Author: Colette Flowerdew-Kincaid
Five Breathtaking Spots for Water Sports in Seychelles
The Seychelles is an experience like no other. From the sky, this archipelago looks like a perfect string of pearls set in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean; once there, an adventurer’s paradise awaits with plenty of opportunities to surf, snorkel, kayak, scuba dive and swim. Water sports in Seychelles is some of the world’s best; that’s why we have created a guide to some of the most beautiful areas for aquatics, all best explored by yacht. The favourable weather here makes island-hopping part of the fun, and with the ease of schemes such as shared boat ownership making yachting ever more accessible, what are you waiting for?
Surf, snorkel, kayak, sail and scuba dive – the top five water sports in Seychelles
Anse Lazio, Praslin
Among the most beautiful beaches in the world, Anse Lazio is a jewel of sparkling white sand and crystal-clear water. Both ends are decked with granite rock, providing excellent opportunities for snorkelling.
The south zone is the deepest area (around 2-4 metres), and the place to find shoals of pompanos and sergeant majors move between the rocks; the north zone is less deep (approximately 2-3 metres) but has more coral. You’re likely to come across bluefin trevally, needlefish and surgeonfish here, as well as groups of blue damselfish resting near the rocks.
Try and visit at dusk to spot the stingrays. Although they are discreet and easily camouflaged, their eyes stand out against the sand a lot more at this time of day.
Port Launay, Mahe
Feel at one with nature in Port Launay: one of the last and best remaining mangrove forests in the Seychelles.
It can be found in a thin valley on the north of Mahe, and is a Ramsar Site of international importance. The mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs here are interconnected, enabling the valley and the ocean to coexist in harmony.
Kayak the tranquil waters at your leisure, venturing through the mix of salt and freshwater marshes, or wade through low tide to an islet for incredible views.
Experience the vivid underwater world here, undoubtedly one of the most spots for water sports in the Seychelles. It’s a chance to spot whale sharks, eels, rays, sea turtles, angelfish, parrotfish, demoiselles and even barracudas.
Cerf Island
Exclusively accessed by either boat or helicopter, Cerf Island is a sanctuary for marine life. It was once used by French trading ships on route to collect spices from India, which has led to rumours that there is treasure hidden here.
Today, Cerf Island forms part of the protected St. Anne Marine National Park with an abundance of flora and fauna, and over 150 species of fish. The lush vegetation, shallow waters and beautiful reefs are great to explore by swimming, snorkelling or scuba diving. It’s the place to spot green turtles feeding on the seagrass meadows, and octopus, starfish and squid in the reefs.
Head to one of the island’s excellent restaurants for lunch to experience the best in Creolean cuisine.
La Digue
Renowned for its fantastic range of dive sites, the area’s third-most inhabited island is also great for surfing and snorkelling, making La Digue one of the undisputed best spots for water sports in the Seychelles.
White Bank is a scuba diving utopia, which can be accessed by boat. As the water depth is around 20 metres and the average visibility around 10-30 metres, the conditions are ideal for viewing the impressive granite rocks, stunning coral reefs, and array of colourful reef fish.
For snorkelling, visit Anse Sévère, Anse Patates, Île Cocos and Félicité. There is plenty to see here – from colourful angelfish, parrotfish and octopus to whitetip sharks, eagle rays and hawksbill turtles.
Desroches Island
This private island paradise forms part of the Amirantes Group, consisting of over 73 coral islands and atolls in the Outer Islands of the Seychelles.
Desroches has a delicate beauty, wrapped in 14km of immaculate white beaches shaded by coconut palms and casuarina trees. The shallow, peaceful waters provide a haven of tranquillity for kayakers and windsurfers to admire the idyllic coastline.
For the more adventurous, the surrounding reefs offer some of the best scuba diving and snorkelling in the Seychelles. An ocean conservation charity runs guided snorkelling trips with opportunities to spot angelfish, butterflyfish, surgeonfish and sea turtles.