Diving

The Maurician " Garden of Eden " is as much marine as it is terrestrial. Whatever your past experience diving on the island’s coral gardens is memorable for the beauty of the surroundings and the diversity of the marine life. Parrot fish, group of all sizes, wrasse, sweetlips, angel and squirrel fish vie for your attention while multi-hued sponges, coral anemones and fan worms form a dignified backdrop to the kaleidoscope melee of creatures. Although a decompression chamber exists in Vacoa, "Sage and Serious Diving" is the motto of the Mauritian Scuba Diving Association which was created in 1987 and affiliated to the CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques) in 1989. Today MSDA comprises 23 diving centres and 3 diving clubs covering all of Mauritius, Instructors come from different international schools such as BSAC, FFESSM, PADI, NAUI, VDST and the Mauritius National school. The diving centres are modern and well equipped and can accommodate between 10 and 20 divers. Daily courses for beginners are organised as well as for experienced divers on a variety of expertly selected sites. The latter being accompanied by experienced guides or internationally qualified instructors, both having a thorough knowledge of the area.

The underwater coral garden of Mauritius are an invaluable ecological oasis of marine life. Protection is therefore vital an Mauritian laws are tough on illegal spearfishing an shell or coral collecting.

The best place for diving on Mauritius is of La Pirogue Hotel, near Flic en Flac on the west coast. The main diving attraction off the coast at Flic en Flac is the cave known as the Cathedral. Other dive sites include Whale Rock, which can be reached from either Grand Baie or Trou aux Biches, and Roche Zozo, an underwater pinnacle of rock (accessible by boat only during the summer) off the south-east coast. The submerged crater near Île Ronde is a popular dive site accessible from tourist centres in the north, such as Grand Baie.