Mauritius, often referred to as the jewel of the Indian Ocean, is a subtropical island country located just over 500 miles east of Madagascar, off the south-eastern coast of Africa. As divers, we all dream of exploring that pristine tropical island as far from any other landmass as possible. Well, that dream is a place on Earth, and that place is Mauritius. It is known for its scuba diving and travelers come from all over the world to explore these waters.
PADIMauritius boasts some of the best diving in the world. “Diving in Mauritius features almost exclusively reefs as the island is virtually surrounded by coral, with over 100 sites to explore,” says Julie Andersen Global Senior Director of Brand for PADI Worldwide, she is focused on inspiring people of all ages to follow their passion and connect with our blue planet so that they, too, are inspired to explore and protect it. Mark Twain called it Heaven on earth - and he wasn’t wrong.”
That is one of the most amazing things about becoming a scuba diver - the incredible places the sport can take you to. It’s not just about the time underwater, but also the time spent in these incredible destinations meeting the local community, learning about the culture and exploring adventures both above and under the sea.
The island is virtually surrounded by coral, with depths ranging from 20 to over 140 feet, making it a great place to learn to dive and seek adventure for more advanced scuba divers. Mauritius is surrounded by a barrier reef, creating a shallow, bright and calm location, perfect for new divers - even those learning to dive. Outside of that barrier reef, there are incredible sites from wall dives to wrecks and sea caves to drift dives.
You never know what you’ll encounter at some of the outer dive sites-whales, sharks, turtles and even resident dolphins. “If you are a macro lover, Mauritius delivers as well with its healthy coral reefs serving as a home for everything from mantis shrimp to leaf scorpion fish,” says Andersen.
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Although Mauritius is often overlooked by divers who visit other Indian Ocean locales, such as Seychelles or the Maldives, the diving can be quite good. Overall, Mauritius is a macro-lover’s paradise with some big animal sprinkled in. Frequent cyclones and some overfishing can make the reefs seem a little barren at a first glance when compared to other Indian Ocean destinations.
However, the highlights of these reefs are the small stuff, and in every crevice or coral overhang there is something amazing waiting to be discovered. As one might expect in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the diversity of the reefs is excellent. In one dive you can expect to see peacock flounder, endemic angelfish and butterfly fish, parrotfish, nudibranchs, many species of morays, mantis shrimp, striped eel catfish, lionfish, marlin, turtles, stingrays, octopus, scorpionfish, trevally, gray reef sharks, and 200 species of coral!
The hard and soft corals in Mauritius are unique in their shapes and colors. Reefs seem to be speckled with pastel pinks, purples, blues, and greens resembling an Easter-time pallet of color. There are many dive sites to choose from, each offering their own set of unique fauna.
Mauritius can generally be described as a macro-lovers paradise with some big animals in the mix. The diversity of the reefs is great, just like in other parts of the Indian Ocean. You can expect to see endemic angelfish and butterfly fish, peacock flounder, parrotfish, nudibranchs, mantis shrimp, many species of morays, striped eel catfish, marlin, lionfish, turtles, stingrays, scorpionfish, trevally, octopus, gray reef sharks, and 200 species of coral in one dive! Moray eel diversity is high in Mauritius.
Scuba Diving in Mauritius delivers far more thrill than most expect. Beneath the surface lies a world of 430+ coral species and incredible marine diversity. That barrier reef system? Creates massive lagoons where waves barely exist. Training grounds don’t get better than this. The outer walls though-totally different stories. Dramatic drop-offs, serious currents bringing in big stuff. Water stays 22-29°C depending on the month. Visibility? Regularly hits 25-30 meters, sometimes more.
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“Mauritius was made first and then heaven; and heaven was copied after Mauritius” - Mark Twain (1896).
Best Time to Go Scuba Diving in Mauritius
You can enjoy great scuba diving in Mauritius all year round. Depending on what you're after, the ‘summer' months between October and April/May will have warmer waters with temperatures of 27-28 degrees, minimal to no currents, glassy sea conditions and the chance to enjoy some incredible visibility with lots of marine life. The 'winter' months run from May to September.
Temperatures drop to 25 degrees, but the cooler waters bring in some epic pelagic action. The humpback whales migrate through the Indian Ocean from June to late September, with a peak of breeding activity in August. There's also the chance to see more pelagic marine life that comes in on some of the currents including dogtooth tuna, spinner dolphins, sharks and sea turtles.
