With more than 200 dive sites to choose from, picking the best dive sites in Mauritius is no easy task. From sunken wrecks to pristine coral reefs, Mauritius has dives to keep every level of diver entertained.
To ensure we only picked the very best, we enlisted the help of dive shop managers, Rose and Emeric, who have an abundance of local knowledge and years of experience above and below the water’s surface in this tropical island paradise.
Plus, not only is Mauritius an outstanding vacation destination, but its numerous dive sites make it a great place to try a PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience, get your PADI certification or further your certification level.
So if you’re ready to dive in, let’s check out the top dive sites in Mauritius.
1. Batfish Wall – Snake Island
Maximum depth: 50m (164 feet)
Visibility: up to 50m (164 feet)
With visibility reaching up to 50 meters (164 feet) on a good day, this impressive wall dive boasts colorful marine life and untouched corals as far as the eye can see. The site takes its name from the huge schools of friendly Batfish (Platax) who follow divers along their dive. The wall can be dived at 18 meters (60 feet), 30 meters (100 feet) or 50 meters (164 feet), making it suitable for all levels.
Recommended courses: PADI Deep Diver, AWARE Fish Identification, PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy
2. Shark Cathedral – Round Island
Maximum depth: 18m (59 feet)
Visibility: up to 80m (262 feet)
A giant basin reached through an overhanging swim-through, Shark Cathedral is a breathtaking dive site frequented by dozens of reef sharks. However, be aware that the current and swell can make this a challenging dive at times.
The site is known not only for sharks but also for other larger pelagics and pristine and healthy corals. Other marine life that can be spotted here includes barracuda, kingfish, giant trevally, and eagle rays.
Recommended courses: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, AWARE Shark Conservation
3. Djabeda Wreck – Coin de Mire Island
Maximum depth: 34m (112 feet)
Visibility: up to 30m (98 feet)
Located just off the bay at Coin de Mire Island, Djabeda is a large Japanese fishing boat sunk in 1998. The vessel is approximately 44 meters (144 feet) long, 10 meters (33 feet) high and five meters (16 feet) wide. It stands upright at a maximum depth of 34 meters (112 feet).
During its 20 years underwater, the Djabeda has built up a lot of life. It’s now home many corals and fish alike, including stone fish, moray eels, tuna and stingrays. There is some overhead penetration for more experienced divers. But the site can also be enjoyed from the outside for its amazing visibility and abundance of marine life. The wreck is also occasionally visited by barracuda, stingrays, whales and dolphins.
Highlights include the huge anchor, marvelous soft corals, schooling fish, king fish, moray eels, trigger fish, stone fish, lion fish, parrot fish, leaf fish and sea slugs. With such variety, it’s easy to see why this site is one of the best dive sites in Mauritius.
Suggested courses: PADI Wreck Diver, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation
4. Confetti Bay – Coin de Mire Island
Maximum depth: 18m (59 feet)
Visibility: 20m (66 feet)
Confetti Bay belongs to Coin de Mire Island (Gunner’s Coin) and is in a sheltered spot which is well protected from current. Divers of all abilities can enjoy this unbelievable underwater paradise.
A large variety of fish can be seen here, such as trigger fish, stone fish, lionfish, parrot fish, leaf fish, and stingrays.
Recommended courses: PADI Discover Scuba Diver, PADI Open Water Diver
5. Carpenter – Coin de Mire Island
Maximum depth: 18m (59 feet)
Visibility: Up to 30m (98 feet)
An impressive dive just off Coin de Mire Island, Carpenter boasts unusual and spectacular topography, making this dive a favorite for any divers in the area. With sweeping walls, caverns and swim throughs, the through-current created from the location of the site at the peak of the island attracts a wide array of life, including beautiful schools of fish and barracuda.
Recommended courses: PADI Drift Diver, PADI Cavern Diver
6. The Wall – Coin de Mire Island
Maximum depth: 40m (131 feet)
Visibility: 30m (98 feet)
The Wall dive at Coin de Mire Island is known for giving divers the chance to spot some bigger pelagic animals, but is also teeming with octopus and lobster as well as many nudibranchs and shrimp for macro lovers. With depths ranging from 12 to 40 meters (40 to 130 feet), this dive can be enjoyed by divers of varying abilities. The usually calm conditions and excellent visibility make the topography even more impressive.
