A paradise of sensations
When planning a diving trip what we have to keep in mind is that we have to go to a place that attracts our attention outside. like inside the sea. In this way, we will ensure that we make the most of our time.
What can we say about the Seychelles Islands? The first impact occurs when descending the plane ladder and coming into contact with the climate of these latitudes. The warm and humid atmosphere loaded with a suggestive aroma of flowers, which at first can be overwhelming, will become another of the attractions of the trip. When night comes and the land, tired by the torrid heat of the day, gives off a light breeze towards the sea, the air overflows with the perfumes and smells of its wonderful vegetation.
The distances in Mahe, the main island of the archipelago, are short and in one day we can see the most beautiful and interesting places. In addition to visiting its capital, Victoria, we can swim in some of the numerous beaches that appear on both sides of its geography.
Whichever we choose will be splendid, from Tamanaka in the south, to Beau Vallon in the north, through the beautiful and wild Grand Anse in the west. Long sandy expanses or large granite formations alternate along the seashore without interruption, always accompanied by the omnipresent vegetation that often breaks into the water.
The sea that bathes these fantastic beaches is warm, transparent and almost always calm, since at certain times of the year and on certain beaches large breakers form due to the strong tides and currents.
The real protagonist: the sea
But, despite the terrestrial beauty, the sea is the true protagonist of the adventure throughout the archipelago and the one that bathes the Seychelles is one of the most beautiful on the planet. In the port of Mahe you can find various types of boats, everything will depend on where we plan to go and how much we are willing to pay. The most economical means to move from island to island is the one offered by the small coastal boats that, daily, connect the capital with the islands of the archipelago.
The sea beds around Mahe cannot be described as exceptional, as they tend to be rocky beds without the exuberant beauty of the coral reef. They are like an extension of the mainland, huge blocks of granite completely devoid of cover. vegetal and covered, from time to time, by stunted madreporic formations.
But to alleviate this lack of attractiveness, the fauna that exists is incredibly rich and varied. The fish are counted in thousands, either in large schools or in small formations, demonstrating an astonishing tranquility before divers that can only be explained by the strict prohibition of the underwater fishing.
Water clarity, an essential factor for underwater exploration, varies greatly depending on the season, being poor from the end of December to February and from the end of June to mid-August. In any case, the further we go from the coast the better conditions we will find for diving.
The best dives on each island
Mahe
North Point, where we will find the remains of a large oil tanker that serve as a refuge and lair for an innumerable and varied amount of fish. The small islands of Ste Anne, Cerf, Longue, which make up the Ste. Anne National Marine Park, are a must-see for the amateur before embarking on more committed dives. Praslin
A short 15-minute flight, admiring the fantastic aerial landscape of the islands, or a relaxing two-hour cruise are enough to reach Praslin, the second island of the archipelago both in size and population. Its appearance is more delicate and sweet than Mahe, it has a very particular beauty, less wild and aggressive, but much deeper and relaxing.
It should be visited calmly, without haste, exploring on foot the incomparable Valle de Mai, where we will find, in addition to the coconut de mer, rare species of plants and birds in danger of extinction. It is a fantastic place full of waterfalls, streams and flowers, whose visit requires much more than the two hours that tourist circuits dedicate to appreciate it in all its grandeur.
In the western part of Praslin there are two twin islets, Cousin and Cousine, true nature sanctuaries, where thousands and thousands of fully protected birds live. Despite the restrictions and difficulties in visiting them, it is worth getting there.
Around Praslin you can do some of the best diving we can imagine. As are those of the Roche Canal, near La Digue, Shark Rock or Alligator Rock towards Mahe, another excellent diving area is Roche Ave Marie, heading towards the island of Aride.
In all these places, far away from the coast, There are strong tidal currents capable of reaching 5 knots in intensity, so it is essential to carefully plan the dive and take the necessary precautions. Once the appropriate measures have been taken, the dives will be great, not only because of the beauty of the seabed, but also because of the quantity and variety of life forms that we will find. We will find such a large number of fish that the multicolored carousel that we will see swimming around us can stun us. The schools of large carangids and bonito formed by hundreds of individuals are the characteristic note of these dives, in addition to the encounters with sea turtles, large rays, and various species of sharks.
La Digue
Located southeast of Praslin, just an hour and a half by boat, it is another of the jewels of this fantastic archipelago.
We must not miss visiting the areas of Grand Anse, Petite Anse, Anse Cocos if we want to find landscapes that are totally wild and untouched by the passage of man.
Bird
If our visit to Seychelles coincides with the months from June to August, we should try to reach Bird, another small island located on the very edge of the island platform, where the depth drops sharply until reaching the 3,000 meters.
Its typically coral formation gives it a totally different appearance from its sisters. Small, flat, poor in vegetation. What could be its attraction? Where does its interest lie if we have to make a long sea voyage or an expensive flight to get there?
There are two answers to make the trip:
a)If we are sea lovers, we will find an unparalleled place to satisfy our passion. The waters that surround this natural aircraft carrier and the coral reef that surrounds it are a magnificent and clear exponent of the Indo-Pacific fauna.
The enormous depths surrounding Bird make encounters with the large creatures of the open sea feasible. Hammerhead, tiger, and mako sharks are attracted here by the life contained in the coral reef. Far from any polluting source, the clarity and cleanliness of the water reaches an unsurpassed degree, in addition to being noted, due to the perfect conservation of the coral ecosystem, that the destructive hand of man has not yet reached.
b) The other answer is related to its name and is the massive presence, for those of us who are bird lovers and during the summer months, of sea birds that arrive each There are strong tidal currents capable of reaching 5 knots in intensity, so it is essential to carefully plan the dive and take the necessary precautions. Once the appropriate measures have been taken, the dives will be great, not only because of the beauty of the seabed, but also because of the quantity and variety of life forms that we will find. We will find such a large number of fish that the multicolored carousel that we will see swimming around us can stun us. The schools of large carangids and bonito formed by hundreds of individuals are the characteristic note of these dives, in addition to the encounters with sea turtles, large rays, and various species of sharks.
La Digue
Located southeast of Praslin, just an hour and a half by boat, it is another of the jewels of this fantastic archipelago.
We must not miss visiting the areas of Grand Anse, Petite Anse, Anse Cocos if we want to find landscapes that are totally wild and untouched by the passage of man.
Bird
If our visit to Seychelles coincides with the months from June to August, we should try to reach Bird, another small island located on the very edge of the island platform, where the depth drops sharply until reaching the 3,000 meters.
Its typically coral formation gives it a totally different appearance from its sisters. Small, flat, poor in vegetation. What could be its attraction? Where does its interest lie if we have to make a long sea voyage or an expensive flight to get there?
There are two answers to make the trip:
a)If we are sea lovers, we will find an unparalleled place to satisfy our passion. The waters that surround this natural aircraft carrier and the coral reef that surrounds it are a magnificent and clear exponent of the Indo-Pacific fauna.
The enormous depths surrounding Bird make encounters with the large creatures of the open sea feasible. Hammerhead, tiger, and mako sharks are attracted here by the life contained in the coral reef. Far from any polluting source, the clarity and cleanliness of the water reaches an unsurpassed degree, in addition to being noted, due to the perfect conservation of the coral ecosystem, that the destructive hand of man has not yet reached.
b) The other answer is related to its name and is the massive presence, for those of us who are bird lovers and during the summer months, of sea birds that arrive each
