Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mauritius
So, you want variety? Abundant marine life, dramatic seascapes, atmospheric wrecks -
Mauritius has it all, not to mention well-established, high-quality dive operators. Mauritius
is almost entirely surrounded by a barrier reef, within which turquoise lagoons provide
great possibilities for snorkellers, swimmers and novice divers. And there is the pièce de
résistance: Rodrigues, which has virgin sites and outstanding fish life.
Where to Dive
The North
The north coast is a magnet for divers of all levels, and it's no wonder - there's a good bal-
ance of thrilling dives, wrecks, drop-offs and easy dives.
The islands off the coast (Île Plate, Coin de Mire) are the main highlights, with splendid
sites and diverse fish life - not to mention a sense of wilderness. To the northwest, Trou
aux Biches is the main jumping-off point to a variety of superb dives.
»
La Fosse aux Requins
This iconic site will make your spine tingle. On the northwestern side of Île Plate, a bowl-
shaped basin carved into the cliff is home to an eerie concentration of blacktip sharks that keep swirling around. Why?
Possibly because the waters here are rich in oxygen thanks to the swell. Good news for novice divers in search of excite-
ment: this shallow dive (12m) is accessible with an open-water certificate, though the current can be a bit tricky. One pro-
viso: the encounter with the sharks is probable but cannot be guaranteed!
»
The Wall
This dive is like looking down from the top floor of a skyscraper and wondering what it would be like to
jump - only now, you can! You can soar right over an incredibly vertical face. Also impressive is the amount of healthy
growth on the wall.
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Djabeda
Near the Wall, this shipwreck is a former Japanese freighter that was scuttled in 1998 in 34m. It's more atmo-
spheric than fishy.
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Holt's Rock
Also known as Stenopus, this site features two rocky domes and clusters of big boulders in less than 25m.
You're likely to see butterfly fish, parrot fish, massive moray eels, scorpion fish, angel fish and groupers.
»
Tombant de la Pointe aux Canonniers
Between Holt's Rock and Lobster Rock, this site is suitable for experienced
divers, with an exhilarating drop-off that tumbles from 32m to about 60m. It has fairly good coral formations and tons of
fish life.
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Kingfish
Another splendid drop-off embellished with black coral and seafans. Small reef fish are plentiful, as are jacks
and snappers.
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Waterlily
&
Emily
These two photogenic barges were sunk in 1987 and are longstanding favourites for novice divers.
They rest at a maximum depth of 26m.
