Mauritius is situated in the south-west region of the Indian Ocean, at about 2,000 km from the African coast and 900 km from Madagascar. Scuba diving in Mauritius is incredible, and forms part of other great scuba diving locations in the Mascareignes Islands, such as Reunion Island, Rodrigues and St-Brandon.
Mauritius is situated in the south-west region of the Indian Ocean, about 2000 km from the African coast and 900 km from Madagascar. Scuba diving in Mauritius is incredible, and forms part of other great scuba diving locations in the Mascareignes Islands such as Reunion Island, Rodrigues and St-Brandon.
At 65 km long and 45 km wide the island has 330 km of coastline which is surrounded, and protected by, coral reef, creating a magnificent turquoise lagoon where water temperatures can range from 28˚C in summer to 21˚C degrees in winter.
Find out more about Mauritius in our destination guide here.
What to See
With over 200 dive sites, you will be spoilt for choice. Mauritius is home to some of the world’s finest coral reefs and marine life. There are about 430 different marine creatures including large pelagic fish, 200 different spices of coral and turtles. Some of the less common marine life you may spot when diving here include tuna, wahoo and marlin.
Teeming with hundreds of gaily-colored fish, the underwater world of Mauritius can be deemed a natural wonder in its own right and diving is the perfect way to partake in the pleasure of watching nature’s amazing beauty.
When to Visit
Even though Mauritius is an evergreen scuba diving destination, the months of summer are considered the best time for diving. This is because the warm summer water attracts an abundance of fish and marine life. Divers exploring Mauritius’ underwater worlds during the summer season can hope to catch sight of exotic fish, including parrot fish, groupers, wrasses, sweetlips, angelfish, sergeant majors, trumpet and clown fish, moray eels and crayfish along with a wide variety of corals, sponges and sea anemones.
Why not take the AWARE – Fish Identification course to help you identify which you’ll get to see?
Great for New Divers
A wonderful place to discover scuba diving, Mauritius has large areas of natural coral, bursting with underwater sea life and clear underwater visibility. If you are a novice and wish to experience a scuba dive then Mauritius is a good place to try it out. Many hotels have regular Discover Scuba Diving sessions where you can experience scuba diving in the pool. You can then test out your new skills and take your PADI Open Water Diver course, heading into the heavenly Indian Ocean.
Start your Open Water Diver course online before you go.
Ideal for Experienced divers
Experienced divers can head straight for the more adventurous dive sites around Mauritius including sites with cliffs, caverns, reefs, pinnacles and wrecks. One of the most well-known and popular areas for diving is the Blue Bay Marine park. Dive sites here include the Colorado, a drop off dive at between 20 and 40m and Roche Zozo and interesting topographical dive but where the current can be strong.
If you’re a fan of wreck diving you won’t be disappointed as there are 22 wrecks in the water surrounding in Mauritius ensuring the maximum pleasure from professional to amateur diver.
If this blog post has inspire you to book a trip to Mauritius, be sure to check out our dive resort travel deals online. Or find a local PADI dive shop using our Dive Shop Locator.
