look somewhat chaotic. Most of the coralline structures of the Chagos are submerged reefs.

Officially part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, the Chagos were home to the Chagossians for more than a century and a half until the United Kingdom and the United States expelled them in the 1960s in order to allow the US to build a military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands. The deal was sanctioned by the then British Secretary of State for Defence, Denis Healey.

As a British territory, all U.S. civilian and military personnel residing on the island are governed by British Indian Ocean Territory, or BIOT, law. These laws often differ from those in the United States, so attending island indoctrination to find out more is very worthwhile. Although it is a British Territory, there are fewer than 50 British personnel on the island. The majority of these people form Naval Party 1002. Split between Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel, the Naval Party performs civil administration on Diego Garcia. Its members are tasked with either policing the locality or carrying out the duties of port or airport customs officers. In addition, the Royal Marines form a detachment that provides security for Diego Garcia and the outer islands. The head of the BIOT Administration and the commanding officer of Naval Party 1002 is a Royal Navy commander. As the British representative, he/she fulfills a number of functions, which include positions as the magistrate, coroner and registrar of marriages. Further, the British representative and his team take a great deal of interest in conservation issues. Diego Garcia and the other islands within BIOT are largely unspoiled, and it is important they remain so. On Diego Garcia, the old East Point Plantation area remains completely untouched since the days of the early copra plantation. Development and construction are not permitted in this area. Entrance to the plantation is restricted and a pass must be obtained from the BIOT Police Station. The British wish you an enjoyable stay on Diego Garcia. Upon your arrival, please familiarize yourself with BIOT regulations and try to preserve the island's ecology.