Diving in Mauritius

Indian Ocean & East Africa

2 regions

48 dive sites

Mauritius in the Indian Ocean provides a solid dive holiday, though it’s not always the first place that springs to mind for us. The West Coast, particularly around Flic en Flac, is where most of the action is. You'll find a mix of volcanic topography and reef dives, with The Cathedral cavern being a definite highlight - the light rays streaming in are quite special in the mornings. For something a bit different, we'd suggest considering Rodrigues Island; it’s a quieter, more remote experience with some lovely drift dives and healthier corals. Visibility is generally good year-round, but April to June or September to December tends to offer calmer seas, making boat rides more pleasant. Keep an eye out for those big humphead wrasse and the abundant fusiliers.

Mauritius Dive Regions

2 diving areas in Mauritius

Flic en Flac & West Coast

The Flic en Flac and West Coast stretch is where many divers first dip their fins in Mauritius, and for good reason. It’s a busy spot, yes, but the sheer variety of dive sites means you can always find something new. We particularly love the drift dives here, letting the currents carry you past schools of fusiliers and snapper. The Cathedral is our favourite, a massive underwater archway where the light filters in, creating a genuinely magical atmosphere. We’ve seen humphead wrasse cruise through there on more than one occasion. Visibility is generally good, often hitting 20 metres or more, especially outside the rainy season. Keep an eye out for the delicate longnose hawkfish perched on branching corals, they’re a treat. If wrecks are your thing, there are a few decent ones scattered about, now home to clouds of glassfish and the occasional black triggerfish. It’s a reliable area for decent diving, just be prepared for a bit of company on the more popular sites. Try to get on the earliest boat out.

43 dive sites

Rodrigues Island

Rodrigues feels like stepping back in time, and the diving reflects that. We love the uncrowded feeling here, it’s a genuinely relaxed pace. Forget flashy resorts; this is about quiet mornings and honest diving, often with a whole site to yourself. You’ll mostly explore gentle reef slopes, peppered with hard corals like those striking Alveopora colonies, home to a surprising number of wrasse and parrotfish. Keep an eye out for cigar wrasse darting between the rocks, and those bold spotted groupers lurking in the shadows. What really sets Rodrigues apart, though, is the sense of discovery. With only two dive centres, the reefs feel largely untouched. We’ve had incredible encounters with schools of Indo-Pacific tarpon cruising past on morning dives, and the sheer number of scissortail sergeants can be mesmerising. Visibility is generally excellent, often reaching 25-30 metres, giving you ample time to spot the smaller stuff like filamentous blennies on the coral heads. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a sailfish streaking through the blue, particularly during the warmer months. Our favourite time to visit is October to December; the water is warm, and the marine life seems particularly active.

5 dive sites