When?
Although you can discover the deep Seychelles all year round, February to May are the best months, when the sea is serene, and October to mid-December, when the current favors the appearance of numerous species. Bottom visibility can exceed 30 m at high tide, and water temperatures reach 30°C. If you're feeling the chill, a 3 mm wetsuit is more than sufficient. Of course, all equipment can be supplied on site. Most centers use internationally approved SCUBA equipment and cylinders. Finally, it's worth pointing out that there is no danger under Seychelles waters. The few fish not to be touched, however, are scorpion-fish and stone-fish.
Mahé, from the marine park to the wrecks
The island of Mahé alone boasts some 50 sites, more than half of which are located between Cap Ternay and the northern tip of the island. In the north, the Baie Ternay marine park offers optimal conditions, notably at Le Phare, a spot with a particularly rich fauna. You can dive to depths of up to 25 m, where imposing jacks stare down at you, while eagle rays look for food. Not far away, Coral Garden, located between 5 and 18 m, is home to groupers, clownfish, glassfish and starfish, which wander between superb coral colonies on a gently sloping sandy bottom. A little higher up, on the northern tip of Mahé, the Îlot is also home to all these beautiful creatures, as well as a few white-tip sharks. The site is particularly popular between October and December, when the whale shark passes through at depths of less than 20 m.
Forty minutes from the main island, you can also opt for the islets of Dragon's Teeth or Brissare Rocks. In the middle of nowhere and at a depth of 20 m, the rocks are home to napoleons, whitetip reef sharks, nurse sharks, fusiliers and the occasional group of eagle rays, while at the end of the year, a few whale sharks can be spotted.
For divers with a pirate's or explorer's soul, Mahé's seabed is home to some wonderful shipwrecks. The Twin Barges are two 25 m barges lying on a 12 and 22 m seabed. Today, white gorgonians and whip gorgonians are home to angelfish, pompano trevally and turtles, while a few barracudas are on the prowl. At the end of the spot, a 15 m long corer, Dredger Wreck, hosts more or less the same fauna in a different setting. The most impressive wreck in the area remains theEnnerdale, a former British tanker 216 m long and weighing almost 30,000 t, which lies at a depth of 30 m. Approximately 7 miles from the capital Victoria (where there is a decompression chamber), the groupers, yellow snappers and groupers that make their home here regularly come across passing sharks and rays. Unfortunately, the wreck is very rickety and dangerous. Find out more.
Silhouette, meeting the sharks
Halfway between Mahé and Silhouette, Shark Bank offers diving between 18 and 30 m amidst granite boulders and coral, in the company of jack fish, barracudas, rays and reef sharks. It is also frequented by whale sharks between October and December.
To the north, Anse Monton is ideal for beginners and snorkeling. Heading south, Black Rock is home to turtles, parrotfish and humphead wrasse, while towards North Island, experienced divers can try to spot manta rays on a calm day. On the way back to Silhouette, you can also explore the Flat Rock caves. Note: Silhouette has a decompression chamber.
Praslin, a vast natural aquarium
The waters around Praslin are rich in underwater treasures, all within a thirty-minute boat ride. Around Aride, on a sandy bottom 16 m deep, more experienced divers can happily (and often alone) wander through a nursery of nurse sharks.
Isolated in the north of the island, Booby Rock is home to an abundance of fauna, from the surface to 20 m depth. Here, giant humphead parrotfish mingle with napoleons and jacks, while whitetip sharks and moray eels are said to have rendezvoused with eagle rays, stingrays and turtles. A little further south, opposite Anse Georgette, you'll find Whale Rock, where coral has taken up residence on numerous rocky heaps. Here you'll find more or less the same species as at Booby Rock, but in a very different setting. The impressive 10 m long tunnel (with its many openings) is a case in point.
Heading towards the south of the island, don't miss the opportunity to take your flippers to Trompeuse Rock, Shark Rock and Caiman Rock. Here, the coral is quite healthy and there are numerous species at depths of up to 22 m.
On the way up to Praslin, you'll discover the immense granite rocks of Channel Rock, which sometimes welcome whale sharks in autumn. The rest of the year, you can spot giant moray eels, napoleons, clownfish, reef sharks, eagle rays and turtles. Then, arriving opposite the sublime Côte d'Or beach, the Saint-Pierre islet is ideal for beginners (baptisms at the various diving centers take place around this rock). Continuing northwards, on the outskirts of Curieuse, Red Point is home to an immense diversity of coral, making it the kingdom of sharks, eagle rays and common jacks. Finally, just north of Praslin, a little off the beaten track, lies Sister Bank, where currents invite stingrays, sharks and yellowfin tuna to come together.
