Mauritius: Dive And Discover The Underwater World

Sun, sand, sunsets: did you think Mauritius was just a honeymoon destination? Divers will know better. Mauritius is a year-round diving destination with a wonderful and varied marine life on offer. From sea sponges to reef sharks, diving into the waters will give you a glimpse of the underwater world.

With 330kms of coastline encircled by a coral barrier reef that protects the turquoise lagoons of the island, Mauritius offers exclusive diving experiences. There are passes and wrecks, enough to satisfy beginners and advanced divers. The best part? Most dive sites are close to the shore. Though most of the more challenging dive sites are found outside of the barrier reef, they can still be reached after just a 20-minute boat ride. 

Where to dive in Mauritius

The north

The northern region offers some fascinating dives (13m). Once dive year-long here thanks to colourful corals, abundant aquatic life and wrecks scuttled in order to create artificial reefs. Gunner’s Quoin is located a few kilometers from the northern tip of Mauritius Island where you can see parrotfish. There is also Whale Rock (26-38m), a submerged crater near Ile Ronde, where hammerhead sharks can be spotted. There’s also Holt’s Rock (16-25m) near Grand Baie where one can dive around rocks, as the name suggests.

The west

A year-round micro climate allows diving all the time, outside the barrier reef. One of the most popular dive sites is located off Flic-en-Flac called Cathedral. The underwater landscape has been formed by currents here and one can discover canyons, chimneys and an impressive array of caves. Further down, close to Le Morne Mountain and up to Black River, the coral sites are very colourful, often visited by dolphins.

The east

The beautiful lagoon that runs along the east coast is scattered with numerous passes through the reef, providing easy access to the deep sea. These areas are rich in plankton and attract a wide variety of pelagic species. Of all the passes, the Belle Mare is arguably the most stunning. Diving here is a real experience due to the strong currents and the spectacular concentration of fish the area attracts. A beginner can head to Blue Bay Marine Park in the south-east part.

Getting there

Air Mauritius offers flights from India. There is a direct flight from Mumbai to Plaine Magnien. Indians have free visa on arrival

Choose a centre that is affiliated with the Mauritian Scuba Diving Association for a safe experience