Diving Conditions Ironically, summer (November - April) is the best time to dive in Mauritius. The visibility is usually great and the warm water brings a higher diversity of sea life. Winter wind can also make diving conditions less favorable. In order to avoid cyclone season, we recommend diving in Mauritius from October to December and March to April. From November to April, water temperature can be as high as 30 C (86 F) and from March to October, water temperature can drop to as low as 21 C (70 F). Generally, a 3 mm wetsuit is recommended, and possibly a 5 mm for winter months.
Here’s the sweet spot-September and October. Temps climbing, winds dying down, crowds thinning out. Conditions shift with seasons though. Summer (November-April) delivers bathwater temps at 27-29°C. Thin wetsuits or just rash guards work fine. Visibility pushes past 30 meters regularly. Trade-off? Cyclone season December-March shuts things down 2-3 days when storms pass. Winter (May-October) cools water to 22-24°C. Five-millimeter wetsuits become necessary then.
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Mauritius Dive Sites
Where to Go Diving in Mauritius
If you are in Mauritius to dive, then choosing where on the island to go is fairly easy - the North! Diving in the north of the country gives you the best access to its outlying islands, shore-side reef dives, resorts, and the most tourist-friendly part of the country. There is also some good advanced drift diving on the east side of the island and ok diving in Flic en Flac in the west. The south, however, is more exposed to the elements of the Indian Ocean and has poor diving conditions.
The best diving in Mauritius can be found in the north and east side of the country.
North Coast Dive Sites
Diving in the North is an undiscovered secret, and exceeds expectations. Pristine wrecks in tact with beautiful soft corals, schools of fish, exquisite coral reefs, and a wide array of marine life including reef sharks, guitar sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins grace the area of Trou Aux Biches & Grande Baie.
Northern Grand Baie region counts fifteen major sites. Generally deeper, needing longer boat transfers. Winter winds affect north more but fewer divers mean pristine coral.
Coin de Mire
Coin de Mire is a small, peculiar looking island lying 8 km to the north of Mauritius with what many consider to be the best diving in Mauritius. Dives often feature wall and wreck diving with spectacular visibility (50m/200ft on a great day), as well as chances to see large pelagics such as marlin. Its unique geology makes for some interesting underwater canyons and crevices that can be quite fun to swim through. Excellent visibility, with wall and wreck diving.
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, lion fish, parrot fish, leaf fish and stingrays.
Recommended courses: PADI Discover Scuba Diver, PADI Open Water Diver
The highlight here is the Djabeda wreck dive, which is completely covered in stunning pink soft coral. Octopus, scorpionfish, stonefish, lionfish, and many reef fish are common here.
Grand-Baie and Trou-aux-Biches
Grand-Baies the perfect place to start most dive trips. While nearby Trou-aux-Biches offers best macro critter diving.
The highest concentration of dive operations on the islands are situated in the northwest towns of Grand-Baie and Trou-aux-Biches for good reason. Grand-Baie’s proximity to Mauritius’s outlying northern islands as well as amazing diving just outside the bay make it the perfect place to start most dive trips. Reefs are relatively flat and shallow with short corals that have taken a bit of a beating from cyclones. However, these flat reefs provide just enough protection for vast arrays of small reef fish and small invertebrates to find a home. Just a couple dives here will be enough to come back with a diverse portfolio of macro photos.
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, stone fish and leaf fish.
The photographic highlights here are the multiple species of morays, very curious and frequent peacock mantis shrimp, and schools of small striped eel catfish. The striped eel catfish can be particularly fun to photograph as they tend to hide under coral heads and allow photographers to get very close to photograph them. Although visibility is not quite as good here as the outlying islands, it is still very good and can reach up to 30m/100ft+ on a good day.
Shark Cathedral, Round Island
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, king fish, giant trevally and eagle rays.
Recommended courses: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, AWARE Shark Conservation
PADI Batfish Wall, Snake Island
With visibility reaching up to 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
The Shark Pit
Strong currents and rough seas make it more suitable for advanced divers.
There is one place on the island where sharks are seen regularly - the Shark Pit. The shark pit is located at Flat Island, one of the farthest of Mauritius’s northern outlying islands. Trips are infrequent as it can be expensive, long, and difficult to get to. Recommended only for advanced divers, strong currents and rough seas are common. Bull sharks, gray reef sharks, and silvertip reef sharks are common. Most trips leave from Grand-Baie in the North.
East Coast Dive Sites
East coast Belle Mare and Trou d’Eau Douce access 8-10 spots. Ocean swells push through reef gaps here, limiting operational days but guaranteeing uncrowded experiences.
