Mauritius is one of the beautiful tropical islands in the Indian Ocean, it is a dream place for scuba diving. Scuba diving in Mauritius is renowned for its crystal clear water, bright coral reef and marine life experience and offers everything from shallow lagoons to dramatic wrecks and colourful coral gardens for both beginners and experienced divers alike. You can swim in the warm blue waters and meet colourful tropical fish, turtles, reef sharks and even a bashful seahorse. Mauritius is a diving experience between September and December, with clear visibility and a kaleidoscope of underwater landscapes.
Top 10 Destinations For Scuba Diving In Mauritius
Discover the exhilarating adventure of the waters by visiting these ten spots for scuba diving in Mauritius.
1. Blue Bay Marine Park
Photo: GrandEscogriffe / Wikimedia Commons
Blue Bay Marine Park is the best site for scuba diving in Mauritius, situated on the southeast coast. It is known for its clear waters and flourishing biodiversity. This marine park is around 300 km south of the border with Thailand. The area is littered with colourful coral gardens, making it a good place for both novice and veteran divers. The spot is filled with colourful coral structures and diverse schools of wrasse and parrotfish, and hawksbill turtles are also occasionally spotted. The shallows of the park are easily viewable, and it is a perfect destination for underwater photographers.
Location: Southeast Mauritius, near Mahébourg
Timings: 9 AM – 4 PM daily
Cost/Dive: ₹3000 – 5000
2. Cathedral, Flic en Flac
Photo: joakant / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only
The Cathedral dive site located on the West Coast near Flic en Flac is an exciting dive catered for advanced divers. With its cathedral-like underwater arches, the site has dramatic forms and a diverse marine ecosystem. Diving starts at approximately 18 meters and can go down to 30 meters, with the most fascinating part of the dive around the large swim-throughs and the caves made of volcanic rocks. You can also swim through the cathedral’s “windows,” which provide stunning vistas of the ocean beyond. The site includes reef sharks, stingrays, and many different grouper species.
Location: West Coast, Flic en Flac
Timings: 8 AM – 4:30 PM
Cost/Dive: ₹4000 – 6000
3. The Wall, Grand Baie
Photo: Muhammed Özel / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
The Wall in Grand Baie is a dramatic drop-off on the north coast of Mauritius. The submerged clanks, complemented with vibrant corals and an array of tropical fish, add allure to exploring this stunning underwater world. At The Wall, seasoned divers are drawn by the opportunity to explore its deep crevices and submerged ledges where many types of marine life, including giant grouper, tuna and barracuda, can be seen. The site has both vertical and horizontal diving to explore the wall’s nooks and crannies. Its highlights include many species of sharks, such as reef sharks and hammerhead sharks.
Location: North Coast, Grand Baie
Timings: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
Cost/Dive: ₹5000 – 7000
4. Île aux Cerfs
Photo: otterboris / Wikimedia Commons
Located on the eastern coast of Mauritius, Île aux Cerfs is a gateway for scuba diving. A lagoon surrounds the island and provides some of the most tranquil and bright coral reefs in Mauritius. The shallow reefs are well-suited for new divers and the deeper sections of the lagoon provide more challenging dives for experienced divers. The aquamarine water is relatively still with clear visibility and plenty of marine life like colourful coral, turtles, and swarms of tropical fish. In the surrounding waters, deeper drop-offs are home to a wide variety of marine species for anyone wanting to venture further.
Location: East coast, off Trou d’Eau Douce
Timings: 9 AM – 3:30 PM
Cost/Dive: ₹4000 – 6500
5. Le Morne Brabant
Photo: Gavish Barosee / Wikimedia Commons
One of the most important activities on the southwest coast of Mauritius is the climbing of the iconic mountain Le Morne Brabant and a diving spot. Beginner divers can explore the shallow coral gardens, whereas less novice divers can explore the drop-offs and underwater walls at depths of 40 meters. Marine life is prolific, including schools of jacks, parrotfish and, occasionally, reef sharks. The visibility is perhaps one of the best features of Le Morne, with a depth of over 30 meters and allowing divers a clear view of the underwater landscape.
