Best time to visit Mauritius

Diving and Snorkelling in Mauritius

The waters of Mauritius hide many treasures

Best time: December–March

Diving and Snorkelling
Diving and Snorkelling
Diving and Snorkelling

The warm waters of Mauritius attract a great amount of migrating fish. Moreover, the island is almost entirely surrounded by a coral reef, making it a perfect destination for diving and snorkelling.

The marine flora and fauna of Mauritius are some of the most plentiful in the Indian Ocean. The more than four hundred creatures, two hundred species of corals, and a great number of sponges and anemones are sufficient to cause to visit Mauritius for the most demanding divers and snorkelers.

If you don’t like diving into the deep dark waters, go snorkelling to one of the most popular spots. Amateurs can start with the Blue Bay Marine Park—great visibility, medium depth, and yet a lot of beautiful species like parrotfish, clownfish, angelfish, and other majestic creatures. Check out Flic en Flac—the longest beach of Mauritius and another ultimate snorkelling spot. The waters here are calm, the sands are soft, and fish are incredibly diverse. Ile aux Cerfs is one of the most idyllic places for snorkelling due to its picturesque coastline and even more beautiful underwater world filled with red sea breams, stripe snappers, and many others.

If you strive to explore the marine beauty a bit deeper, one of the most famous and popular spots for divers is the Cathedral—a breathtaking place due to many hollows, caves, and arches. Here you will encounter clownfish, gropers, and wrasse among many others. Another great place for experienced divers is the Whale Rock—beautiful coral gardens grow on the jagged cliffs and the diverse underwater fauna and flora includes rare black coral, sea fans, green moray eels. Another wonderful spot is Roche Zozo with its sharp peaks, dark caves, deep canyons, and long tunnels with all kinds of interesting plants and species hiding inside.

Practical info

When is the best time to visit Mauritius for diving and snorkelling?

The most suitable period for diving and snorkelling in Mauritius is between December to March. During this time, the calm water, perfect temperature, and excellent visibility allow for marine life to thrive. Water temperature can reach as high as 30°C. This season is typically less rainy with calm waters, making diving and snorkelling more enjoyable. Show more

Where are the best snorkelling spots in Mauritius for beginners?

There are several ideal snorkelling spots for novices to experience the ocean wonders of Mauritius. Blue Bay Marine Park offers shallow waters, soft sands, and great visibility for observing fish species such as parrotfish, clownfish, and angelfish. Flic en Flac is another recommended location with calm waters and diverse fish species. Finally, Ile aux Cerfs offers picturesque coastlines, equipment rentals, and a wide range of marine species to observe. Show more

What are some of the unique marine species that can be found in Mauritius?

Mauritius is renowned for its extensive and unique marine biodiversity, including over 400 fish species, 200 coral species, and numerous sponges and anemones. Visitors can observe unique marine species such as red sea breams, stripe snappers, clownfish, gropers, wrasse, sea fans, black corals and green moray eels. Additionally, warm waters attract migrating fish, including hammerhead sharks, blue marlins, and sailfish, to visit Mauritius during their season. Show more

When is the best time to spot migrating fish in Mauritius?

Mauritius is a favourable destination for migrating fish between November to April. During this period, hammerhead sharks, blue marlins, sailfish, marlin, tuna, and other unique fish species frequent the coastlines. The attractive and warm waters of the island offer an ideal location for divers and snorkellers to spot rare and unique sea creatures, enabling tourists to capture captivating moments underwater. Show more

Where are the best diving spots in Mauritius for experienced divers?

Mauritius has an abundance of diving spots suitable for dive enthusiasts, offering unique experiences for each site. The Cathedral provides multiple caverns and arches, allowing experienced divers to explore the deep caves and observe unique fish species such as clownfish, gropers and wrasse. Whale Rock offers spectacular coral gardens on jagged cliffs, rare black corals, sea fans, and other diverse underwater fauna and flora. Finally, Roche Zozo is a thrilling spot for divers with sharp peaks, dark caves, deep canyons, and tunnels with interesting plant and sea species to observe. Show more

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Last updated: by Eleonora Provozin