Belle Mare
Belle Mare is the best diving on the east side of the island. It is usually drift diving and more suitable for advanced divers. It is easy to get to Mauritius from Europe or South Africa, though it might be a little harder from elsewhere. Pelagics and sharks are the highlights here.
West Coast Dive Sites
West coast Flic en Flac to Tamarin packs 25+ named locations within ten kilometers. Southeast winds don’t hit this area-diving runs reliably year-round.
Flic en Flac dominates the scene. Fifteen sites within fifteen-minute boat rides. Cathedral’s the showstopper-care system with sunlight streaming through ceiling openings like nature’s spotlight show. Permanent groupers and snapper residents everywhere. Rempart Serpent has this winding wall absolutely packed with moray eels. Eagle rays cruise by when conditions align right.
South Coast Dive Sites
On the Southern coastline, the Blue Bay Marine Park offers divers staghorn and cabbage corals and a host of damsel, butterfly and angelfish that swarm the reef. If you are in search of that heart-stopping moment that only the bigger species can provide, then the drift dive off the Pass St. Jacques is where bull shark, barracuda and grey and whitetip reef sharks are often spotted.
South coast? Handfuls of operators deal with rough conditions constantly.
Dive Centers and Certification
Getting certified in scuba diving or getting an advanced certification, is becoming a popular travel trend. Mauritius is an ideal spot to do this.
About forty PADI and SSI certified centers operate island-wide currently. Flic en Flac alone supports 15+ shops on its western shore. Blue Water Diving Center, Exploration Sous-Marine, Villas Caroline Diving Center-all long-running operations with solid safety records. Northern options include Dive Dream Mauritius serving Grand Baie. East coast has Ocean Spirit Diving and Oceane Diving Center in Belle Mare.
Discover Scuba takes three hours in total. Pool work covers basic mask clearing, breathing through regulators, equalizing ears properly. Then comes actual reef diving at 5-6 meters. Instructors cap groups at two students each. No exceptions. Flic en Flac and Belle Mare lagoons provide ideal conditions. Minimal current, excellent visibility, tons of fish. Success rate exceeds 95% because conditions forgive mistakes easily.
Ready for full certification? PADI Open Water needs 3-4 days. Gets divers certified to 18 meters worldwide. Four open water dives build skills progressively. Families can do courses together with over 10 qualifications.
Check equipment condition first visit. Beat-up gear signals corner-cutting operations. Read recent reviews focusing on safety specifics-thorough briefings, conservative profiles, proper emergency equipment. Group size impacts experience massively. Four to six divers per guide beats operations cramming 15+ people per boat.
PADI 5-Star or SSI Diamond certifications matter. These require meeting audited safety standards annually.
Scuba Diving Prices
Singles go for $50-65. Location and operator choice affect pricing. Discover Scuba programs for newbies? $80-120 gets half-day instruction plus gear. Now here’s where buying packages makes financial sense-five dives run $200-250, ten dives drop to $35-40 each. Big savings there. Full PADI Open Water certification costs $350-450, complete four-day deal. Want advanced certs? Add $250-300. Renting equipment runs $15-25 per dive. Skip hotel booking desks-go straight to dive shops and pocket 15-20% savings.
Multi-dive packages slash per-dive costs hard. Ten-dive deals run $350-400, saving roughly $150 versus individual purchases. Resort packages? Usually 20-30% pricier than independent shops offering free pickup anyway. Full-day excursions bundling 3-4 dives with lunch go $120-150 per person. Couples booking together typically score 10-15% discounts.
Most run 8 AM-4 PM daily. Morning two-tanks, afternoon singles. Night dives 6-7:30 PM show nocturnal behaviors-hunting morays, sleeping parrotfish. Walk-ins accepted but booking 2-3 days ahead guarantees gear and boat space.
Every center stock rental basic. BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, masks, fins, computers. Sizes run XS through XXL at most places. Extreme sizes need advance confirmation though. Serious divers benefit bringing personal regulators and computers. Rental BCDs function fine, but familiar breathing equipment matters. Airlines usually permit one dive gear piece as extra baggage. Camera rentals cost $25-40 per dive for action cams or basic models. Advanced photographers need personal systems, DSLR or mirrorless housing rarely available for rent. Computers come, including most packages, beat using tables hands down.
Dive Safety and Responsible Diving
Most operators participate in monthly reef monitoring, submitting condition reports to authorities. Most organize cleanup dives regularly removing abandoned fishing lines and plastic waste. Every briefing stress is responsible for practice. No coral touching. Neutral buoyancy prevents fin damage. No fish feeding. Some operator’s fine divers for coral contact or wildlife harassment.
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