La Digue, exceptional spots
The sister island of Praslin (the two islands are separated by an inlet just 6 km long), located on the same granite bed, is home to some 15 sites. In the south-east, Cheminey Rock is considered one of the best sites in the country, thanks to its calm waters, excellent visibility and reef sharks. Then on to Marianne and its granite cliffs, a veritable cathedral of granite rocks, forming labyrinths, pinnacles and canyons, and home to eagle rays, sharks, turtles, schools of reef fish, as well as incredible bouquets of alcyonaria and beautiful gorgonian fans. On the way back to La Digue, you'll find Félicité, with its wide canyons and nurse sharks. Just south of the island, the shores of Cocos are perfect for snorkeling, while the rocks of Albatros offer a lovely ballet of reef sharks and green turtles, just... three meters from the surface!
We then return to La Digue to drop anchor at the strange islet of Ave Maria, where white-tip sharks, turtles and eagle rays roam. Continuing south, we arrive at the impressive spot of White Bank, home to lutjans, fusiliers, batfish and jacks. Finally, just north of La Digue is the superb snorkeling spot of Anse Sévère.
The other islands, a host of possibilities
Alphonse. In the Amirantes, almost 500 km from Mahé, the sites around Alphonse and the surrounding islands are renowned for their endless crystal-clear lagoons, dense coral cover and excellent visibility. Reef sharks, stingrays, turtles, moray eels, barracudas, tunas, groupers, snappers and jacks make these dives unforgettable. The dive sites are easily accessible (boat trips take between 10 and 30 minutes) and all levels are welcome.
Bird. 100 km from Mahé, snorkeling is easily accessible from the beach. The best time is from October to April, when the sea is at its calmest and hawksbill turtles, green turtles and rays are waiting for you.
Cerf. 4 km from Mahé, in the heart of Sainte-Anne National Marine Park, this island is perfect for snorkeling: you're in the middle of a veritable aquarium!
Cousine. 5 km from Praslin, this island is surrounded by coral reefs and boasts spectacular marine life. A prime spot, with hawksbill turtles in particular coming to lay their eggs on the white sandy beach.
Denis. A 30-minute flight from Mahé, the world of silence here is unforgettable. The reefs here have developed over the last 5,000 to 10,000 years, and many dives take place at the edge of the Seychelles plateau, of which Denis is just one emergence. The seabed plunges from 40 m to almost 2,000 m! More than fifteen spots await divers of all levels: House Reef, Aquarium Reef, White Bank, Boulders, Coral Garden or Bat Fish, to name but a few, promise great memories with manta rays, turtles, grey sharks and tiger sharks.
Desroches. The main island of the Amirantes coral group, 230 km south-west of Mahé, also offers a breathtaking spectacle. The aptly named Aquarium spot will delight snorkelers. But for even more variety, head for fourteen scuba diving sites where, between 12 m and 32 m, from cirques to canyons and caves to tunnels, you'll come across manta rays, eagle rays, turtles, puffer fish, napoleons, barracudas and all manner of sharks.. World-famous spots, including the obscure Big Cave, reserved for experienced divers with an immediate descent to 18 m, Airport Reef, a photographer's paradise in search of macrovia, and the Secret Passage tunnel.
Félicité. 3 km north of La Digue, beneath the surface of this granite island, you'll find wide canyons that are home to nurse sharks.
Frégate. Encircled by a ring of coral 56 km from Mahé, this large granite rock is home to some 15 sites. They are home to giant morays, scorpion fish, lion fish, fusiliers, jacks, barracudas, sharks, butterfly fish, octopus and lobsters. You can also see manta rays, green turtles and dolphins..
North Island. Divers here will appreciate the eight sites located less than 10 minutes away by boat, or the possibility of reaching the Silhouette sites in less than half an hour. Sprat City, The Spot, Fisherman's Plateau, Maria Reef, Teddy Bank, Twin Anchors, The Rock, Cathedral or the famous Shark Bank are nine exceptional dives where you can encounter whitetip sharks, nurse sharks, dolphins, turtles, eagle rays, napoleons and humphead parrots.
Sainte-Anne. Just ten minutes from Mahé, the Sainte-Anne National Marine Park is the perfect place to snorkel between coral and tropical fish.
