Diving in Flic en Flac & West Coast
Why dive here
Flic en Flac & West Coast offers some of Mauritius's richest diving, with 434+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, blue sharks, dolphins, dwarf minke whales and great white sharks. Water sits around 28°C.
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.
Flic en Flac & West Coast Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Flic en Flac & West Coast
Flic en Flac & West Coast Dive Sites
46 dive sites in Flic en Flac & West Coast
Aqua BASE
Aqua BASE in Flic en Flac has always been a solid pick for us, especially when the south-easterlies kick up a chop elsewhere. It’s not about dramatic drop-offs here; it’s more about the sheer density of everyday reef life, a proper fish soup. We’ve had dives where the schools of Pacific Gregory were so thick, they almost created a shimmering wall, making you feel like you were swimming through glitter. Keep an eye out for the Lineated Butterflyfish weaving through the coral heads and the occasional Strawberry Grouper lurking under ledges – they’re often surprisingly bold. We love how reliably you’ll spot things here. The Big-eye Trevally often patrol in small, curious packs, and if you’re patient, you might find a Dwarf Moray peeking out from its crevice. It’s a site that rewards slow exploration, peering into every nook. For divers who appreciate abundant reef fish and a relaxed pace, it’s a cracker. It’s a friendly site, good for shaking off the rust or just enjoying a calm, easy dive.
Aquarium
Aquarium is exactly what it sounds like, a perfectly contained, vibrant dive. We love this site for its sheer abundance of small, colourful reef fish, making it a proper joy for photographers and anyone just wanting to relax and soak it all in. You’ll settle onto a sandy bottom at around 12 metres, watching schools of Clouded Rainbowfish shimmer past and the bold yellows of Flameback Angelfish darting between the coral heads. Our favourite time to visit is when a gentle current is running; it really brings out the Blackside Hawkfish and Banded-tail Coral-cod, who seem to enjoy the activity. Keep an eye out for Ambon Pufferfish and Dwarf Morays tucked into crevices. While the occasional turtle or eagle ray might glide by in the blue, the real show here is at eye-level, among the corals. It’s an easy, shallow dive, perfect for newer divers building confidence or experienced divers who just want an easy, unhurried tour of Mauritius's smaller, charming residents.
Aquarium
Chloe’s Coral sits just off West Bay Beach, a spot we often suggest for a relaxed afternoon dive or a morning buoyancy check. It’s got a mix of sandy patches and those big, lumpy coral heads, the kind where you can just hover and watch. We've seen eagle rays glide over the sand here a few times, a real treat when it happens. Keep an eye out for turtles too, they seem to appreciate the calmer conditions. At 19 meters max, it's a shallow, comfortable dive. Visibility usually holds around 20 meters, sometimes more, so the light penetration is great. We love hunting for the smaller stuff here – blennies poking out of every crevice, gobies darting into their burrows. The coral heads are busy with cleaning stations, you'll see tiny wrasse working on bigger fish like snapper. It’s a gentle spot, perfect if you're dialling in your camera settings or just want an easy cruise.
Bambous
Coral Gardens really delivers on its name. It’s a beautiful, shallow pinnacle, starting in about two metres of water before dropping off to around eighteen. We love it because the sheer density of coral is incredible, particularly the staghorn and table corals, which seem to just explode from the reef. You’ll find schools of fusiliers swirling around those bigger formations, often with parrotfish and various wrasse, like the dusky and six-line, weaving through them. Keep your eyes peeled for lionfish tucked into crevices and the occasional spotted pufferfish peering out. We’ve had some cracking snorkels here too, especially on a calm morning when the light really shows off the vibrant colours. This site is perfect for photographers, or anyone who just wants a relaxing, colourful dive without worrying about strong currents or deep profiles.
Bambous
Bambous might not be the poster child for pelagic encounters in Mauritius, but we love it for its sheer drama. Dropping to 32 meters, this site is all about the wall, a seriously impressive rock face that just keeps going down. It’s perfect for divers who appreciate topography over big fish, though you’ll still spot plenty of African butterflyfish flitting about and parrotfish grazing the rock. The visibility here often hits 23 meters, giving you a proper sense of the scale of the wall. We recommend drifting along, really taking in the textures and the way the light plays on the rock formations. Keep an eye out for smaller stuff tucked into crevices, like Emery’s pygmygoby or the distinctive Dragonfish. It’s a site that rewards a slower pace, letting you absorb the underwater landscape. Bring a good torch to peek into the darker corners – you might just find a sleepy rock cod.