Location: Southwest Coast, Le Morne Peninsula
Timings: 8 AM – 5 PM
Cost/Dive: ₹3500 – 5500
6. Turtles Reef, Bel Ombre
Photo: Richard Segal / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Turtles Reef Sea Turtle Snorkelling/Snorkel is a diving site in the south of Mauritius. The reef is colourful and vibrant with coral structure and hosts an abundance of reef fish, rays, and other crustacean life. The main attraction at Mahaiula is the turtles, and often divers encounter one of these incredible reptiles swimming lazily down the reef. It is also a relatively shallow site, with a depth range of 10 to 25 meters, suitable for beginners and intermediate divers. The lush coral gardens add to the site’s charm, and the abundance of marine life makes for a great experience.
Location: South coast, Bel Ombre
Timings: 8:30 AM – 4 PM
Cost/Dive: ₹4000 – 6000
7. The Labourdonnais Wreck, Belle Mare
Photo: pieonane / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only
The Labourdonnais Wreck, located off the east coast near Belle Mare, is one of the best scuba diving Mauritius locations. This dive brings you to the submerged remains of a cargo ship that sank in the early 20th century. The wreck is at a depth of 25 meters and is therefore accessible to intermediate divers. It is home today to a stunning variety of marine organisms, from schools of fish to moray eels to giant rays that have made it a self-made habitat. Divers can pass through the wreck’s rusting skeleton, providing a glimpse into a past well worth experiencing.
Location: East Coast, Belle Mare
Timings: 9 AM – 3:30 PM
Cost/Dive: ₹5500 – 7000
8. St. Brandon Islands
Photo: Pia B / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
St. Brandon, an archipelago off the northeastern coast of Mauritius, is an untouched and isolated diving destination. Famed for its unspoiled coral reefs and exquisite marine biodiversity, it’s a more exclusive destination, reachable only via liveaboard ships. The underwater scenery here encompasses colourful coral gardens, steep drop-offs, and an array of pelagic fish like marlin, tuna and sharks. You can also meet dolphins, rays and huge schools of fish. The St. Brandon dive sites cater mainly for advanced divers, with deeper water and stronger currents at times.
Location: Northeast of Mauritius
Timings: 7 AM – 5 PM
Cost/Dive: ₹15000 – 25000
9. Pelagics Reef, Rodrigues Island
Photo: Pexels User / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Rodrigues Island is a small volcanic island located east of Mauritius and boasts some world-class diving sites. Located at depths of 20–40 meters, the reef is known for sightings of pelagic fish, including tuna, sharks, and barracuda. The reef is also home to pristine coral gardens and caves that draw an array of sea life. The site is one of the most popular dives with excellent visibility and calm seas, exploring deeper sections of the reef. Intermediate to advanced divers are best suited for Pelagic Reef due to its depth and strong currents.
Location: Rodrigues Island
Timings: 8 AM – 4 PM
Cost/Dive: ₹6000 – 8000
10. The Shark Pit, Tamarin Bay
Photo: Primo Passo / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
The Shark Pit, a dive site, is on the southwest coast close to Tamarin Bay. It’s known for its large number of blacktip reef sharks, which are reported to be drawn to the site. Although the site is appropriate for divers of all levels of experience, it’s especially popular with people who want to dive with sharks. The dive site is a local shallow reef with a depth of 5~20 meters, which is suitable for beginner and intermediate divers. You can get an exciting, close-up experience as the sharks are often seen circling the area.
Location: Southwest Coast, Tamarin Bay
Timings: 7:30 AM – 3 PM
Cost/Dive: ₹4500 – 5500
Mauritius is a diver’s paradise with stunning dive sites for divers at every level. Explore colourful coral reefs and wrecks or get up close and personal with sea creatures, from sharks to turtles. If you’re a novice in search of shallow lagoons or an advanced diver keen to dive deeper, Mauritius guarantees an unforgettable experience beneath the waves. Plan a trip with TripXL and explore these locations for scuba diving in Mauritius.
Cover Photo: FonthipWard / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only