Recommended courses: PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy, AWARE Fish Identification
7. Merville Patches – Grand Bay
Maximum depth: 12m (39 feet)
Visibility: up to 20m (66 feet)
A series of five patches of diverse coral, Merville Patches is home to hundreds of moral eels creeping beneath the surface. With various species of nudibranchs, leaf-fish and the occasional ghost pipe fish, as well as stingrays often flying by, this is one of the best dives sites in Mauritius for beginners and underwater photographers.
Recommended courses: PADI Fish Identification, PADI Open Water Diver, PADI Digital Underwater Photographer
8. Silver Star Wreck – Grand Bay
Maximum depth: 38m (125 feet)
Visibility: up to 25m (82 feet)
Sunk in 1992 to create an artificial reef, Silver Star sits on the edge of a deep 50 to 80-meter (164 to 262-foot) reef (suitable for Technical Divers). The wreck itself is an impressive 57 meters (187 feet) long. It attracts an array of life, from batfish (platax) to both sting and eagle rays. There are ample opportunities for penetration for those qualified, but the wreck can also be enjoyed from the periphery as a stunning deep dive.
Recommended courses: PADI Deep Diver, PADI Wreck Diver
9. Grand Baie Aquarium – Grand Bay
Maximum depth: 14m (46 feet)
Visibility: 20m (66 feet)
Grand Baie Aquarium is known for its impressive topography and abundance of life. The reef at this site is divided by a canyon teeming with life, including schools of tropical fish, crocodile fish, stonefish, and leaf fish. With turtles and sting rays also often making an appearance, Grand Baie Aquarium is a favorite among divers of all levels.
Recommended courses: PADI Fish Identification, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation
10. Shark Arena (La Fosse)/Snake Canyon – Snake Island
Maximum depth: 15m (49 feet)
Visibility: rarely less than 30m (98 feet)
Similar to Shark Cathedral but with much harsher swell, Shark Arena – although shallow – is only suitable for advanced divers, unless weather conditions are extremely calm. The highly oxygenated water from the waves crashing against Snake Island creates an ideal habitat for the dozens of reef sharks, who circle around the arena. This results in a truly memorable diving experience which can sometimes involve around 30 sharks at one time.
Snake & Round Islands are the northernmost islands in Mauritius, and they are generally where you can get the best visibility (rarely less than 30 meters).
Recommended courses: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, AWARE Shark Conservation, PADI Boat Diver
11. Emily and Waterlily Wrecks – Trou aux Biches
Maximum depth: 25m (82 feet)
Visibility: up to 30m (98 feet)
The Emily and Waterlily Wrecks site is a two-for-one deal and one of the best wreck dives in Mauritius. Purposely sunk in the early 1980s, these barges sit within close proximity of one another, making it possible to explore both in a single dive. The dive site’s sandy bottom, 25m (82-foot) max depth and frequently good visibility make this a generally pleasant and relaxed dive which is also great for newcomers to wreck diving.
In terms of marine life, the barges are home to hundreds of different fish species. They are also covered in hard and soft corals. Cardinal fish, clown fish, blue stripe snapper, Moorish idols, surgeonfish, and yellow mouth morays are just a few of the types of fish you may see on any dive. This visually appealing combination of vibrant fish life, colorful corals, and sunken wrecks makes this one of the best dive sites in Mauritius for underwater photographers.
Recommended courses: PADI Wreck Diver, PADI Digital Underwater Photographer
12. Sea Fan Valley – Belle Marre
Maximum depth: 30m (98 feet)
Visibility: up to 25m (82 feet)
If gently floating above a valley filled with giant gorgonians sounds like something you would like to try, Sea Fan Valley is a dive site not to be missed.
Continue on from the nearby Long Cliff dive site, and you’ll meet the start of the valley at around 16 meters (52 feet). From here, you’ll make your way over this marine life-covered dreamscape to a maximum of 30 meters (100 feet), depending on your certification level.
Plenty of tropical fish species, including snappers, kingfish, angelfish, sergeant majors, trumpet fish, clown fish, and rays can be spotted as you pass over the walls of this drop-off. It’s also not uncommon to meet predatory fish, such as tuna or blue trevally, passing through the area – or even a white tip reef shark resting on the sandy bottom.
Recommended courses: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation
13. Coral Garden – Trou aux Biches
Maximum depth: 22m (72 feet)
Visibility: up to 25m (82 feet)
With its mix of hard and soft corals (as the name suggests), a wide range of marine life, and an average dive depth of around 16 meters (52 feet), Coral Garden is a site that any level of diver can enjoy.