BASE Diving
BASE Diving, just off Flic en Flac, is one of those sites we always try to hit when we're on the west coast of Mauritius. It’s not about huge pelagics here, though you might catch a glimpse of a southern right whale if you’re very lucky in season. We go for the sheer density of small stuff, tucked into the staghorn corals that dominate the reef. You’ll find walls of giant squirrelfish staring out from every crevice, their eyes like little red lamps. The telescopefish are bizarre, drifting like fragments of weed. Look closely among the seagrass patches; we’ve spotted tiny bridled gobies darting about. The halfmoon triggerfish are everywhere, their patterns vivid against the coral. It’s a photographer's dream if you're into macro, and we love drifting slowly, just letting the gentle current guide us over the reef, spotting species like the snakehead cowrie. We'd suggest an afternoon dive here; the light filters through the water beautifully then, illuminating the corals and making the colours pop.
Bassin Verde
Bassin Verde, just off Flic en Flac, is a site we return to often, especially when we want a relaxed dive with plenty to observe without fighting a current. It’s got this lovely, low-profile coral reef nestled in the sand, topping out around 19 metres. Don’t expect dramatic drop-offs; instead, you get these intimate patches of staghorn coral, a real magnet for smaller reef fish. We love settling into the sandy areas, watching bullethead parrotfish graze, their crunching audible if you listen closely. You’ll spot flathead sleepers half-buried, and there are always plenty of blacktail chromis flitting above the coral. It’s ideal for lingering, practising buoyancy in the calm water, or just taking your time with a camera. We've often found undulated morays peeking from crevices. Bassin Verde suits divers who appreciate the subtle beauty of a healthy reef and prefer a gentle pace over big pelagic action. It’s a superb spot for newer divers to build confidence, but even experienced eyes will find plenty to keep them engaged here, especially if you enjoy searching for smaller, often overlooked critters.
Bassin Verde
We love Country Garden for its easy drift and the sheer joy of letting the current carry you over those rolling coral heads. It’s a site that feels a little like floating through a fish tank, especially with the sun sparkling through the 22m visibility. Keep an eye out for those tiny ruby brittle stars tucked into the crevices, and the blennies, particularly the spinyheads, peeking out from every available hole. The chain morays are often seen slithering through the rock formations here, too, a constant entertainment. This is a boat dive, so you get dropped right onto the action, typically a gentle drift that barely requires a fin kick. It's a relaxed dive, maxing out at 20m, perfect for an afternoon cruise when you want to just soak it all in. We’d suggest going slow, hugging the reef, and scanning the sandy patches for the small stuff, like the yellowline gobies darting in and out of their burrows. You might even spot a loggerhead turtle cruising past, seemingly unbothered by anything.
Batterie
Batterie is our go-to for a relaxed dive in Flic en Flac. It’s shallow, capping out at just 10m, which makes it perfect for knocking off some rust or taking new divers out for their first proper reef experience after the initial course. We often follow the coral line after entering, just letting the gentle current (if there is one) push us along. What we really love here is the sheer density of the common reef fish. You’ll weave through schools of Blacktail Chromis and Cape Damsel, and we’ve spotted more than a few Undulated Morays peeking out from their rocky hideouts. Keep an eye on the sandy patches too; we’ve had some cracking encounters with double-ended pipefish there. The Staghorn corals are quite pretty and the visibility, averaging around 12m, is usually good enough to appreciate them. It's not a site for big pelagics, but for a chilled-out afternoon watching the smaller stuff, it’s a winner.
Batterie
Craters Edge is exactly what it sounds like, the very tip of an old volcanic caldera, jutting out into deeper water. We like it for the sheer volume of schooling fish that gather here; think bar jacks, yellowtail snapper, and creole wrasse moving like a single organism. Keep an eye out for larger pelagics like tuna or barracuda cruising by, especially on the deeper side. Down to 25 meters, it’s a dive that rewards looking up and out into the blue, though the wall itself has some interesting sponges and gorgonians if you manage to pull your gaze away from the action. It's a fairly easy drift, a good pick if you enjoy a lively reef with plenty of movement.
