Seychelles’ diving is built around granite. The same massive boulders that make the beaches photogenic continue underwater. Vertical walls, swim-throughs, and pinnacles dropping to 30+ metres, all close to shore. Add reef fish, schooling pelagics in season, and whale sharks in autumn, and you have one of the more distinctive dive geographies in the Indian Ocean.
The dive seasons
April to October (SE trade winds): Best diving on the north and west sides. Mahé’s north coast, Praslin’s south. Visibility 20–30m, calmer conditions.
November to March (NW winds): Best diving on the south of Mahé and east of Praslin. Slightly warmer water, occasionally lower visibility but better for big animals.
Iconic dive sites
Shark Bank (Mahé)
An hour by boat from Beau Vallon, a granite seamount rising from 30m to 20m, swept by current and patrolled by grey reef sharks and the occasional whale shark in season. Open-water-plus dive. Not for beginners.
Brissare Rocks (Mahé)
Off the north tip of Mahé. A pinnacle with overhangs, soft coral, and big schools of jacks and barracuda. Calm conditions in trade-wind season.
The Whale (Mahé)
A submerged granite formation off the west coast, shaped like a sleeping whale. Massive schools of fusiliers, sometimes Napoleon wrasse. 20m max depth. Accessible for newer divers.
Aride Bank (Praslin)
North of Aride Island. Granite cathedral with vertical walls, eagle rays, schooling barracuda. Visibility regularly hits 35m in trade-wind season.
St-Pierre Islet (Praslin)
The easy classic. A tiny rocky islet with a fringing reef, perfect for first-time snorkellers or check-out dives. Bumphead parrotfish, hawksbill turtles, sometimes a reef shark cruising the deeper edge.
Booby Wreck (Mahé)
A small tanker wreck off the north coast at 28m. Great for divers, accessible without strong currents. Marine life has reclaimed it well.
Where to dive from
| Base | Reach | Operator notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beau Vallon (Mahé) | Mahé north + west sites | Big Blue Divers, Blue Sea Divers, Underwater Centre |
| Anse Royale (Mahé) | Mahé south sites + Île Coco | Octopus Divers |
| Côte d’Or (Praslin) | Aride Bank, St-Pierre, Praslin reefs | Octopus Divers, Whitetip Divers |
| La Digue | Lost Boys, Coco Wall, Marianne | Azzurra Pro Dive |
| Desroches / Outer Islands | World-class outer-island sites | On-site at the resorts |
Snorkelling without scuba
- Sainte Anne Marine Park. Easy boat trips from Mahé, calm shallow snorkel.
- St-Pierre Islet. Included on most Curieuse day-trip boats.
- Anse Source d’Argent lagoons. Knee-deep, kid-friendly, fish in the shallows.
- Anse Lazio. Both granite ends of the bay snorkel well, calm seasons.
- Coco Island Marine Park. Half-day boats from La Digue, some of the best snorkelling in the country.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be certified to dive in Seychelles?
For full dives, yes. Open Water or above. All major dive bases run PADI courses, typically 3–4 days for Open Water, EUR 450–650 including gear.
Is the diving good for beginners?
Yes. Many shallow sites (St-Pierre, Lost Boys) sit at 8–15m with very gentle conditions. Beginner-friendly bases exist on Beau Vallon, Anse Volbert, and La Digue.
Can I see sharks?
Grey reef sharks at Shark Bank and Aride Bank, white-tip reef sharks on the deeper walls, the occasional whale shark August–November. No populations of dangerous sharks; attacks are vanishingly rare.
What’s the water temperature?
27–30°C year-round. A shorty wetsuit or rash guard is plenty for most divers; some prefer a 3mm full suit on deeper or longer dives.