Scuba Diving in Mauritius

Mauritius Diving Highlights

Mauritius can generally be described as a macro-lovers paradise with some big animals in the mix. Compared to other Indian Ocean locales, the reefs might seem a little barren due to frequent cyclones and over-fishing. But the best parts of these reefs are the small stuff. Something remarkable awaits to be found in every crevice or coral overhang.

Intro to Mauritius

Mauritius was made first and then heaven; and heaven was copied after Mauritius Mark Twain (1896).

Its remote location in the Indian Ocean, white sand beaches, turquoise water, mountainous jungles and wonderful creatures in unexplored places, make Mauritius truly worthy of its title as "heaven on earth." The remote location led to the evolution of a diversity of endemic flora and fauna which makes Mauritius excellent for diving and hiking.

A diver discovers an octopus creeping across the wreck of the Djabeda, Coin de Mire, Mauritius

Mauritius Marine Life

The diversity of the reefs is great, just like in other parts of the Indian Ocean. You can expect to see endemic angelfish and butterfly fish, peacock flounder, parrotfish, nudibranchs, mantis shrimp, many species of morays, striped eel catfish, marlin, lionfish, turtles, stingrays, scorpionfish, trevally, octopus, gray reef sharks, and 200 species of coral in one dive! Hard and soft corals with unique shapes and colors are abundant.

Moray eel diversity is high in Mauritius. Often one sees multiple species in a dive.

Diving Conditions

• Water Temperatures: Ranges 21 C/70 F (November to April) to 30 C / 86 F (March to October). Generally, a 3 mm wetsuit is recommended, and possibly a 5 mm for winter months.
• Visibility: Excellent, often exceeds 40 metres/140 feet.
• Depth Range: 12 - 10m (39 - 33 ft)

Dive Sites

The best diving in Mauritius can be found in the north and east side of the country. Flic en Flac in the west offers some decent diving as well.

1. Coin de Mire - Possibly the best diving in Mauritius. Excellent visibility, with wall and wreck diving. Large pelagics such as marlin might also be spotted here.

The highlight here is the Djabeda wreck dive, which is completely covered in stunning pink soft coral. Octopus, scorpionfish, stonefish, lionfish, and many reef fish are common here. Other creatures that can be found here include Barracuda, dolphins, and stingrays.

2. Grand-Baie and Trou-aux-Biches - Grand-Baies the perfect place to start most dive trips. While nearby Trou-aux-Biches offers best macro critter diving. The various species of morays, peacock mantis shrimp, and schools of small striped eel catfish are common here.

3. Tamarin Bay - Many operators offer morning snorkeling tours with wild spinner dolphins that depart from Tamarin.

4. The Shark Pit - Strong currents and rough seas make it more suitable for advanced divers. Bull sharks, gray reef sharks, and silvertip reef sharks are frequently spotted.

5. Belle Mare - The best diving on the east side of the island. It is usually drift diving and more suitable for advanced divers. The main attractions here are pelagics and sharks.

It is easy to get to Mauritius from Europe or South Africa, though it might be a little harder from elsewhere. Most direct flights are from South Africa, France, England, and Germany. The only international airport on the island, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU), is located about an hour’s drive from the capital, Port Louis.

How To Dive Mauritius

There are a lot of all-inclusive resorts and dive operators, such as Blue Water Diving Center Mauritius, that offer diving in Mauritius. A cheaper option would be to rent through Airbnb or a local apartment. Most lodging options can be found in the north and west of the island. Dive gear rentals are available at most dive operators and you might get a discount if you bring your own gear. Diving is usually done in a group of two to seven divers led by one or two dive masters. English, French and German speakers can be accommodated by most dive shops.

Best Time To Dive

The visibility during summer (November - April) is usually great and the warm water brings a higher diversity of marine life. We recommend diving in Mauritius from October to December and March to April if you want to avoid cyclone season. But Mauritius is a year-round destination and the weather is not likely to affect your dive trip.

The water at Bain Boeuf is a maze of color. A clear view of Coin de Mire in the distance.

Topside & Non-Diving Activities

• Beaches and Watersports - The public beaches are excellent, but resorts will offer you some exclusivity. Water sports like stand-up paddle boarding, banana boats, kite surfing, diving, sailing, kayaking, fishing and more are also offered at these resorts.
• Hiking - Mauritius offers some of the best hiking in the Indo-Pacific with Le Pouce and Le Morne Brabant being 2 most popular hikes.
• The Outer Islands in the North - The most popular trips are to Flat Island and Gabriel Island.
• The South of Mauritius - The Black River Gorges National Park, the seven colored earth of Chamarel, and Ganga Talao (a Hindu holy site) are among Mauritiuss best topside attractions that can be found in the south.

• Currency: Mauritian Rupee (MUR)
• Languages: Mauritians speak Mauritian Creole and French fluently. Many also speak English and derivatives of Indian languages.
• Main Airport Code: MRU
• Time Zone: UTC+4
• Electricity: 230 V/50 Hz
• Transportation: Taxis are reasonably priced if booked beforehand, but a rental car might be a good idea for short stays. The public buses are recommended for longer stays.