Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WHAT YOU'LL SEE
Let's be honest: the western Indian Ocean is not the richest marine realm in the world - some parts of the Carib-
bean, the South Pacific and the Red Sea boast more prolific fish life. But it's far from being poor - in fact, it has
everything from tiny nudibranchs (sea slugs) to huge whale sharks. It's just a matter of quantities, not diversity.
Reef Fishes
Like technicolour critters? You'll encounter a dizzying array of reef species darting around the reef, including
clownfish, parrotfish, angelfish, emperor-fish, butterfly-fish and various types of grouper. Moray eels are also fre-
quently encountered.
Pelagics
Pelagic fish - larger beasts that live in the open sea, such as tuna and barracuda - sometimes cruise quite close to
the reef in search of prey. Of the shark species inhabiting these waters, the most common are the whitetip reef
shark, the hammerhead shark and the reasonably docile nurse shark. Whale sharks are also regularly encountered.
Rays
The most common species of ray found around the Seychelles and Mauritius is the manta ray. One of the larger
stingray species, often encountered at Shark Bank off Mahé, is the brissant (or round ribbon-tailed) ray. It can
grow up to 2m across. The blue-spotted stingray is quite common in the sandy areas between the granite boulders
of the Seychelles.
Turtles
The best place to see turtles in the wild is the Seychelles, where there are a number of important breeding grounds
for hawksbill and green turtles.
Coral
Coral is not the strongest point. The Indian Ocean's shallow-water reefs were badly hit by 'coral bleaching' in
1997 and 1998. In parts of the Seychelles, up to 90% of hard corals (the reef-building corals) were wiped out.
They are still struggling, but there are encouraging signs of new growth.
The East
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Belmar Pass
There is a fantastic parade of pelagic and reef fish to be observed in this pass. Strong tidal currents push
the deep water back and forth through the passage, providing nutrients for a staggering array of species. The seascape is
another draw; the passage is peppered with numerous chasms, gullies, coral canyons and sandy valleys. Sharks, espe-
cially bull sharks and grey sharks, regularly patrol the area. There are at least five different sites in the pass.
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Passe de Trou d'Eau Douce
Another worthwhile site, though it's less spectacular than Belmar. It's usually done as a
drift dive.
Rodrigues
This is the Indian Ocean at its best. A true gem, Rodrigues boasts numerous untouched
sites for those willing to experience something different. There's a profusion of coral that
