With its coral reef, crystal clear waters, mild temperatures, and abundant wildlife, Mauritius is a diving enthusiast’s paradise. Discover the best places to practice this activity!
The seabed around the island of Mauritius hides unparalleled wonders: descending from the paradisiacal turquoise lagoons you can admire the colors of the coral reef, which surrounds the island on three sides for about 300 km, but the natural spectacles of the canyons are also remarkable. Gorges, arches, and forests of marine vegetation, all places where you can spot enchanting fish of all sizes. While diving you will come across moray eels, parrotfish, butterflyfish, multicolored fish, sharks of various races, different kind of turtles, manta rays, hammerheads, and the marbled sea eagle.
When is the best time for diving in this part of the ocean?
Diving is possible all year round, but the best time is from October to March. The water temperature varies from 22° C in July-August to 28° C between December and February. The weather actually makes decisions. The decisive parameter is the wind, especially the southeast trade winds, which causes severe swelling at certain times of the year and reduce visibility.
Some sites are impassable during the austral winter, especially in the southeast and east of Mauritius. Here, some centers offer fallback solutions to the north and west, which are more protected.
Licenses for diving in Mauritius
It equips all the major hotels on the island to offer their customers the tools necessary for these activities, and guides for beginners, but also for demanding dives (up to 40 meters). In some hotels, it is also possible to get PADI and NAUI licenses.
Diving in Mauritius: The best sites
The northern part of the island is perhaps the best known among divers, because of the possibility of diving at Ile Plate and Coin de Mire, the islands off the coast, famous for their wild and unspoiled nature, beautiful dive sites, and varied marine fauna.
Also, to the north, we find Grand Bay, considered the Cote d’Azur of Mauritius for its spectacular bay and marina full of shops, water sports centers, and restaurants. The vast variety of marine fauna and flora makes diving in this place fascinating.
To the north-west, a must-see is Trou aux Biches, famous for its beach of fine sand about 3 kilometers long and the waters full of life. Furthermore, still in this area, it is possible to dive at the Wall Fare, an exciting vertical wall about 100 meters long.
Moving west, we find Flic en Flac, just 30 minutes’ drive from the capital Port Louis. This area, considered among the best for diving in Mauritius, boasts miles of fine beaches and crystal-clear waters, rich and with excellent visibility. Here the most famous diving spots are the sea cave called the Cathedral (Cathedral Cave) and the Bastion Serpent, which takes its name from a rock with a meandering shape about 25 meters deep.
To the east, the most beautiful dive site is Belle Mare, between Cap Malheureux and Maheburg. Its waters are among the deepest in Mauritius and are home to many species of fish, moray eels, sponges, corals, and gray and bull sharks.
The southeastern coast is home to sites of impressive beauty. If you come this far, I will reward you with a profusion of very impressive caves, galleries, and giant arches, and many oceanic fish.
In the island’s south, along the coastal road from Souillac to Baie du Cap, there are many interesting sites, surrounded by unspoiled landscapes and breathtaking views. Basalt walls sheltered sandy bays, waterfalls, and fishing villages make a holiday in this area particularly fascinating. Also, to the south, we find the Blue Bay Marine Park, famous in the underwater world for its coral reef, which forms a lagoon with shallow and turquoise waters and animated by a myriad of marine species.
If you love adrenaline-pumping diving, then a dip at the St. Jacques Pass is the one for you. In this area, it is possible to come across specimens of bull sharks, gray sharks, and white tip sharks.
Mauritius is also a great place for wreck diving enthusiasts. These include the two barges Emily and Waterlily, the Japanese fishing boat Stella Maru and the wrecks Sirius, Tug 11, and Djabeda.