Mauritius - diving

Diving attracts many tourists to the island of Mauritius . Since along the entire coast of the island stretches the barrier reef, lovers of snorkeling here nature created excellent conditions.

Interest adds that divers can admire not only corals and fish, but also sunken ships, as well as mysterious underwater caves. From the sea inhabitants there are stingrays, sharks (white-tip, tiger and reef), lobsters and sea turtles.

Features of diving in Mauritius

It is believed that diving in Mauritius all-year-round, but there is a seasonality associated with the possibility of storms in January and July-August. Optimal conditions for diving are observed in April-June and in September-February.

Mauritius is well suited for beginners diving. Here you can organize simple dives in shallow lagoons, which will give a lot of emotions. For divers with diving experience here, of course, will also be pleasant, but will not be a discovery.

The island has opened up to 30 official dive centers (sites), which are united by the Association of the Mauritius Scuba Diving Association, MSDA. All these centers are located near the resorts, as well as in hotels that have 5 or 4 stars. Their mode of operation is up to 15-00, daily dives are carried out from 9 to 13.

The centers are grouped into 6 zones:

  1. Western (coast of Flic en Flac and Volmar) . The best places: Cathedral (22 m., The presence of rocks with grottoes, an interesting fauna, a cave resembling a temple - the Cathedral); Couline-Bambou (25 m., Diverse landscape with bridges, crevices, trumpets, representatives of fauna: rays, tuna, sharks); Shark Place (45 m., Full of marine predators: barracuda, stingrays, sharks); Rempart Serpent (25 m, a place for experienced divers, a rich fauna and a rocky wall at the bottom).
  2. South-western (with the peninsula of Le Morne inclusive) . The best place for diving here is La Passe (Straits). It is characterized by an average depth of 12 m, a diverse fauna. It also causes interest in Needle Hole with the same average depth. It is considered an excellent place to photograph underwater.
  3. North-western (Pointe-o-Piman-Pointe-o-Canognier) . The best places: Stella Maru (23 m., Japanese trawler at the bottom, the flora is not so rich, but the fauna is diverse); Stenopus Reef (average depth is 29 m., Abundance of tropical fish and interesting corals); Peter Holt's Rock or The Boulders (an average depth of 18 m, interesting basalt cliffs with grottoes, a variety of marine animals).
  4. Northern (Pointe-o-Canonelle - Grand-Gob) . Best places: Aquarium, Pointe Vacoas, Pointe Vacoas, Tortoise. Il-Plat or Flat Island (Me Plate) is recommended only for experienced divers, since there is a strong surf here. Among the best places are also La Passe de Belle Mare, Pigeon House Rock, Bain Boeuf.
  5. Eastern (from the Post-de-Flac to the Grand-Rivière-Sud-Est) . Wonderful experiences await in La Passe de Belle Mare, here 5 divecentres. Passe de Trou d'Eau Douce is optimal for drift diving.
  6. South (around two centers: Pointe-Jerome and Blue Bay) . In the center of the Blue Lagoon, you can simply dive with a mask and fins, as the average depth here is 7 m. Among the best places recommend such: Sirius, Colorado, Roches Zozo.

The best area is the north of the island . These are lagoons on the coast of the Ile d'Ambre islands, Me-o-Serpents, Quen de Mir, Gabrielle, Il-Rond, Ile-Plat. Here, divers are waited all year round, and from September to March visibility is the best (up to 20 m.) And large fish just swim to shore to feed themselves.

What can you see?

Almost all kinds of fish of the Indian Ocean are found in the coastal zone. Also, the marine flora of Mauritius is rich. It is carefully guarded: in Mauritius, even boats can not be anchored: it is forbidden by the government to not injure corals. Boats use special buoys with weighting.

Of particular interest is diving near Flic en Flac, where there is a series of underwater caves (the Cathedral, Serpentine Val), and also in the St-Jacques strait, where at a depth of 20-40 m, divers can view wrecks.

Conditions for diving in Mauritius

When the island is winter, the water warms up to 23-24 degrees, during the summer the temperature is higher - +28. There may be weak currents, they do not interfere with immersions and do not obstruct visibility. Night diving is popular.

Shallow lagoons are formed by a barrier reef off the coast, then the bottom goes into a slope that reaches a great depth. Already at 1 m from the coast, the water depth is 70 m. But it is not necessary to dive so deeply, since the depth of 20-25 m is the most interesting for diving.

Variety of services

Diving is available in any form. You can book a course for beginners in the pool and lagoon, buy a package of individual dives or dives with an instructor. There is an opportunity to experience night dives, to go on a safari.

Security

Diving always requires strict adherence to safety rules. Mauritius should also take into account the presence of marine fauna, which is dangerous. How to behave, what to touch under water, and what - no, the instructor will tell. Following the rules, it is easy to protect yourself from the consequences of communication with the triggerfish, electric eel, etc.

Diving in Mauritius: "for" and "against"

Benefits:

A disadvantage for experienced divers is that diving here is not extreme. Recommended for beginners or experienced divers, and hunting for new impressions from the richness of marine nature and wildlife.

Arguments for diving in Mauritius are much greater than against. Simply if you have already plunged into various resorts and not only, study the features of the offers of different diving centers to choose those places and the type of service that will not disappoint you, but will bring new impressions.