Chera Dip is the southernmost point of Bangladesh, just off Saint Martin's southern tip. How to get there at low tide or by boat, what to bring, and how to visit without harming it.
Chera Dip (also written Chhera Dwip or Cheradip) is the southernmost point of Bangladesh: a cluster of small islets just off the southern end of Saint Martin's Island. The name means “the island that broke away”. For many visitors it's the highlight of the trip, and it rewards a little planning, because the tide decides when you can walk there.
The rules mentioned here are last season's (2025–26). When we wrote this (October 2026), the government hadn't published the 2026–27 rules; we'll update this article when it does.
What Chera Dip is like
Expect rocks, sand, clear water and open sky rather than shops and crowds. There's little shade and only a couple of tea stalls, so treat it as a short expedition: bring what you need, and take everything back with you.
Chera Dip is part of Saint Martin's, a government-declared Ecologically Critical Area. The rocks, the coral and the sea life are what make it special, and they're easy to damage.
Two ways to get there
- Walk across at low tide. From the south of Saint Martin's you can walk over sand and rocks to Chera Dip when the tide is out. At high tide the sea cuts it off.
- Take a boat from the main jetty. Boats also go to Chera Dip from the jetty at the north end of the island.
If you're starting from the jetty side, the south of the island is a short ride away by local van, rickshaw or bike. If you're staying with us near Chera Dip, you're already at the right end of the island and can simply set off on foot.
Check the tide before you go
The walk only works at low tide. Check the tide times for your day before you set out, and leave yourself enough time to come back before the water rises. If the tide doesn't suit your plans, take a boat instead. If you're staying with us, ask at the resort before you set off.
Go early
Early morning is the best time. It's cooler, the light is soft, and you get Chera Dip almost to yourself before the day-trippers arrive from the ships, which dock around midday. Staying near Chera Dip is what makes an early start easy.
What to bring
- Water in a refillable bottle (polythene bags are banned on the island)
- A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Sandals or water shoes for the rocks
- A little cash for tea or a boat
- A bag to carry your rubbish back
Visit without harming it
Last season (2025–26) the government's rules for visitors to Saint Martin's included these, and they matter most at Chera Dip:
- Don't harm or collect coral, turtles, birds, crabs, starfish or seaweed.
- No polythene bags. Avoid single-use plastic, and bring a refillable bottle.
- No motorbikes, sea bikes or other motor vehicles on the beach.
- Keep out of the keya (screwpine) forest, and don't pick, buy or sell keya fruit.
Leave the rocks and shells where they are, and take every bit of rubbish back with you. The season and the rest of the rules are in our Saint Martin's Island travel guide.
Stay near Chera Dip
El Marena Eco Resort is near Chera Dip beach, at the quiet southern end of the island. Stay a night and you can watch the sunset over the rocks, see the stars after dark and walk to Chera Dip at first light. The way here from Cox's Bazar is in our article on how to go to Saint Martin.