It’s nearly always possible to find a good variety of marine life at the site. Everything from rays and parrotfish to turtles and snappers can appear during a dive. So, there’s a good chance you’re going to encounter something worthy of your logbook.
In addition, Coral Garden is a great choice if you’re looking to explore night diving in Mauritius. Frequently encountered marine life includes moray eels, octopus, lobsters, lionfish, and wrasses.
Recommended courses: PADI Fish Identification, PADI Night Diver
14. Stenopus Reef – Trou aux Biches
Maximum depth: 35m (115 feet)
Visibility: up to 25m (82 feet)
As one of the deeper dive sites in Mauritius, this is recommended for Advanced Open Water divers and above. The site is located close to the diving hotspots in the north and is relatively easy to access by boat. Visibility here tends to be good – up to 25 meters (82 feet) and occasionally stretching to 30 meters (100 feet). Currents are often present at the site but are usually mild and easy to manage for experienced divers.
The site offers interesting topographies including sloping reefs, small drop offs, and canyons but the main highlight here are the ‘forests’ of black and green hard corals that seemingly adorn every available surface. Marine life at Stenopus Reef includes a wide range of tropical reef fish, moray eels and ribbon eels, plenty of smaller macro crustaceans (if you have good eyes or a good guide), and keep an eye out to the blue for passing spotted eagle rays cruising through!
All in all, Stenopus Reef is a great deep dive for those taking the PADI Advanced Open Water Course and for experienced divers looking to explore Mauritius’s depths.
Recommended courses: PADI Deep Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water
15. Holt’s Rock – Grand Baie
Maximum depth: 25m (82 feet)
Visibility: up to 25m (82 feet)
For any divers who love intriguing and playful topographies, this boulder-ridden site is an absolute must! The rocky underwater reef-scene is a mix of bommies, boulders, and rocky formations that make for some great hiding places for marine life. Common species spotted here include an array of tropical reef fish, moray eels, lionfish, and large titan triggerfish.
On days when there is a mild current present, the colors at the site begin to really pop as the soft corals start to open up and begin feeding on passing drifting plankton! Take your time and look inside the soft corals for small crustaceans and macro mollusks.
Although the site is subject to occasional currents, it is suitable for all levels including beginners, and can be dived at depths upwards of 18 meters (60 feet) for Open Water Divers. For wide-angle underwater photographers, there are plenty of great reef scene photography opportunities to boot!
Recommended courses: PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy, PADI Fish Identification
16. Passe St. Jacques – Le Morne
Maximum depth: 30m (100 feet)
Visibility: up to 25m (82 feet)
Passe St Jacques is best accessed from Le Morne in the Rivière Noire District of Mauritius and it’s another site that is better suited to experienced divers with an Advanced Open Water Diver certification. It’s not only the depth of the site that makes it more ‘advanced’ but also the conditions that can be encountered here. Diving at Passe St. Jacques is usually a drift dive where divers need to maintain neutral buoyancy and go with the flow – literally! The currents here can be stronger than at other sites – and changeable, so divers need to be alert and have a reasonable knowledge of diving in currents combined with some drift experience.
Highlights of Passe St. Jacques
Despite the often more challenging conditions, the site is well worth it and offers a phenomenal variety of marine life, including stunning eagle rays (above). As the adage goes “no current, no fish”, and Passe St. Jacques seems like a testament to this!
When diving here, divers have the opportunity to see the reef ecosystem and food chain in action. Expect to see everything from small schools of damsels to hunting moray eels and lionfish, and at the higher levels of predation, there are often sightings of barracuda, tuna, and sharks waiting in the blue. Anything and everything is possible at this action packed Mauritian dive site!
Now you know the best dive sites in Mauritius, are you ready to make it your next dive vacation destination? Find out more about diving in this tropical paradise, or explore the range of PADI shops and PADI resorts for yourself.
About the authors
This article was written by Rose Lowe and Emeric Jeffroy. Rose Lowe is the co-owner and Manager of Dodo Divers which she runs with her partner Anthony. Dodo Divers is based in Calodyne, North Mauritius, with bases at Zilwa Attitude and Paradise Cove Hotels. While Anthony manages the diving logistics, Rose is busy with marketing, bookings, and admin – of course, diving at every opportunity she gets! She is a keen underwater photographer and above all enjoys the smaller (macro!) things in life.
Emeric Jeffroy has been diving in the North of Mauritius since 2010 with his partner Ludovic Cheneau. Together they run Emperator Dive Center. It’s located in Anse la Raie where they offer trips to the dive sites above every week.