Big Rock, Mauritius
Devils Point is a surprisingly varied spot, even if the visibility isn’t always what we’d call stellar. We’ve had days here where it’s a murky 5 metres, and others where it opens right up to a comfortable 10 or 12. You’re definitely coming here for the topography. The outer pin drops away, which can create some lively currents, but we love sticking closer to the middle. That’s where you find the belly of the reef rising to 5-8 metres, an ideal spot for a leisurely safety stop while you watch the school of Pacific sardines glimmer past. Our favourite part, though, is heading towards Humbug Bay. The boulders there are fantastic, riddled with deep cracks and holes begging to be explored. You’ll find a couple of legitimate caves too, nothing too deep, just enough to feel like you’re entering another world. Inside, we’ve spotted red rock lobsters tucked away, and often catch a glimpse of a New Zealand draughtboard shark resting on the sandy bottom. Keep an eye out for longtail garfish near the surface and those cheeky striped triplefins darting amongst the kelp. It’s a great site for divers who appreciate the structure of a reef and don’t mind a bit of a hunt for smaller creatures.
Big Rock, Mauritius
Big Rock is one of those drift dives that, with the right current, really shines. We’ve found ourselves just hanging in the blue here, watching the world slide by. It’s essentially a massive submerged boulder, or a series of them really, creating interesting swim-throughs and overhangs. The rock itself is covered in sponges and anemones, which are always busy with small critters. Look closely for those tiny Minute Triplefins darting around, and we often spot a Dwarf Moray peeking out from a crevice. The real magic happens when a smooth current picks up. That’s when you get the chance to drift past schools of Black-banded Hogfish and see those elegant Candelamoa Parrotfish munching on the coral. Visibility can be excellent, often hitting that 19m average or better, making it perfect for spotting larger pelagics further out. We’ve had a few incredible encounters with eagle rays here, soaring past us in the deeper water towards the 22m mark. It’s a site that works for most qualified divers, but really comes alive for those who appreciate a relaxed drift and keep an eye out for the big stuff passing through.
Flic en Flac & West Coast Dive Centres
26 dive shops and operators in Flic en Flac & West Coast
Bigorno Diving Centre LTD
Blues Diving Centre
Blue World Explorer Adventures
Crystal Divers Mauritius
Crystal Diving
Dive Drem Divers Mauritius
Dive Passion Mauritius
Dive Spirit Mauritius
Ocean Wildlife in Flic en Flac & West Coast
434 species recorded in Flic en Flac & West Coast
Flic en Flac & West Coast Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Flic en Flac & West Coast, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
06:27
Sunset
18:01
Daylight
11h 34m
Golden Hour
17:31
First light (dawn) at 06:04 · Last light (dusk) at 18:23
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 05:43 | 18:57 | 13h 13m |
| Feb | 06:03 | 18:48 | 12h 46m |
| Mar | 06:13 | 18:27 | 12h 14m |
| Apr | 06:22 | 18:00 | 11h 38m |
| May | 06:33 | 17:42 | 11h 10m |
| JunShortest | 06:44 | 17:39 | 10h 55m |
| Jul | 06:46 | 17:47 | 11h 1m |
| AugNow | 06:33 | 17:58 | 11h 25m |
| Sep | 06:08 | 18:05 | 11h 58m |
| Oct | 05:41 | 18:13 | 12h 32m |
| Nov | 05:24 | 18:28 | 13h 4m |
| DecLongest | 05:26 | 18:46 | 13h 21m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Flic en Flac & West Coast.
Where to Stay near Flic en Flac & West Coast
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Marine Protected Areas near Flic en Flac & West Coast
21 protected areas near Flic en Flac & West Coast - please respect local regulations when diving
Poudre d'Or Fishing Reserve
Port Louis Fishing Reserve
Black River Fishing Reserve
Balaclava Marine Park
Ile Ronde (Round Island)
Poste Lafayette Fishing Reserve
Ile Plate (Flat Island)
Coin de Mire (Gunner's Quoin)
Trou d'Eau Douce Fishing Reserve
Ile aux Serpents
Ilot Gabriel
Ile aux Aigrettes
Showing 12 largest of 21
Getting to Flic en Flac & West Coast
Plaine Magnien
Sainte-Marie
Saint-Pierre
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