BAIE TERNAY
A protected jewel of a bay on the far north-west of Mahé, reachable only by boat or a coastal hike. Some of the finest snorkelling and diving in the islands, in gloriously calm, clear water.
Diving & snorkeling in coral reefs, plus seagrass beds with turtles, rays & whale sharks.
A sheltered marine sanctuary
Baie Ternay is a beautiful, horseshoe-shaped bay at the very north-west tip of Mahe, protected as a marine national park alongside neighbouring Port Launay. Cut off from the road and cradled by green headlands, it is one of the calmest and clearest corners of the island’s coast, and its sheltered waters have made it a favourite anchorage and a highlight of boat trips along the west coast.
There is no easy road access, which is exactly why it stays so pristine. Most visitors arrive by boat as part of a snorkelling or diving excursion, while the more adventurous reach it on foot by the coastal trail over from Port Launay.
Snorkelling and diving
The bay is one of the best snorkelling and diving sites on Mahe. The protected, shallow water is often calm and clear, the coral and reef life are rich, and the sheltered setting suits everyone from first-time snorkellers to divers. On a good day, mask down in the warm water here, it is easy to see why this coast is protected.
As a marine park it is cared for and quiet, so treat the reef gently, and pick a calm, clear day for the best visibility.
Know before you go
| Where | Far north-west tip of Mahe, beside Port Launay |
| Status | Marine national park |
| Access | By boat, or on foot via the coastal trail from Port Launay |
| Snorkelling | Among the best on Mahe, calm and clear on settled days |
| Diving | A rich, sheltered dive site |
| Best time | Calm, clear days for the best underwater visibility |
What visitors say
★ 4.7 · 130 Google reviews★★★★★Beautiful bay! Can only moor your boat on the sandy left side so get your spot early. Lots of snorkelers and some scuba diving companies too. No shops or facilities here so super quiet and peaceful mooring.
Wendy Wastie · via Google
★★★★★Good for snorkeling and diving. At Our time the visibility Was poor
Martin Tremblau · via Google
★★★★Beautiful baie with surrounding green mountains. If you catch high tide..vizibility is much better than lower tides. You can see seaturtles, rays, sharks and some amazing other marine life (if you are lucky..but remember…
Louise de Roubaix · via Google
★★★★★Simply, one of the most beautiful places in the world!
David Grunfeld · via Google
Baie Ternay is reached by boat as part of a snorkelling day along the beautiful west coast, alongside Port Launay. Stay on Mahe to explore this protected, watery corner at its calmest.
Traveller favouriteBeaches & snorkelling private tourfrom €129 per groupBook this tourTours via Viator, stays via Booking.com. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Port Launay Marine Park · Anse Major · Sauzier Waterfall
Bring your own mask and pick a calm, clear day. Baie Ternay is one of the finest snorkelling spots on Mahe, so join a boat trip along the west coast, or hike the coastal trail from Port Launay, when the sea is settled.
